AI DamageBuick Estate: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Buick Estate across 4 model years: 6 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
| Year | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) | YouTube repair videos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 50% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 17% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 17% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (50% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1990
- automatic, 4-speed 1990
Drive: RWD
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Currently own 1986 buick estate equipped with "power master" brake unit. This is the original factory brake unit for this automobile. The pressure switch developed a crack, allowing the brake fluid to be pumped out.
Consumer states while depressing the brakes to make a stop the vehicle contacted to travel. Please provide further information.
While driving the seat belt restraint retractor broke. There was a hole in the plastic that holds the spring. The dealer has replaced the retractor at the owner's expense.
Fuel problems cause low mileage/destruction of emission equipment.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.