1994 Buick Roadmaster Problems
- Complaints
- 85filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 130,000miles, 3 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 5campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 18 mpgcombined, 5.7L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 23 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1994 Buick Roadmaster (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
These complaints describe an older full-size sedan with a broad mix of electrical and brake troubles reported by owners. Electrical problems are the most common theme, usually described as sudden loss of power, blown fuses, horn issues, or a stuck ignition key. Suspension and steering complaints often concern ball joints and front-end wear, while brake complaints center on ABS behavior and noise.
- Electrical system
Battery cable and fusebox electrical failures
- 19 complaints (22%)
- typically at 5.1 yrs old
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2004
Owners describe the positive battery cable or a terminal near the firewall overheating and melting, causing a complete loss of power while driving. Several complaints mention a fuse box short, blown horn fuses, or a failed computer module that left the vehicle stranded. Complaints describe dealers replacing the battery cable, alternator, or connectors. Filed from the mid-1990s through the 2000s, with no consistent mileage pattern in the sample.
What to check: Inspect battery cables and terminals for heat damage or corrosion, and check whether the under-hood fuse box shows signs of melting or burn marks.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Electrical short in the door panel, causing an electircal malfunction in the vehicle. Dealer found 7 wires burnt in door panel and 20 wires burnt under seat, causing several electrical components to fail. Vehicle experienced brake problems. Vehicle experienced alignment problems.”
NHTSA complaint #801096, filed 1996-08“Horn won't honk unless steering wheel is straight ahead-always-replaced by dealer once, with no improvement. Gm paid for the part: $600!!! Dangerous! Caprice and fleetwood are the same b body series of GM full-size, rear drive, v-8 vehicles (their last of these)!”
NHTSA complaint #735369, filed 2000-10 - Brakes
ABS braking performance and intermittent lock-up
- 15 complaints (18%)
- typically at 2.2 yrs old
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2000
Complaints describe ABS not stopping the vehicle as expected, intermittent rear brake lock-up during normal braking, and grinding or smoke from the front brakes. Some owners report dealers repaired the brakes, while others describe being turned away without an inspection. Reported across the sample with no reliable mileage pattern; several complaints involve braking in normal conditions or at low speed.
What to check: Ask for brake and ABS service records and have a mechanic check for ABS warning lights, rear brake drag, and pad or lining condition.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Had indication of grinding (metl 0n metal); no pads or shoes; had drum lining replaced. Took to dealer & they refused to look at brakes; told to take to another dearler; went to chevrolet; vehice was drivable but w/o brakes on them.”
NHTSA complaint #812115, filed 1997-05“When applying the ABS brakes in normal braking conditions the right rear brake intermittently locks up. Brake problem repaired by dealer. Also, the fuse box under the hood shorted out and caused a small fire.”
NHTSA complaint #836764, filed 1999-04 - Suspension
Front ball joint separation and front-end looseness
- 7 complaints (8%)
- median 133,000 mi at 10.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- filed 1997–2004
Owners describe the lower ball joint coming apart, in one case at low speed causing the front of the vehicle to drop and drag. Other complaints mention shaking at highway speed, a tilting feeling in turns, and jerking when shifting into gear. One dealer attributed a failure to prior impact damage while the owner disputed that. Mileage varies; reports include vehicles at roughly 133,000 miles and several without mileage listed.
What to check: Have the front ball joints and control arm fasteners inspected, and ask whether recall 96V019000 was completed on this vehicle.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Our car has been dealer maintained since its purchase. The passenger side ball joint broke as we were slowing to make a turn, thereby escaping personal injury. The dealer which maintains the car stated they have greased the joint with each oil change and the failure was due to previous trauma. However, there has been no damage to any of the wheels (e.g. Hitting a pothole, accident, etc.) nor has a tire been replaced due to this type of damage. Therefore, we feel the car was built with an inherent safety defect.”
NHTSA complaint #724303, filed 2000-06“The consumer was driving 7 MPH when the vehicle lost control due to the ball joint dislodging. The lower ball joint failed due to the nut backing off. The ball joint fell out of the knuckle causing the vehicle to collapse and drag on the ground. (recall id number : 96v019000)”
NHTSA complaint #10088045, filed 2004-09, 133,000 miles - Engine cooling
Exhaust manifold bolt breakage and exhaust smell
- 8 complaints (9%)
- typically at 5.0 yrs old
- filed 1995–2002
Owners report exhaust manifold bolts shearing off, producing exhaust noise and exhaust smell inside the cabin. In one case two bolts on the left manifold broke without prior work on the engine. Some complaints also describe coolant loss and overheating traced to the water pump or thermostat. Reported on vehicles with engine work described as untouched since new; one complaint cites about 45,000 miles on a failed water pump.
