Is the Buick Regal more reliable than the Nissan Altima?

Based on our data, the Nissan Altima is more reliable with an average score of 79/100 compared to 74/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Buick Regal or the Nissan Altima?

The Nissan Altima has more recalls (20) compared to the Buick Regal (8). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Buick Regal or the Nissan Altima?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Altima has a lower complaint rate at 1.6 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 14.5 for the Buick Regal. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Buick Regal or the Nissan Altima?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Altima is cheaper to maintain at $483/year versus $563/year for the Buick Regal.

Last updated: 2026-07-26

Buick Regal vs Nissan Altima: Reliability Compared

Buick Regal

Good

More Reliable

Nissan Altima

Good

Choosing between the Buick Regal and the Nissan Altima? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize sedans.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Nissan Altima currently leads with an average score of 79/100 compared to 74/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Buick Regal and Nissan Altima Generations Compare?

As of July 2026, the Nissan Altima is in its sixth generation, which launched in 2019 and underwent a refresh in 2023. This places it in the latter part of its generation cycle, suggesting that many initial issues typical of new platforms may have been resolved, making it potentially more reliable now. In contrast, the Buick Regal, which was in its sixth generation from 2018 to 2023, is no longer in production. The Regal's final facelift in 2020 indicates that it too had several years to iron out early generation issues, offering a more mature platform. Buyers may find the Altima appealing due to its ongoing production and recent updates, while the Regal's established reliability could be attractive in the used car market.

Verdict

The Nissan Altima is more reliable than the Buick Regal, scoring 79/100 vs 74/100.

The Nissan Altima demonstrates superior reliability compared to the Buick Regal, boasting a higher average reliability score of 79/100 against the Regal's 74/100. Notably, the Altima has a significantly lower owner complaint rate of 1.6 per 10,000 sold, in stark contrast to the Regal's 14.5 per 10,000. While both vehicles share common issues in electrical systems and service brakes, the Altima's lower estimated annual repair cost of $483 further underscores its advantage over the Regal's $563. With fewer recalls over a longer period, the Altima presents itself as the more reliable midsize sedan option.

Key Differences

1Nissan Altima costs $80 less per year to repair
2Nissan Altima has 12.9 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Buick Regal has 12 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

2Buick Regal

—

3Nissan Altima

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair Risk

Buick Regal vs Nissan Altima: Which Is More Reliable?

Buick Regal vs Nissan Altima at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Buick Regal	Nissan Altima
Reliability Score	74/100	79/100
Years Tracked	3	9
Total Recalls	8	20
Complaints per 10k Sold	14.5	1.6
Annual Repair Cost	$563/yr	$483/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	12%	12%
Year Wins	2	1

What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Regal and Nissan Altima?

The Nissan Altima and Buick Regal exhibit distinct problem profiles with significant differences in complaint volumes and severity. The Altima has a notably higher number of total complaints, particularly in the electrical system and air bags categories, with 142 and 49 complaints respectively, and a concerning 18 crash-linked incidents for airbags. It also shows a high incidence of crash-linked issues involving service brakes and steering. In contrast, the Buick Regal maintains a lower overall complaint count, with the most significant area being the electrical system at 7 complaints and a relatively minor number of crash-linked issues, with only 2 related to service brakes. The Altima's pattern indicates more frequent and severe safety-related problems than the Regal.

Buick Regal vs Nissan Altima common problem areas comparison
Component	Buick Regal	Nissan Altima
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.6Low	0.3Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	1.9Low	0.1Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.5Low	0.2Very Low
POWER TRAIN	1.5Low	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.7Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.7Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	—None	0.1Very Low
STEERING	—None	0.1Very Low
ENGINE	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Buick Regal or Nissan Altima?

Independent repair cost data indicates that the Nissan Altima has an annual repair cost of $483, making it $80 cheaper per year compared to the Buick Regal's $563. Over five years, this results in a $400 savings. The Altima also requires fewer repair visits, with a frequency of 0.3 visits per year compared to the Regal's 0.2, suggesting less frequent but potentially more expensive issues. Both models have an identical major repair risk of 12%. For cost-conscious buyers, the Altima presents better value due to its lower annual repair costs and similar risk profile.

How Does Buick Regal vs Nissan Altima Reliability Compare by Year?

Buick Regal vs Nissan Altima year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Buick Regal	Nissan Altima	Edge
2020	75/1002R / 2C	71/1006R / 162C	Buick Regal
2019	73/1003R / 18C	72/1008R / 230C	Buick Regal
2018	74/1003R / 19C	76/1002R / 217C	Nissan Altima

Best years to cross-shop: The 2020 Buick Regal scored 75/100 and the 2018 Nissan Altima scored 76/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Buick Regal vs the Nissan Altima?

If you prioritize low running costs and a higher reliability score, the Nissan Altima could be your ideal choice. With a reliability score of 79/100, it edges out the Buick Regal's 74/100. The Altima also boasts a lower estimated annual repair cost of $483 and fewer owner complaints, at just 1.6 per 10,000 sold. Additionally, its repair frequency of 0.3 per year is slightly higher but still competitive, making it a solid option for those who want a dependable vehicle with reasonable upkeep. On the other hand, if you are concerned about recalls and prefer a model with fewer of them, you might lean towards the Buick Regal. It has only 8 recalls compared to the Altima's 20. However, be prepared for a higher owner complaint rate of 14.5 per 10,000 sold and a slightly higher annual repair cost of $563. If your priority is minimizing recall-related hassles, the Regal may suit your needs despite its slightly lower reliability score.

Buick Regal vs Nissan Altima: Common Questions

Is the Buick Regal more reliable than the Nissan Altima?: Based on our data, the Nissan Altima is more reliable with an average score of 79/100 compared to 74/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Buick Regal or the Nissan Altima?: The Nissan Altima has more recalls (20) compared to the Buick Regal (8). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Buick Regal or the Nissan Altima?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Nissan Altima has a lower complaint rate at 1.6 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 14.5 for the Buick Regal. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Buick Regal or the Nissan Altima?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the Nissan Altima is cheaper to maintain at $483/year versus $563/year for the Buick Regal.

More Buick Regal comparisons

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More Nissan Altima comparisons

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How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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