IllustrationWHILE 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
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
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: 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
What owners actually said
52 reportsONLY IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS POWER STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN BELTS GET WET UNDER HOOD. BUICK HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
GENERAL TIRES EXPERIENCED LUMPS ON THE TREAD AND THUMPING. *SLC
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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
STEERING AND FRONT END SUSPENSION EXPERIENCES CONTINUED PROBLEMS/FAILURES WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN REPAIRING/REPLACING MOST OF THE FRONT END PARTS. YH
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. YH
WHEN IGNITION KEY IS IN "RUN" POSITION, "ARCING" AS EVIDENCED BY INTENSE STATIC ON THE AM RADIO, IS TAKING PLACE. WHEN KEY IS IN "ACCESSORY" POSITION, NO STATIC IS PRESENT AND AM RADIO FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO HAVE ORIGINAL DEALER DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. REFUSED TO EVEN INVESTIGATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRESENT OWNER…
Read full complaint
WHEN IGNITION KEY IS IN "RUN" POSITION, "ARCING" AS EVIDENCED BY INTENSE STATIC ON THE AM RADIO, IS TAKING PLACE. WHEN KEY IS IN "ACCESSORY" POSITION, NO STATIC IS PRESENT AND AM RADIO FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO HAVE ORIGINAL DEALER DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. REFUSED TO EVEN INVESTIGATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRESENT OWNER, WHOSE SERVICE ADVISOR, WHEN PRESENTED WITH PROBLEM BY ACTUALLY LISTENING TO THE STATIC, ADMITTED THAT, "THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN." DEALER REPLACED RADIO. OBVIOUSLY, NO CHANGE. RADIO IS NOT THE PROBLEM, JUST THE "MESSENGER" AND IS PROVIDING THE EVIDENCE OF A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. CONTACTED BUICK (FILE 9901-07-953). THEY ALSO REFUSED TO INTERVENE. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ISOLATE PROBLEM BY DISCONNECTING INDIVIDUAL POWER TO BLOWER, FUEL PUMP, ETC., TO NO AVAIL. I AM CONCERNED THAT, EVENTUALLY, WHATEVER IS ARCING WILL CAUSE ENOUGH HEAT TO START A FIRE. CAN YOU HELP? *AK
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
REAR QUARTER GLASS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, DUE TO LOOSENESS OR BLOWING OUT OF VEHICLE.
Official recalls
296V245000 · 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
1EA96007 · 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.