U.S. public vehicle records

1996 Buick ROADMASTER: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

52 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

81,563 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 10 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 52 complaints (7.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	10	19.2%
Electrical and battery issues	5	9.6%
Braking behavior	4	7.7%
Fuel system concerns	4	7.7%
Engine operation	2	3.8%
Transmission and shifting	1	1.9%

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:Cooling System

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Electrical System:Wiring

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Seats

Steering

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	4
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump	3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	3
Electrical System:Wiring	2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	2
Seats	2
Steering	2

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Seats: 2; Steering: 2

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: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 42 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.

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2018

2021

1996: 5; 1997: 16; 1998: 1; 1999: 2; 2000: 6; 2001: 7; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2018: 1; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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 10000237 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)

96 BUICK ROADMASTER WAGON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CATCHES FIRE AND DESTROYS CAR! INTERNAL DOOR FIRE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000237 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004632 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL WANDER OFF TO THE LEFT AND WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10023654 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)

FUEL PUMP FAILED & VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP, MECHANIC FOUND SHORTED FUEL PUMP DUE TO LOOSE WIRING THAT CAUSED ARCING IN TANK FOR SOME TIME. MECHANIC STATED THAT WIRING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HOOKED UP PROPERLY AT FACTORY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 79,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023654 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10046367 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)

WHILE BACKING IN VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED, WIRING HARNESS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK WIRES INSIDE THE GAS TANK BURNED AND MELTED PLASTIC AT THE FUEL TANK HOOK UP. THIS COULD'VE BLOWN UP AND KILLED SOMEONE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE A REFUND FOR THE WIRING HARNESS. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046367 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10058669 · 2004-02-21 (February 21, 2004)

I ACQUIRED A CAR WITH FOUR NEW TIRES ARIZONIAN R/S,A/S. THE TIRES SAY TRACTION A TEMPERATURE B WEAR 360. UTQG GRADING SAYS TRACTION B TEMPERARURE C WEAR 240. WHY SUCH A VARIANCE? I WOULD NEVER RUN A TIRE WITH YOUR GRADING. I FEEL WEARY UNSAFE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058669 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10107373 · 2005-01-13 (January 13, 2005)

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTO DOOR LOCKS, AND THE COURTESY LIGHTS. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 507 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107373 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10135912 · 2005-09-08 (September 8, 2005)

SINCE NEW THIS 1996 BUICK ROADMASTER STATION WAGON HAS HAD 4 TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN IT. THIS PARTICULAR CAR HAS THE FACTORY INSTALLED 5000LB TOW PACKAGE. THIS CAR USES THE GM, 4L60E, 4 SPEED, ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THE 4L60E TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN IT ONLY HAD ROUGHLY 40,000 MILES ON IT. HE TOLD ME THE 2ND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT 40,000MILES AFTER IT WAS INSTALLED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOLD ME HE HAD THE 3RD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WHEN THE CAR HAD 85,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 119,000 MILES O…

Owner-reported narrative. 142,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135912 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10156604 · 2006-05-02 (May 2, 2006)

DRIVING ON SAN PABLO DAM RD JUST PAST APPIAN WAY AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH THE RIGHT FT TIRE FOLDED UP UNDER THE CAR THE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND SNAPPED IN HALF. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156604 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.

95V215000 · Air Bags

Reported: 1995-11-03 (November 3, 1995)

THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH BOTH THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT CAUTION LABEL AND A ROOF RACK CAUTION LABEL INSTALLED ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE SUN VISOR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO.208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: OPERATORS COULD FAIL TO NOTICE AND HEED THE WARNING LABELS.

Remedy: A NEW ROOF RACK CAUTION LABEL, WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, WILL BE SENT DIRECTLY TO OWNERS. OWNERS WILL INSTALL THE LABEL OR HAVE THEIR DEALER INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

96V245000 · Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs

Reported: 1996-12-10 (December 10, 1996)

THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE VEHICLE'S WHEEL LUG NUTS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.

