IllustrationTHE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 7 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL DUE TO THE BALL JOINT DISLODGING. *AK THE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED DUE TO THE NUT BACKING OFF. THE BALL JOINT FELL OUT OF THE KNUCKLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE AND DRAG ON THE GROUND. (RECALL ID NUMBER : 96V019000) *TC *JB
1994 Buick Roadmaster
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Buick Roadmaster do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Roadmaster years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 85 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports
Suspension complaints
10 reportsVEHICLE JERKS WHEN PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING 60MPH VEHICLE SHAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
OUR CAR HAS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED SINCE ITS PURCHASE. THE PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT BROKE AS WE WERE SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN, THEREBY ESCAPING PERSONAL INJURY. THE DEALER WHICH MAINTAINS THE CAR STATED THEY HAVE GREASED THE JOINT WITH EACH OIL CHANGE AND THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO PREVIOUS TRAUMA. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAG…
Read full complaint
OUR CAR HAS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED SINCE ITS PURCHASE. THE PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT BROKE AS WE WERE SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN, THEREBY ESCAPING PERSONAL INJURY. THE DEALER WHICH MAINTAINS THE CAR STATED THEY HAVE GREASED THE JOINT WITH EACH OIL CHANGE AND THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO PREVIOUS TRAUMA. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE TO ANY OF THE WHEELS (E.G. HITTING A POTHOLE, ACCIDENT, ETC.) NOR HAS A TIRE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE. THEREFORE, WE FEEL THE CAR WAS BUILT WITH AN INHERENT SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
FRONT CAM OIL LEAK REPAIR 2 TIMES BAD FRONT SPRING REPLACE OVERHEATING, REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP, TO NO AVAIL, COOLANT SENSOR INSTALLED PROBLEM SOLVED. MODEL ROADMASTER
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 40-45 MPH AT THE END OF A RAIN SHOWER, DRIVING STRAIGHT WAY WITH NO WARNING, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL, CROSSED THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC AND COLLIDED WITH A VAN. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NO INJURIES…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 40-45 MPH AT THE END OF A RAIN SHOWER, DRIVING STRAIGHT WAY WITH NO WARNING, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL, CROSSED THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC AND COLLIDED WITH A VAN. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NO INJURIES *AK
WHEN MAKING HARD LEFT/RIGHT TURNS OR "U" TURNS, VEHICLE FEELS AS IF IT'S TILTING OVER. HAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER AS OF YET*AK
VEHICLE DRIFTS WHEN DRIVEN OVER 40MPH.
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE DOOR PANEL, CAUSING AN ELECTIRCAL MALFUNCTION IN THE VEHICLE.*AK DEALER FOUND 7 WIRES BURNT IN DOOR PANEL AND 20 WIRES BURNT UNDER SEAT, CAUSING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. *SLC
WHEEL COVERS ROTATE ON TIRE, CUTTING VALVE STEM, RESULTING IN FLAT TIRES.
HEATER HOSE CRACKED, CAUSING COOLANT LEAK.
Official recalls
596V019000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Jan 30, 1996
DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT LOOSENS, FATIGUES AND SEPARATES FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE, IT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED FROM THE KNUCKLE, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.
95V082000 · Vehicle Speed Control:springs
Apr 24, 1995
THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS." AT LOW TEMPERATURES, EXCESSIVE FRICTION CAN OCCUR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE OF THE TROTTLE RETURN SPRING, IF THERE IS EXCESSIVE FRICTION IN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY, THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
94V210000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
Oct 25, 1994
THE FUEL TANK ATTACHMENT STRAP FASTENERS WERE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED. THE FASTENERS CAN COMPLETELY DETACH, EVENTUALLY ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO SAG AND THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK TO STRIKE THE ROADWAY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FUEL TANK LEAK AND FIRE IF THE LEAKING FUEL IS EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RETIGHTEN THE FUEL TANK STRAP FASTENERS.
94V076000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Apr 16, 1994
PAINT ON THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES CAN ACT AS A SHIM BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE ROTOR/DRUM. AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE WHEEL IMBEDS INTO THE PAINT, LOOSENING THE LUG NUT AND CAUSING A LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ONCE CLAMP LOAD IS LOST, ALL TIRE LOADS ARE TAKEN BY THE WHEEL STUDS RESULTING IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE AND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLES CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS. ALSO, THE WHEEL STUDS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND WILL BE REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
94V049000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:hoses/lines/piping/fittings
Mar 21, 1994
THE ENGINE OIL COOLER INLET HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING GEAR CAUSING CHAFING. THE CHAFING CAN EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH THE HOSE'S PROTECTIVE SLEEVE RESULTING IN ENGINE OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE OIL LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: Not supplied
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.