Recall 94V0490001 related service bulletin
What to check: Listen for exhaust tick at cold start and check for exhaust smell in the cabin; also confirm the engine oil cooler hose recall 94V049000 was done.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Factory installed water pump without the bearing seal. This caused coolant leakages and overheating. Engineer inspected original water pump and stated that the bearings were not sealed and should not have failed at 45000 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #862334, filed 2000-05“Front cam oil leak repair 2 times bad front spring replace overheating, replaced thermostat and water pump, to no avail, coolant sensor installed problem solved. Model Roadmaster”
NHTSA complaint #9000122, filed 2000-03
Buying note. On a car this age, condition and service history matter more than the model itself: check the electrical system, brake and ABS function, front suspension, and exhaust carefully, and confirm which open recalls have been completed for the specific vehicle.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 42 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 85 consumer complaints for the 1994 Buick Roadmaster. 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 130,000 miles. Of all complaints, 11 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 4 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system21 25%
- Brakes15 18%
- Engine cooling12 14%
- Suspension10 12%
- Air bags7 8.2%
- Vehicle speed control7 8.2%
- Body and structure6 7.1%
- Steering5 5.9%
Also reported: Exterior lighting (4), Fuel system (4), Seat belts (4), Tires (4), Other or unknown (2), Wheels (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seats (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “Consumer states undersized connector stud failed causing vehicle to lose all power while driving, dealer inspected vehicle and found stud was melted, dealer replaced the battery positive connector on the under hood fuse box and cleaned the cables and connectors.”
NHTSA complaint #562036, filed 2001-07Brakes: “While driving consumer tried to use ABS brakes, and vehicle would not stop. Vehicle was still moving at about 1mph ,for a mile before actually stopping.”
NHTSA complaint #859553, filed 2000-03Engine cooling: “Recall 94v049000. Vehicle had an oil leak, oil was down. Dealer replaced the oil cooler hose and radiator. Vehicle does not comply to the recall, repairs made at owners expense.”
NHTSA complaint #831048, filed 1998-11Suspension: “While driving on highway at 40-45 MPH at the end of a rain shower, driving straight way with no warning, the rear end of the vehicle began to slide to the right, the vehicle went completely out of control, crossed three lanes of traffic and collided with a van. Vehicle was totalled. Dealer not aware of the problem. No injuries”
NHTSA complaint #828913, filed 1998-10Mileage when problems were reported
33% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 43,800 and 133,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1994 Buick Roadmaster. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roadmaster · sedan | not rated | 4 / 2 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1994 Buick Roadmaster version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roadmaster RWD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 23 | 18 | $4,550 |
| Roadmaster Wagon RWD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 23 | 18 | $4,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 96V019000Jan 30, 1996Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball jointCovers: Buick Roadmaster 1994–1995, Chevrolet Caprice 1994–1995, Cadillac Fleetwood 1994–1995
Defective lower control arm ball joint attachment nuts were not properly torqued and can loosen.
- 95V082000Apr 24, 1995Vehicle speed control › SpringsCovers: Buick Roadmaster 1994–1995, Chevrolet Caprice 1994–1995, Cadillac Fleetwood 1994–1995
These vehicles fail to conform to fmvss no. 124, "accelerator control systems." at low temperatures, excessive friction can occur in the accelerator pedal assembly.
- 94V210000Oct 25, 1994Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › MountingCovers: Buick Roadmaster 1994, Chevrolet Caprice 1994, Cadillac Fleetwood 1994
The fuel tank attachment strap fasteners were not properly tightened. The fasteners can completely detach, eventually allowing the fuel tank to sag and the bottom of the tank to strike the roadway.
- 94V076000Apr 16, 1994Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studsCovers: Buick Roadmaster 1994, Chevrolet Caprice 1994, Cadillac Fleetwood 1994
Paint on the wheel mounting surfaces can act as a shim between the wheel and the rotor/drum. As the vehicle is driven, the wheel imbeds into the paint, loosening the lug nut and causing a loss of clamp load.
- 94V049000Mar 21, 1994Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Hoses/lines/piping/fittingsCovers: Buick Roadmaster 1994, Chevrolet Caprice 1994, Cadillac Fleetwood 1994
The engine oil cooler inlet hose may have been installed too close to the steering gear causing chafing. The chafing can eventually wear through the hose's protective sleeve resulting in engine oil leaking onto the engine.
Recall details for the 1994 Buick Roadmaster → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 4 on record; the latest 4 are shown.
- 10168979Nov 22, 2019Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10165876Sep 5, 2019Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10141381May 31, 2018Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Engine cooling. Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Other model years of the Buick Roadmaster
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 52 | 81,562 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1995 | 50 | 106,250 | 5 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 85 | 130,000 | 5 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 46 | 125,000 | 0 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 87 | 142,000 | 3 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 9 | — | 2 | — | 17 | — | Not enough data |
All Buick Roadmaster model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1994 Buick Roadmaster?
These complaints describe an older full-size sedan with a broad mix of electrical and brake troubles reported by owners. The issues reported most often: Battery cable and fusebox electrical failures; ABS braking performance and intermittent lock-up; Front ball joint separation and front-end looseness.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1994 Buick Roadmaster have?
NHTSA recorded 85 consumer complaints for the 1994 Buick Roadmaster as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1994 Buick Roadmaster is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 21 complaints (25% of the total), followed by brakes with 15.
Has the 1994 Buick Roadmaster been recalled?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1994 Buick Roadmaster get?
The EPA rates the 1994 Buick Roadmaster (Roadmaster, 5.7L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1994 Buick Roadmaster reported?
Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 130,000 miles and the middle half falls between 43,800 and 133,000 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.