1986 Buick Estate Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1986 Buick Estate, and owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
- 1974
- 1975
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1990
- 1993
- 1994
3 safety recalls for the 1986 Buick Estate
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Vehicle speed control
A small nylon bushing in the cruise control servo bail may slip out of place, causing intermittent and unexpected increases in engine speed or dieseling (engine run on with ignition off).
Remedy: Install a new bushing in cruise control servo bail.
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Switch (exterior lighting)
The push pull headlight switch may have electrical contacts which allow an intermittent headlight circuit causing headlight to flicker or suddenly go out. Consequence of defect: sudden loss of the headlights under severe weather or nighttime driving conditions could reduce driver visibility which might result in a vehicle crash without…
Remedy: Replace headlight switch as necessary.
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Switch (exterior lighting)
The push-pull headlight switch may have electrical contacts which allow an intermittent headlight circuit causing headlight to flicker or suddenly go out. Consequence of defect: sudden loss of the headlights under severe weather or nighttime driving conditions could reduce driver visibility which might result in a vehicle crash without…
Remedy: Replace headlight switch as necessary.
3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1986 Buick Estate have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 74,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 2, 2004 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“Understand GM had problems with this powermaster brakes”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 3, 1999 · Service brakes, hydraulic
Compare Buick Estate model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Buick Estate model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 Buick Estate | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 Buick Estate | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 Buick Estate | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 Buick Estate | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 Buick Estate | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 Buick Estate | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 Buick Estate | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 Buick Estate | 3 | 3 |
| 1987 Buick Estate | 2 | 0 |
| 1988 Buick Estate | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 Buick Estate | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 Buick Estate | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 Buick Estate | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1986 Buick Estate
How do I know if my 1986 Buick Estate has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1986 Buick Estate; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Buick dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 86V056000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Buick models
- Lesabre3,728 complaints
- Regal3,264 complaints
- Enclave2,501 complaints
- Lacrosse2,122 complaints
- Century1,817 complaints
- Park Avenue1,368 complaints
- Rendezvous1,241 complaints
- Lucerne943 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.