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1996 Buick Roadmaster

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 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

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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: 10 of 52 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.

  • Steering. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN ENGINE IS SUBSTANTIALLY WET POWER STEERING IS LOST. THERE IS NO PRIOR WARNING. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE REMEDY, BUT HAS RECOGNIZED THE DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #893985

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

WHILE DRIVING STEERING CONTROLS OF THE VEHICLE WILL LOCK UP. WATER PUMP LEAKS ON TO THE BELT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN . BELT SLIPS, AND LOCKS UP POWER STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881581

Mileage unknown · May 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #861837

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. YH

NHTSA ODI #550503

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

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

NHTSA ODI #834192

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #829796

Official recalls

2

96V245000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Dec 10, 1996

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

Consequence & remedy

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.

95V215000 · Air Bags

Nov 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 & remedy

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.

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

1

EA96007 · Rear Wheel Separation

Opened May 31, 1996 · Closed Dec 24, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT THEY ARE CONDUCTING A RECALL TO RETORQUE THE WHEEL LUG NUTS ON VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF 1995.IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT MOST VEHICLES WILL REQUIRE THE WHEEL LUG NUTS TO BE RETORQUED TO 135 N.M(100 LB. FT.).CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD ALL FOUR OF THEIR TIRES AND WHEELS ROTATED SHOULD HAVE PROPERLY TORQUED LUG NUTS.HOWEVER, GM IS OFFERING CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR TIRES AND WHEELS ROTATED THE OPTION OF RETURNING TO THEIR DEALER FOR THIS REPAIR OR COMPLETING AND RETURNING AN OWNER REPLY CARD INCLUDED WITH THEIR RECALL NOTICE.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.