U.S. public vehicle records

1987 Buick ELECTRA: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

4 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1987 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Engine operation	1	25.0%
Steering behavior	1	25.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor

Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner

Vehicle Speed Control:Cables

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 1; Vehicle Speed Control:Cables: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1999

2001

2004

1995: 1; 1999: 1; 2001: 1; 2004: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10101544 · 2004-11-22 (November 22, 2004)

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. A FEW WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ACCELERATO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101544 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 844882 · 1999-08-11 (August 11, 1999)

WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD THE DRIVER'S SEAT WILL GIVE AND DROP DOWN WHEN PUSHING THE LEVER TO RECLINE, IT PARTIALLY RECLINES. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 844882 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 898688 · 2001-11-02 (November 2, 2001)

RETRACTOR ON SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT BY ITSELF BACK IN. *AK *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 898688 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 974549 · 1995-11-03 (November 3, 1995)

TIMING CHAIN BROKE, RESULTING IN STEERING ABILITY LOST, REPLACED TIMING BELT. TTWHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND FAILED TO RESTART, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO DEFECT IN THE PART.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974549 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

87V135000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers

Reported: 1987-09-01 (September 1, 1987)

AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.

Consequence: THE IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THEPLASTIC WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET MAY, UNDER A HIGH RESISTANCE LOAD,MELT DOWN AND IGNITE THE WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET RESULTING IN AN ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

88V080000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal

Reported: 1988-05-16 (May 16, 1988)

EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY.

Consequence: THIS COULD PREVENT THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO CLOSED(IDLE) POSITION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED; THUS, ENGINE SPEED WOULDNOT DECREASE, AND LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 4 records

100.0%Valid incident date4 / 4 records

100.0%Valid filing date4 / 4 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 4 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1977	1978	1979	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	325.0% ODI 480575 ADJUSTED IDLE SPEED CONTROL UNIT. Look up ODI 480575 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 967330 THE CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT PUTTING FOOT ON THE GAS. HAS HAD THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT Look up ODI 967330 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	240.0% ODI 10837472 · 90,000 mi SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. MOVING. Look up ODI 10837472 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	18.3% ODI 734703 THE CRANK SENSOR-WHICH CONTROLS ENGINE TIMING-THE BRACKET ITS HOUSED IN CAN WORK LOOSE DURING NORMAL DRIVING CAUSING THE SENSOR TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE MAGNET CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL W/NO WARNING. IT HAPPENED FIRST LASTE YEAR IN JULY-99 HAD IT REPLACED BY DEALER USING OE PART. WORKED LOOSE THIS YEAR OCT-00, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL ON BUSY STREET AND BARELY MADE IT TO THE SIDE. CONTACT DEALER-WOULD NOT REPLACE PART-MADE US BUY ANOTHER.... Look up ODI 734703 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 974549 TIMING CHAIN BROKE, RESULTING IN STEERING ABILITY LOST, REPLACED TIMING BELT. TTWHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND FAILED TO RESTART, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO DEFECT IN THE PART.*JB Look up ODI 974549 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 565179 WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *YH Look up ODI 565179 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 10042437 · 32,000 mi CONSUMER BOUGHT A VEHICLE THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE IN PERFECT CONDITION. WHILE DRIVING HOME VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT INFORMED THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE REPAIRS.*AK Look up ODI 10042437 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Seats	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 522397 LAP BELT WILL NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, CONSUMER TRYING TO FIND REPLACMENT PART BUT THE SEATBELTS ARE NO LONGER IN STOCK MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. Look up ODI 522397 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 8022576 CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BRACKET WHICH IS NOW BROKEN. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN C ONTACTED YET. MR Look up ODI 8022576 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	216.7% ODI 516122 BRAKES FAILED. Look up ODI 516122 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Steering:Rack And Pinion	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	240.0% ODI 980041 WHEN IT IS COLD AND TRYING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS WARM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK Look up ODI 980041 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Unknown Or Other	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	240.0% ODI 10837472 · 90,000 mi SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. MOVING. Look up ODI 10837472 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1990: 0 complaints · 1991: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1990	0	0	0
1991	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1990	1	4	0
1991	2	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	Vehicle Speed Control:Cables
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	—	0	0	0
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	0	—	0	0
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner	0	0	—	0
Vehicle Speed Control:Cables	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 25.0% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10101544

Look up ODI 10101544 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b