1992 Buick Roadmaster

Routine

Owners filed 87 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip16
403
Air Bags › Frontal7
7013
Power Train › Automatic Transmission6
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline5
000
Visibility › Windshield3
000
Vehicle Speed Control3
100
Unknown or Other2
000
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Arm2
000
Structure › Frame and Members2
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment07E088000
Filed Oct 24, 2007121,680 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.

Defect. 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 ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.

Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip97V217000
Filed Nov 24, 199756,701 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULATOR CAN CORRODE AND LEAK FLUID FROM THE FRONT BRAKE CIRCUIT.

Risk. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN REDUCE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE ABS MODULATOR.

Seat Belts92V094000
Filed Jul 1, 1992219,571 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP PLASTIC COVERING MAY CRACK AND EXPOSE THE STEEL SUB-PLATE.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE EXPOSED STEELSUB-PLATE CAN CUT THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING RESULTING IN INCREASED POSSIBILITYAND/OR SEVERITY OF INJURY TO THE AFFECTED SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy. INSTALL NEW SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch91V186000
Filed Oct 29, 1991224,588 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES CAN CORRODE, CAUSING A HIGH LATCH RELEASE EFFORT AND POSSIBLY PREVENTING THE HOOD FROM LATCHING PROPERLY WHEN IT IS CLOSED.

Risk. IF THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH IS NOT PROPERLY ENGAGED, ANDTHE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH WAS ALSO NOT ENGAGED, THE HOOD COULD OPEN AND CONTACT THEWINDSHIELD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, REDUCING THE FORWARD VISION AREA OFTHE DRIVER AND RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy. INSTALL A NEW SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 31, 2011147,000 milesNC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK ROADMASTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 97V217000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK), THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE MODULE THAT WAS REFERENCED IN THE RECALL, BUT PERFORM A FIX TO IT SO THAT IT WOULD NOT LEAK ANYMORE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE ABS MODULE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,000.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed May 11, 2010185,817 milesNY

EXCESSIVE RUST THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE. RECENTLY HAD A NEW FUEL PUMP INSTALLED AND THE RUST ON THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK IN PLACE WAS SO BAD ONE OF THEM FELL OFF SEVERAL DAYS LATER. WHILE BEING REPAIRED THE SERVICE CENTER INFORMED ME THE CHASSIS WAS ABOUT TO RUST THROUGH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER PASS INSPECTION. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. MY VEHICLE HAS 185,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN CARED FOR VERY WELL. THERE IS ALSO MUCH RUST UNDER THE HOOD ON THE WHEEL WELLS AND AROUND THE TRUNK LID. *TR

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 21, 2010142,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK ROADMASTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF A VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPAIRED THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 156,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Oct 15, 2009175,000 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK ROADMASTER ESTATE WAGON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AT THE PROPER DISTANCE WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO REAR END A VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULATOR CAUSED THE CRASH SINCE IT WAS CORRODED AND LEAKING FLUID FROM THE BRAKE CIRCUIT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS 17 YEARS OLD AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REPAIR IT. THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE REPAIR COSTS. THERE WAS NO NEED TO NOTIFY THE POLICE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 16, 200780,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BUICK ROADMASTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS MODULATOR FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 97V217000 (SERVICE BRAKES: HYDRAULIC ANTILOCK). THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWER TRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 10, 2007177,000 milesOH

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. *JB

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Sep 28, 2006104,000 milesSC

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum › Wheel Cylinders
Filed Aug 12, 2005TX

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. . HIS LOCAL MECHANIC FOUND RECALL, 97V217000. WHEN HE CONTACTED BUICK, OLDSMOBILE, GENERAL MOTORS, AND ALSO A LOCAL DEALER, THEY ARE ALL STATED THAT THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT NUMBER WAS AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. THIS HAPPENED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS. THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. HE REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE WHEEL CYLINDER, AND HAD THE BRAKES REALIGNED. THE PROBLEM WAS CONSTANT, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. *AK *JB

Structure › Body › Trunk Lid1 injured
Filed Apr 29, 2004100,000 milesNE

CONSUMER STATED THAT TRUNK HAS A VERY SHARP EDGE THAT'S HIDDEN. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER CUT HIS HAND. *AK

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Sep 15, 2003140,000 milesNC

THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT AND THE LOCKING MECHANISM DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED FOR 8 MONTHS. *AK THE RIGHT REAR SEAT RETRACTOR AND THE LOCK HAD BROKEN. *SCC *JB

