1996 Buick ROADMASTER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
81,563 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 32 complaints (9.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 8 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 12.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Steering: 2; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump: 2; Suspension: 2; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 22 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
1996: 4; 2000: 6; 2001: 7; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2018: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 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 10000237 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
96 BUICK ROADMASTER WAGON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CATCHES FIRE AND DESTROYS CAR! INTERNAL DOOR FIRE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004632 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL WANDER OFF TO THE LEFT AND WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023654 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)
FUEL PUMP FAILED & VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, VEHICLE TOWED TO SHOP, MECHANIC FOUND SHORTED FUEL PUMP DUE TO LOOSE WIRING THAT CAUSED ARCING IN TANK FOR SOME TIME. MECHANIC STATED THAT WIRING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HOOKED UP PROPERLY AT FACTORY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 79,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023654 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046367 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
WHILE BACKING IN VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED, WIRING HARNESS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK WIRES INSIDE THE GAS TANK BURNED AND MELTED PLASTIC AT THE FUEL TANK HOOK UP. THIS COULD'VE BLOWN UP AND KILLED SOMEONE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE A REFUND FOR THE WIRING HARNESS. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058669 · 2004-02-21 (February 21, 2004)
I ACQUIRED A CAR WITH FOUR NEW TIRES ARIZONIAN R/S,A/S. THE TIRES SAY TRACTION A TEMPERATURE B WEAR 360. UTQG GRADING SAYS TRACTION B TEMPERARURE C WEAR 240. WHY SUCH A VARIANCE? I WOULD NEVER RUN A TIRE WITH YOUR GRADING. I FEEL WEARY UNSAFE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107373 · 2005-01-13 (January 13, 2005)
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTO DOOR LOCKS, AND THE COURTESY LIGHTS. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 507 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135912 · 2005-09-08 (September 8, 2005)
SINCE NEW THIS 1996 BUICK ROADMASTER STATION WAGON HAS HAD 4 TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN IT. THIS PARTICULAR CAR HAS THE FACTORY INSTALLED 5000LB TOW PACKAGE. THIS CAR USES THE GM, 4L60E, 4 SPEED, ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION. ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THE 4L60E TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHEN IT ONLY HAD ROUGHLY 40,000 MILES ON IT. HE TOLD ME THE 2ND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT 40,000MILES AFTER IT WAS INSTALLED. THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOLD ME HE HAD THE 3RD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WHEN THE CAR HAD 85,000 MILES ON IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 119,000 MILES O…
Owner-reported narrative. 142,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156604 · 2006-05-02 (May 2, 2006)
DRIVING ON SAN PABLO DAM RD JUST PAST APPIAN WAY AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH THE RIGHT FT TIRE FOLDED UP UNDER THE CAR THE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND SNAPPED IN HALF. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156604 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
95V215000 · Air Bags
Reported: 1995-11-03 (November 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V245000 · Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Reported: 1996-12-10 (December 10, 1996)
THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