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Buick ElectraYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 35 owner complaints and 29 safety recalls on record for the Buick Electra.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints35Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls291965–1991 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Buick Electra years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Electra median. Tap a year for its full report.

'65'66'67'70'71'72'74'75'76'77'78'79'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1991Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1990Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall1989Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1988Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/1004 complaints · 2 recalls1986Not rated–/10012 complaints · 3 recalls1985Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls1983Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1982Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1970Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1967Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1966Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1965Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Buick Electra problems

All model years combined: 35 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic90
Engine and engine cooling61
Vehicle speed control62
Steering50
Electrical system40
Seat belts30
Seats30
Power train20
Tires10
4 other systems40
29 recalls

Buick Electra recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Front: webbing90V-112 · 1990 · Jun 6, 1990 · 51,834 vehicles–Vehicle speed control89V-102 · 1984 · Jun 16, 1989 · 1,755,897 vehicles–Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal88V-080 · 1987 · May 16, 1988 · 35,057 vehicles–Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers87V-135 · 1987 · Sep 1, 1987 · 479,715 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip87V-093 · 1986 · Jun 23, 1987 · 6,004 vehicles–Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections86V-145 · 1986 · Nov 3, 1986 · 88,668 vehicles–Headlights: switch86V-131 · 1986 · Sep 19, 1986 · 106,111 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings84V-103 · 1984 · Sep 5, 1984 · 520 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system82V-012 · 1982 · Jan 3, 1982 · 79,686 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings81V-037 · 1981 · Mar 23, 1981 · 93 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages80V-125 · 1981 · Sep 25, 1980 · 4,615 vehicles–Front: anchorage79V-247 · 1979 · Nov 13, 1979 · 1,326,404 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 29 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

7 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Electra

  1. REAR BRAKE PINEA89028 · 1986–1987 · closed Jul 27, 1990
    No recall
  2. ANTI LOCK BRAKESPE89098 · 1986–1988 · closed May 17, 1989
    No recall
  3. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONEA88031 · 1985–1988 · closed Oct 23, 1989
    No recall
  4. HYDRO BOOSTEA88019 · 1983–1986 · closed Oct 31, 1990
    No recall
  5. STALLINGEA87022 · 1986–1987 · closed Nov 27, 1991
    No recall
  6. HYDROBOOST FAILUREPE87038 · 1984–1986 · closed Jan 28, 1988
    No recall
  7. WINDSHIELD WIPERSEA86025 · 1985 · closed Mar 2, 1988
    No recall