Equipment › ElectricalFire
Filed Mar 13, 2003IL

NAR 03/13/2003 THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND ON OHIO THE TURNPIKE WHEN HE STARTED SMELLING SMOKE, HE THEN LOOKED TO SEE THAT THE ENTIRE TRUNK AND BACK SEAT AREA WAS SUSTAINED WITH HEAVY FIRE DAMAGE IN WHICH HE BELIEVED WAS CAUSED BY THE SPEAKERS IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. *CB *JB

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Abs Warning Light
Filed Jan 7, 2003OK

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID FROM THE SIDE OF THE BRAKES. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed May 10, 2002TN

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 5, 2002WI

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

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing
Filed Oct 24, 2001NY

FOLD DOWN SEAT BEHIND DRIVER AND PASSENGER HINGE CUT THROUGH SHOULDER BELTS ON BOTH SIDES OF FOLD DOWN SEAT. THESE BELTS ARE AT LEAST HALF CUT THRU OR SEVEREL DAMAGED IN JUST THE LAST 2 YEARS. THE CUT APPEARS WITHIN 8" OF FLOOR OF VEHICLE. THEY HAD BEEN INSPECTED JUST TWO YEARS AGO. THIS IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILTIY OF MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE BELTS OR SUPPLY PLASTIC GUARD WHICH WOULD KEEP BELT FROM BEING CUT OR CRUSHED BY SEAT HINGE SHEARING ACTION.*AK

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Arm
Filed Sep 1, 2001PA

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, DRIVER HEARD A LOUD BANG AND LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. HAD VEHICLE BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY RATE OF SPEED INSTEAD OF 35 MPH, DRIVER AND WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY MAIMED NOT TO MENTION OTHERS DRIVING IN THE PROXIMITY OF MY VEHICLE. THE BOLTS HOLDING THE LEFT SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY BROKE FOR NO APPARENT RESASON,. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 28, 2001OR

WHEN VEHICLE WAS EITHER IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AND MAKING A TURN, COULD HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AT LEAST 4 OR MORE TIMES. EACH TIME MECHANIC INDICATED NON-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL WAS CAUSING CLUNKING NOISE. MECHANIC DRAINED DIFFERENTIAL, AND REPLACED IT WITH AN ADDITIVE TO HELP RELEASE BETTER.BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK DEALER HAS: REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT, SERVICED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TWICE, AND DRAINED AND REFILLED FLUIDS, PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. *SLC

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Arm
Filed Apr 2, 2001VA

BOLTS ON THE UPPER CONTROL ARM THAT AFFIX THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY WERE EXPOSED TO CONDENSATION CONTAINING BATTERY ACID THAT DRIPPED DOWN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BAY SIDE OF THE RIGHT WHEEL WELL, FROM THE POSITIVE BATTERY POST THAT IS DIRECTLY ABOVE IT, AND CORRODED THROUGH THE BOLTS, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY SHEARED, CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. MECHANIC WHO FIXED IT, ($900.00- INCLUDED REPLACING THE CONTROL ARM, SWAY BAR, TIE ROD, DUE TO BEING BENT WHEN THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED), STATED THAT THE OVERALL DESIGN WAS POOR, (IN THAT, THE BATTERY IS PLACED IN SUCH A POSITION, AND THE BATTERY STAGE WAS TOO NARROW TO CAPTURE ANY CONDENSATION DRIPPING OFF THE BATTERIES POSITIVE TERMINAL), THAT HE HAD SEEN MANY OF THESE IN THE PAST. IS THERE A RECALL OF THIS? IS BUICK/GM AWARE OF THIS? MY WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN WERE IN THAT CAR AT THE TIME: I CAN'T BELIEVE NONE OF THEM WERE HURT. PLEASE RESPOND ASAP.

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Dec 5, 2000MD

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE TREAD OF LEFT BRIDGESTONE TIRE CAME OFF DAMAGING WHEEL WELL PANEL (BRIDGESTONE P235/70R15 15 INCH TIRE).

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Nov 22, 2000NY

SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAILED. 1, RIGHT FRONT AND 1 LEFT REAR WITHIN 30 DAYS. SPRING WENT OUT THE SIDE OF HOUSING MAKING THE BELT NONRETRACTABLE. I STILL HAVE THE 2ND ONE IF ANYONE WANTS TO INSPECT IT. BOTH BELTS FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. *AK

20 of 87 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1992
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19991000Routine
199652210Routine
199550510Routine
199485540Routine
199346110Routine
1992 — this page87410Routine
19919300Routine

Compare every Roadmaster year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 24, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.