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

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

19.2%Usable mileage10 / 52 records

78.8%Valid incident date41 / 52 records

100.0%Valid filing date52 / 52 records

78.8%Ordered incident and filing dates41 / 52 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	1989	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	111.1% ODI 974039 ABS BRAKING PROBLEM. TT ABS BRAKES FAILED, REPLACED MODULE COMPONENT. *YH Look up ODI 974039 at NHTSA ↗	1618.4% ODI 10178329 · 177,000 mi TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE OWNS A 1992 BUICK ROADMASTER, AND THAT ON JANUARY 7 2007 SHE HAD TO PUSH THE BRAKES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE SERVICE LIGHT ON CAME ON AT THAT TIME. SHE WAS LEAVING A GAS STATION AT THE TIME AND DRIVING 5-10 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC ,WHO TOLD HER TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS RECALL 97V217000 .ON HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED A BUICK DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 02/16/07. … Look up ODI 10178329 at NHTSA ↗	48.7% ODI 560037 THE EBCM UNIT FOR THE ABS FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM Look up ODI 560037 at NHTSA ↗	1112.9% ODI 478072 ANTI-LOCK BRAKES LOCKUP WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 5-60 MPH/ DURING PANIC STOPS. Look up ODI 478072 at NHTSA ↗	12.0% ODI 600393 ANTILOCK BRAKE SENSOR FAILED. *AW Look up ODI 600393 at NHTSA ↗	35.8% ODI 800580 WHILE DRIVING THE ABS BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE MR. COOK'S FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR ,THE BRAKES CAME ON WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE MORE INFORMATION.*AK Look up ODI 800580 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags:Frontal	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	111.1% ODI 808309 WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN FRONT END COLLISION (WHOLE FRONT END WAS CRUSHED)THERE WAS NO DEPLOYEMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. VEHICLE GOING ABOUT (35) MPH. *AK Look up ODI 808309 at NHTSA ↗	89.2% ODI 810413 IN AN ACCIDENT AT 30-35MPH AT 12:00 POSITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND DRIVER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. *AK Look up ODI 810413 at NHTSA ↗	817.4% ODI 481414 NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT. *SKD Look up ODI 481414 at NHTSA ↗	67.1% ODI 805893 CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. ALSO, THE COVER OVER THE DASHBOARD DETACHED FROM THE DASHBOARD, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO SUSTAIN CHEST INJURIES. *AK Look up ODI 805893 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	11.9% ODI 812478 CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 35 MPH, HEADING NORTH, MIDDLE LANE, ANOTHER DRIVER IN A TRUCK WAS IN RIGHT LANE MADE A U-TURN IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT TRUCK ON LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD-ON, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSED A SERIES OF INJURIES. *AK Look up ODI 812478 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	111.1% ODI 882581 WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AND PRESSING ON BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. AK THE CONSUMER CLAIMS TO HAVE BEEN INJURED WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. YH Look up ODI 882581 at NHTSA ↗	44.6% ODI 10169500 · 104,000 mi DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE PROBLEM COULD BE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ONCE MORE AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISCONNECTED. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 11/21/06. JB Look up ODI 10169500 at NHTSA ↗	36.5% ODI 702203 ENGINE FAILURE WAS COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED. NO WARNING BUT PROBLEM SELF CORRECTED EACH TIME AFTER STOPPING THE CAR. Look up ODI 702203 at NHTSA ↗	67.1% ODI 486493 FRONT END SHIMMIES DUE TO MISALIGNMENT. Look up ODI 486493 at NHTSA ↗	612.0% ODI 10109931 I WAS BACKING MY 95 BUICK ROADMASTER STATION WAGON FROM A PARKING LOT AT A RETIREMENT CENTER WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO ALLOW ME TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SHOT BACK ACROSS THE PARKING LOT, NEARLY A HUNDRED FEET BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND VEER IT AWAY FROM A CROWDED BUILDING AND THEN TURN OFF THE IGNITION KEY TO STOP THE MOTOR. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME AND WAS NOT NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *JB Look up ODI 10109931 at NHTSA ↗	23.8% ODI 810294 VEHICLE RACES AROUND 10MPH, LURCHES AND PULL FORWARD UPON COMPLETING A STOP. *AK Look up ODI 810294 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	66.9% ODI 510869 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK Look up ODI 510869 at NHTSA ↗	24.3% ODI 881601 TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT IN 1997. DEALER SAID CONSUMER NEEDED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION.AK SLC Look up ODI 881601 at NHTSA ↗	55.9% ODI 480234 GRINDING IN STEERING COLUMN. Look up ODI 480234 at NHTSA ↗	36.0% ODI 506513 TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK NOT SEATED RIGHT, ALLOWING FLUID TO LEAK OUT, STARTING FIRE. *DH Look up ODI 506513 at NHTSA ↗	23.8% ODI 10135912 · 142,000 mi SINCE NEW THIS 1996 BUICK ROADMASTER STATION WAGON HAS HAD 4 TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN IT. THIS PARTICULAR CAR HAS THE FACTORY INSTALLED 5000LB TOW PACKAGE. THIS CAR USES THE GM, 4L60E, 4 SPEED, ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THE 4L60E TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN IT ONLY HAD ROUGHLY 40,000 MILES ON IT. HE TOLD ME THE 2ND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT 40,000MILES AFTER IT WAS INSTALLED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOLD ME HE HAD THE 3RD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WHEN THE CAR HAD 85,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 119,000 MILES O… Look up ODI 10135912 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	55.7% ODI 485698 ENGINE STALLED 3 TIMES. *SD Look up ODI 485698 at NHTSA ↗	24.3% ODI 488028 ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD