Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 Regal.
The 1978 Buick Regal carries a remarkably quiet owner-complaint record, with just a single complaint on file — focused on the Service Brakes, Hydraulic area — though seven recalls indicate the model still drew manufacturer attention for safety and compliance matters. Within the Regal's broader complaint history tracked from 1990 through 2020, complaint volume spans from a peak of 325 in the 1998 model year down to a single complaint in 2008, which means this 1978 model's solitary filing sits at the most favorable end of that range. For researchers evaluating long-term reliability across the Regal lineage, this model year stands as one of the least problematic on record, offering a relatively clean ownership profile despite its recall count.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 200 in |
| Overall width | 70.1 in |
| Overall height | 53.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in |
| Curb weight | 3148 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Regal of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Indy Pace Car T-Top Cabriolet 4.1L V6 | 7.50 sec | 16.00 sec | 125 hp | RWD |
| 1984 | T-Type Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 8.00 sec | 16.00 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1985 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 7.50 sec | 15.70 sec | 200 hp | RWD |
| 1986 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 4.90 sec | 13.90 sec | 235 hp | RWD |
| 1986 | T-Type Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 5.85 sec | 14.30 sec | 235 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 5.40 sec | 14.20 sec | 245 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 6.00 sec | 14.70 sec | 245 hp | RWD |
| 1987 | Grand National Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 6.10 sec | 14.70 sec | 245 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1978 Buick Regal exhibits minimal federal record activity, with only 1 complaint in the Service Brakes, Hydraulic category alongside zero crash or fire complaints. Because the provided year-by-year federal record begins in 1990, the dataset lacks 1978 and its immediate adjacent years, precluding a direct comparison to its exact predecessors and successors. Consequently, the data does not specify the root cause of the single brake complaint, nor does it allow us to chart a specific trend across the 1978 generation's arc; rather, the record illustrates a later generational arc starting in 1990 where complaints escalate to a peak of 325 in 1998 before gradually declining. Within the context of the provided record, the 1978 model falls well before this later arc, possessing a complaint volume dramatically lower than any subsequent year listed. Based strictly on the near-zero complaint volume and absence of safety incidents in the data for 1978, this is a good year to buy.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE TEMPERATURES IN THE FRONT WHEEL OUTER BEARING AREA WHICH CAN AFFECT THE WHEEL BEARING GREASE. THIS CAN RESULT IN INADEQUATE LUBRICATION OF THE BEARING… Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL NEW FRONT WHEEL OUTER BEARINGS PACKED WITH GREASE AND THE SPINDLE WILL BE COATED WITH LUBRICANT. NEW GREASE RETAINER CAPS WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED TO…
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.