1996 Buick Roadmaster Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 1996 Buick Roadmaster. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel was steering to the left while the vehicle was going to the right as well as while steering to the right the vehicle was going to the left. The dealer or independent mechanic was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 137,831. Invalid VIN provided.

NHTSA ID

11427408

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

137,831 mi

I WAS ON THE WAY HOME THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING TYPE OF NOISE AS WELL AS A BOUNCE AND CAME TO A STOP A A RED LIGHT TO TURN LEFT AND AS I WAS TURNING LEFT MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELL OFF BOUNCING AWAY BENT MY FRONT PASSENGER FENDER AS WELL AS TRIM I HAD TO PAY A TOW TRUCK $150 TO TAKE MY CAR TO MY HOUSE TO FIX ALL 5 WHEEL STUDS ALSO WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE SEAT BELT DOESN'T CLICK TO STAY IN POSITION THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DON'T TURN OFF I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY SO THE CAR WON'T DIE OVER NIGHT AND NOW THE ENGINE DOESN'T NOT WANT TO TURN OVER AS IT DID BEFORE I HAVE CHANGED THE DISTRIBUTIOR CAP SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES COMPLETE OIL CHANGE ENGINE TRANSACTION TRANSFER CASE OIL IN THE REAR AXEL AND OXYGEN SENSORS AND THE CAR IS STILL HAVEING TROUBLE TO TURN AND STAY ON JUST IN IDEL AND ON TOP OF THAT THE CLUSTER DOESN'T NOT MARK MY SPEED AND THE GAS METER IS MORE OR LESS A QUARTER OFF MARKING I HAVE MORE THEN WHAT I DO HAVE

NHTSA ID

11156939

Incident

May 25, 2018

Mileage

165,983 mi

CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN DARTS LEFT THEN HAS A LARGE AMOUNT PLAY IN STEERING . THEN IT MAY NOT DO IT FOR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS THEN IT MAY GO THE OTHER WAY. THIS IS A HIGH MILEAGE CAR BUT I SEE WHERE THERE IS ANOTHER ONE LISTED AS DOING THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211320

Incident

Nov 8, 2007

Mileage

20,000 mi

THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT BROKE OFF WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT ON OCTOBER 31, 2006. I HAD TO HAVE A NEW LOWER ARM AND BALL JOINT INSTALLED ON THE CAR SINCE A BOLT HAD SHEARED HOLDING THE BALL JOINT TO THE ARM. BUICK HAD A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THIS, BUT MY CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY BUILT WITH A LATER SERIAL NUMBER. I HAVE THE BROKEN ASSEMBLY STORED IN MY GARAGE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10174729

Incident

Oct 31, 2006

Mileage

202,550 mi

UPON LEAVING FOR WORK IN THE MORNING, MY 1996 BUICK ROADMASTER WITH 56,600 MILES WOULD NOT START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR GARAGE. WENT TO PICK UP CAR A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THERE HAD NOT BEEN A FIRE OR EXPLOSION DUE TO THE SMOLDERING FUEL PUMP AND MELTED WIRING HARNESS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. HE GAVE ME THE PART. I THOUGHT THAT GENERAL MOTORS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT THIS DEFECT AS I WAS SURE THAT MANY OTHER ROADMASTERS ARE STILL ON THE ROAD. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT. ON 6/27 AND RELATED THIS SAFETY CONCERN AND ALSO SENT AN E-MAIL TO THEM ON THEIR WEBSITE OFFERING TO SEND PICTURES OF THIS PART. AS OF TODAY, 7/6/06, I HAD NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE SO I CALLED AGAIN. I EMPHASIZED MY CONCERNS AGAIN AND ALSO REQUESTED TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THIS REPAIR AS I FELT THIS WAS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM, BUT A DEFECT PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD. I TOLD THEM THAT I DID NOT REALIZE THERE WAS A TIME LIMIT ON PEOPLE'S SAFETY AND WELL BEING. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT NO ONE AT GM WAS INTERESTED IN SEEING THIS PART OR PICTURES. THEY COULD BE RELYING ON THE FACT THAT THE GAS TANK IS UNDER A VACUUM, BUT IN THIS CASE, THE PUMP WAS ACTUALLY SMOLDERING AND IF I HAD HAPPENED TO STOP AND GET GAS WHILE THIS WAS SMOLDERING AND REMOVED THE GAS CAP AND ADDED THE THIRD ELEMENT, OXYGEN, THERE VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. THIS IS AN ORIGINAL GM PART AND I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT GM HAS NO INTEREST IN THIS MATTER. THE ORIGINAL MILEAGE SHOULD BE A FACTOR, NOT JUST THE YEAR. CUSTOMER RELATIONS TOLD ME THEY WOULD SEND ME IN WRITING THEIR REFUSAL TO ASSIST ME WITH ANY COMPENSATION FOR THE REPAIR. WHAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST IS THEIR LACK OF CONCERN FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S SAFETY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161526

Incident

Jun 23, 2006

Mileage

56,600 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10156604

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

84,000 mi

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 ON THE ODOMETER, AND THE 3RD TRANSMISSION FAILED WHEN THE CAR HAD 142,000 MILES ON IT. THE 4L60E TRANSMISSION IS A VERY POOR TRANSMISSION FOR THE TASK ASSIGNED. THE CAR ALREADY WEIGHS 4500LBS AND IS RATED TO TOW 5000 MORE LBS. MAKING UP ROUGHLY A 10,000LB PLATFORM. THIS TRANSMISSION FAILS IN MANY, MANY VEHICLES IT WAS INSTALLED IN REGARDLESS OF PURPOSE, USE, OR CARE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10135912

Incident

Aug 29, 2005

Mileage

142,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10107373

Incident

Jan 13, 2005

Mileage

507 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10058669

Incident

Feb 19, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10046367

Mileage

38,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10023654

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

79,125 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10004632

Incident

Jan 2, 2003

96 BUICK ROADMASTER WAGON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CATCHES FIRE AND DESTROYS CAR! INTERNAL DOOR FIRE.

NHTSA ID

10000237

Incident

Dec 16, 2002

DUE TO MISALIGNMENT TIRES ARE WEARING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8008896

Incident

Apr 28, 2002

HORN FAILS TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY BECAUSE THE BUTTON TO ACTIVATE HORN IS DIFFICULT TO PRESS. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002984

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

BOTH FRONT AND REAR PASSENGERS' SIDE WINDOWS FAIL TO OPERATE WITHIN ONE TO TWO WEEKS APART. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND VEHICLE NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

899335

Incident

Oct 7, 2001

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 ID

893985

Incident

Aug 1, 2001

LEFT REAR TIRE LOST A LARGE SECTION OF THE TREAD LAYER CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, AS TIRE WAS BEING REPLACED CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT ANOTHER TIRE WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION AS WELL, CONSUMER HAD ALL 5 CONTINENTAL GENERAL SEAL TIRES (225/75/15) BE REPLACED INCLUDING SPARE TIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID

560719

Incident

Mar 13, 2001

WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD, ENGINE REVS. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

882828

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

WHEN MAKING A TURN, DRIVER'S SEAT WILL SHIFT IN DIRECTION OF TURN. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

882827

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

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 ID

881581

Incident

Feb 1, 1999

ONLY IN WET WEATHER CONDITIONS POWER STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN BELTS GET WET UNDER HOOD. BUICK HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

880329

GENERAL TIRES EXPERIENCED LUMPS ON THE TREAD AND THUMPING. *SLC

NHTSA ID

556695

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

733618

Incident

Oct 3, 2000

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 ID

861837