Look up ODI 488028 at NHTSA ↗	44.7% ODI 481133 DIFFICULTY OPENING/CLOSING FRONT PASSENGER'S DOOR. Look up ODI 481133 at NHTSA ↗	36.0% ODI 810542 VEHICLE STALLS OUT INTERMITTENTLY, JUST STOPS. *AK Look up ODI 810542 at NHTSA ↗	23.8% ODI 829796 VEHICLE STALLS AFTER GOING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. IT WOULD LOSE POWER. *AK Look up ODI 829796 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Visibility:Windshield	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	44.6% ODI 8003609 CONSUMER STATED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING GEARS.AK. CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER WHEEL FELL BROKE OFF DUE TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS HAD BROKEN OFF, THE BRAKES WENT OUT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, THE THERMOSTAT WENT OUT, PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN, TURN SIGANL WAS INOPERATIVE, WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED, AND THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED.SLC Look up ODI 8003609 at NHTSA ↗	48.7% ODI 8013701 FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING, AND WINDSHIELD HAD NOT BEEN TAMPERED WITH.AK YH Look up ODI 8013701 at NHTSA ↗	22.4% ODI 481133 DIFFICULTY OPENING/CLOSING FRONT PASSENGER'S DOOR. Look up ODI 481133 at NHTSA ↗	12.0% ODI 965435 DASH LIGHTS WON'T DIM ENOUGH FOR NIGHT DRIVING. *AK Look up ODI 965435 at NHTSA ↗	11.9% ODI 515738 UNABLE TO SEE CLEARLY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO GLARE REFLECTION FROM THE SUN. Look up ODI 515738 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Suspension:Front	1100.0% ODI 501058 FRONT END MAKING NOISE DUE TO FAULTY CONTROL ARM. Look up ODI 501058 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	12.2% ODI 10361741 · 135,000 mi TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUICK ROADMASTER ESTATE WAGON EQUIPPED WITH A FOREIGN PARTS DISTRIBUTION LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT (N/A). HE WAS TOWING A TRAILER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 58 MPH WHEN HE DROVE OVER A BUMPY SURFACE AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. UPON EXAMINATION HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000. Look up ODI 10361741 at NHTSA ↗	33.5% ODI 486493 FRONT END SHIMMIES DUE TO MISALIGNMENT. Look up ODI 486493 at NHTSA ↗	36.0% ODI 505868 REAR END PROBLEMS. Look up ODI 505868 at NHTSA ↗	23.8% ODI 603091 FRONT END MISALIGNED. Look up ODI 603091 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	55.7% ODI 484997 DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT. *AK Look up ODI 484997 at NHTSA ↗	36.5% ODI 740965 THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR 3 PT. SAFETY BELT CAME OUT COMPLETELY AND WILL NOT RETRACT. THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM APPEARS TO BE BROKEN. *AK Look up ODI 740965 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	12.0% ODI 837580 SHOULDER BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS HANGING OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK Look up ODI 837580 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	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
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump	Too few reports for a range	67,863 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10023654 · 79,125 mi FUEL PUMP FAILED & VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP, MECHANIC FOUND SHORTED FUEL PUMP DUE TO LOOSE WIRING THAT CAUSED ARCING IN TANK FOR SOME TIME. MECHANIC STATED THAT WIRING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HOOKED UP PROPERLY AT FACTORY. *JB Look up ODI 10023654 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10161526 · 56,600 mi UPON LEAVING FOR WORK IN THE MORNING, MY 1996 BUICK ROADMASTER WITH 56,600 MILES WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR GARAGE. WENT TO PICK UP CAR A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THERE HAD NOT BEEN A FIRE OR EXPLOSION DUE TO THE SMOLDERING FUEL PUMP AND MELTED WIRING HARNESS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. HE GAVE ME THE PART. I THOUGHT THAT GENERAL MOTORS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT THIS DEFECT AS I WAS SURE THAT MANY OTHER ROADMASTERS ARE STILL ON THE ROAD. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS D… Look up ODI 10161526 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring	Too few reports for a range	38,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10046367 · 38,000 mi WHILE BACKING IN VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED, WIRING HARNESS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. AK WIRES INSIDE THE GAS TANK BURNED AND MELTED PLASTIC AT THE FUEL TANK HOOK UP. THIS COULD'VE BLOWN UP AND KILLED SOMEONE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE A REFUND FOR THE WIRING HARNESS. PH Look up ODI 10046367 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	Too few reports for a range	142,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10135912 · 142,000 mi SINCE NEW THIS 1996 BUICK ROADMASTER STATION WAGON HAS HAD 4 TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN IT. THIS PARTICULAR CAR HAS THE FACTORY INSTALLED 5000LB TOW PACKAGE. THIS CAR USES THE GM, 4L60E, 4 SPEED, ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THE 4L60E TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN IT ONLY HAD ROUGHLY 40,000 MILES ON IT. HE TOLD ME THE 2ND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT 40,000MILES AFTER IT WAS INSTALLED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOLD ME HE HAD THE 3RD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WHEN THE CAR HAD 85,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 119,000 MILES O… Look up ODI 10135912 at NHTSA ↗
Steering	Too few reports for a range	137,831 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 11427408 · 137,831 mi The contact owns a 1996 Buick Roadmaster. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel was steering to the left while the vehicle was going to the right as well as while steering to the right the vehicle was going to the left. The dealer or independent mechanic was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 137,831. Invalid VIN provided. Look up ODI 11427408 at NHTSA ↗

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

1996: 25 complaints · 1999: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1996	11	23	25
1999	0	1	1

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1996	41	11	0
1999	0	1	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:Cooling System	Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	Electrical System:Wiring	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	Power Train:Automatic Transmission	Seats	Steering
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Seats	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Steering	0	0	0	0	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

5 patterns with matching reports.

Steering assistance concerns

6 mentions · 11.5% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 602737

POWER STEERING HOSE COUPLING FAILED TWICE.

Look up ODI 602737 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 834192

DUE TO DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP WHICH LEAKED AND SPRAYED UNTO THE POWER STEERING BELT, POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERATIVE AND ALMOST RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

Look up ODI 834192 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 861837

COOLANT LEAKS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WATER PUMP ONTO VIBRATION DAMPER AND POWER STEERING BELT, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Look up ODI 861837 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b

Battery drain and no-start mentions

2 mentions · 3.8% of complaints

Median mileage: 67,863 mi (2 usable records).

ODI 10023654 · 79,125 mi

Look up ODI 10023654 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10161526 · 56,600 mi

UPON LEAVING FOR WORK IN THE MORNING, MY 1996 BUICK ROADMASTER WITH 56,600 MILES WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR GARAGE. WENT TO PICK UP CAR A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THERE HAD NOT BEEN A FIRE OR EXPLOSION DUE TO THE SMOLDERING FUEL PUMP AND MELTED WIRING HARNESS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. HE GAVE ME THE PART. I THOUGHT THAT GENERAL MOTORS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT THIS DEFECT AS I WAS SURE THAT MANY OTHER ROADMASTERS ARE STILL ON THE ROAD. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS D…

Look up ODI 10161526 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Stalling or loss of power

2 mentions · 3.8% of complaints

Median mileage: 38,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10046367 · 38,000 mi

Look up ODI 10046367 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 829796

VEHICLE STALLS AFTER GOING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. IT WOULD LOSE POWER. *AK

Look up ODI 829796 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

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

Brake response concerns

1 mentions · 1.9% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 515552

BRAKES FAILED.

Look up ODI 515552 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Hard or delayed shifting

1 mentions · 1.9% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 810294

VEHICLE RACES AROUND 10MPH, LURCHES AND PULL FORWARD UPON COMPLETING A STOP. *AK

Look up ODI 810294 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule