1993 Buick Roadmaster

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

67/100

Skip unless cheap

AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Buick Roadmaster, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	10	18%
Service brakes	8	14%
Visibility	8	14%
Suspension	4	7%
Seat belts	4	7%
Steering	4	7%
Electrical system	2	4%
Power train	2	4%
Vehicle speed control	2	4%
Engine and engine cooling	2	4%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

BUICK ROADMASTER SEDAN TRAVELING AT 30 MPH ON A CLEAR DRY DAY ON A PAVED SMOOTH ROAD AROUND A CURVE, THE LOWER BALL JOINT SEVERED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF THE ROAD INTO A LARGE YARD. THE BALL JOINT WAS FROM A FORE
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUICK ROADMASTER ESTATE WAGON EQUIPPED WITH A FOREIGN PARTS DISTRIBUTION LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT (N/A). HE WAS TOWING A TRAILER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 58 MPH WHEN HE DROVE OVER A BUM
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE WENT INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TECHNICIAN SERVICED VEHICLE, REPLACED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DUE TO CORROSION. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING, AND WINDSHIELD HAD NOT BEEN TAMPERED WITH.*AK *YH
NHTSA complaint: Visibility

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL STIFFENS AND VEHICLE KEEPS GOING. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, BUT CAN'T FIX PROBLEM. ALSO ABS LIGHT COMES ON. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

THE LIGHT SWITCH BECOMES EXCESSIVELY HOT WHEN THE LIGHTS, HEATER OR A/C ARE ON, THE HORN ACTIVATES WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE BECAUSE THE MAIN FUSE HAD FALLEN OUT, THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

THE LIGHT SWITCH BECOMES EXCESSIVELY HOT WHEN THE LIGHTS, HEATER OR A/C ARE ON, THE HORN ACTIVATES WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE BECAUSE THE MAIN FUSE HAD FALLEN OUT, THE VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY W
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

FRONT INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS AND THE BALL JOINTS FAILED/ STABILIZER LINKS AND CENTER LINKS WERE WORN OUT, AND IDLER ARM WAS LOOSE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
NHTSA complaint: Steering

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1993 Buick Roadmaster. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Equipment 07E088000

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AN

Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Fix: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	85	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	56	average
Depreciation	54	average
Performance	74	good
Efficiency	33	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 54% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 63% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 16% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 30% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 85: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 79: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1993 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 56: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1993 Buick Roadmaster?

Owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 10 of them (18%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1993 Buick Roadmaster reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1993 Buick Roadmaster last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1993 Buick Roadmaster?

AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.