Engine
5.7L 8-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 68 of 87 complaints with a usable failure date.
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Brakes
27 complaint records5 crash reports
"WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →
Seat belts
11 complaint records1 crash report
"DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELTS INOPERATIVE DUE FAILURE IN RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY, BELT HAS FULLY EXTENDED, AND WON'T RETRACT.*AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse seat belts parts in the directory →
Engine & cooling
10 complaint records
"PROBLEMS WITH SCORED PISTON IN THE ENGINE, MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN STARTING, SOMETIMES WHEN IN DRIVE THIS MAY CAUSE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. PLEASE EXPAIN MORE. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE92079 opened Sep 1992 | closed Jan 1993 | Seat Belts | R SEAT BELT WEBBING LENGTH There is no summary currently available |
| PE91109 opened Aug 1991 | closed Nov 1991 | Visibility | DASH REFLCTS IN WINDSHIELD There is no summary currently available |
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97V217000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULATOR CAN CORRODE AND LEAK FLUID FROM THE FRONT BRAKE CIRCUIT. | Normally free |
| 92V094000 | Seat Belts | THE SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP PLASTIC COVERING MAY CRACK AND EXPOSE THE STEEL SUB-PLATE. | Normally free |
| 91V186000 | Latches/Locks/Linkages | SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES CAN CORRODE, CAUSING A HIGH LATCH RELEASE EFFORT AND POSSIBLY PREVENTING THE HOOD FROM LATCHING PROPERLY WHEN IT IS CLOSED. | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997219 1997-12-11 | Brakes | 5,594 | THE ABS MODULATOR MAY CORRODE AND LEAK FLUID FROM THE FRONT BRAKE CIRCUIT. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD REDUCE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. |
| 1992076 1992-06-29 | Seats And Restraints | 13,808 | NOTE: 1991 CAPRICE SEDANS AND WAGONS AND ROADMASTER WAGONS AND 1992 ROADMASTER SEDANS. THE SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP PLASTIC COVERING MAY CRACK AND EXPOSE THE STEEL SUB-PLATE. |
| 1991147 1991-10-31 | Structure | 13,897 | THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCHES ON THESE VEHICLES CAN CORRODE CAUSING A VERY HIGH LATCH RELEASE EFFORT AND POSSIBLY PREVENTING THE HOOD FROM LATCHING PROPERLY WHEN IT IS CLOSED. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 130089009 Sep 2013 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules | |
| 020730024A Aug 2005 | Power Train | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT | |
| 739014 Jun 1997 | Unknown Or Other | DOORS LOCK/UNLOCK ERRATICALLY WHEN USING REMOTE TRANSMITTER (INSTALL NEW REMOTE DOOR/REAR COMPARTMENT RECEIVER). *TW | |
| 438206A Jun 1995 | Visibility | UNKNOWN | |
| 438206 Dec 1994 | Visibility | WIPER CHATTER DURING COLD WEATHER. *TW |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
- Pull and release every belt.A belt that retracts slowly or a buckle that will not latch matches this vehicle's seat-belt cluster.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 3 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Buick Roadmaster →