Your vehicle report
1996 Buick Roadmaster
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 52
- Received Mar 1996 to Aug 2021
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Tires blow out or tread separates4 complaints · 7.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Power steering cuts out while driving4 complaints · 7.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Seat belt fails to latch or retract3 complaints · 5.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #96V245000The wheel lug nuts were not tightened to the proper specification during assembly.
- Recall #95V215000These 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."
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 3 crashes, 1 fire, 3 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 6 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 5 |
| 1997 | 16 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 52 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 4 | 7.7% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 4 | 7.7% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 3 | 5.8% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 3 | 5.8% | – | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 3 | 5.8% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 3 | 5.8% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #96V245000December 10, 199621,582 vehicles affected
wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
The wheel lug nuts were not tightened to the proper specification during assembly.
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 recall #95V215000November 3, 19958,946 vehicles affected
air bags
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 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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1996 Buick Roadmaster.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN