1992 Buick ROADMASTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
59 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
142,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 59 complaints (16.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 27.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 10; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Visibility:Windshield: 3; Electrical System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 50 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 18 |
| 1996 | 12 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 18; 1996: 12; 2000: 11; 2001: 4; 2002: 2; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10002290 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011733 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033707 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071795 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED THAT TRUNK HAS A VERY SHARP EDGE THAT'S HIDDEN. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER CUT HIS HAND. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129359 · 2005-08-12 (August 12, 2005)
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, TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10129359 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169500 · 2006-09-28 (September 28, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178329 · 2007-01-10 (January 10, 2007)
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. …
Owner-reported narrative. 177,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178329 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199768 · 2007-08-16 (August 16, 2007)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199768 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
91V186000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
Reported: 1991-10-29 (October 29, 1991)
SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES CAN CORRODE, CAUSING A HIGH LATCH RELEASE EFFORT AND POSSIBLY PREVENTING THE HOOD FROM LATCHING PROPERLY WHEN IT IS CLOSED.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗92V094000 · Seat Belts
Reported: 1992-07-01 (July 1, 1992)
THE SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP PLASTIC COVERING MAY CRACK AND EXPOSE THE STEEL SUB-PLATE.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V217000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 1997-11-24 (November 24, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULATOR CAN CORRODE AND LEAK FLUID FROM THE FRONT BRAKE CIRCUIT.
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN REDUCE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE ABS MODULATOR.
NHTSA campaign record ↗