RecallRepo

1986 Buick Electra Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1986 Buick Electra has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 200,783 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 87V093000 1987-06-23 6,004 affected
Defect

THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE FLUID SEEPAGE WHICH EVENTUALLY CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR. ADDITIONALLY, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND ABS ELECTRICAL RELAYS MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO WATER CONTAMINATION DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION…

Consequence

LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR WOULD RESULT IN A TOTALLOSS OF REAR BRAKES AS WELL AS POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES. THE RED BRAKEWARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON. IF THIS WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, ALOSS OF REAR BRAKES AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED COULDRESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. …

Remedy

THE ABS AND HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ELECTRICAL RELAYS AND 30 AMP FUSES WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACED.

STEERING 86V145000 1986-11-03 88,668 affected
Defect

THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP RETURN HOSE AND THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: HOSE COULD OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN A HOLE AND FLUID LEAK, AND A POSSIBLE…

Remedy

REPLACE AND CORRECTLY ROUTE HOSE, AS NECESSARY.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 86V131000 1986-09-19 106,111 affected
Defect

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…

Remedy

REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
1
Total complaints15

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The crank sensor-which controls engine timing-the bracket its housed in can work loose during normal driving causing the sensor to move away from the magnet causing the engine to stall w/no warning. It happened first laste year in july-99 had it replaced by dealer using oe part. Worked loose this…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · reported 2000-10-11

“Received recall notice 87v613000, abs brakes. Took vehicle for repairs. Work was done. Problem still exists. Took vehicle back. Mechanic said switch was defective. Ordered another from manufacturer. Replaced switch again, was also defective. Replaced old switch that worked w/switch that didn't.…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP · reported 1998-03-24

“Brake sensor repaired under recall work done, however new sensor was defective causing brake pump to fail.”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE · reported 1998-03-13

“While driving brake lights come on at this time there are no brakes, no warning, fixed 5 different times still not working properly. Please describe. Tt”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS · reported 1995-12-11

“Brake master cylinder failure, replaced two times, brake pedal became hard to apply. Tt”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER · reported 1995-09-19

“The rear doors will not open if not used very often. Please describe. Tt”

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR · reported 1995-09-05

“Brake power booster failure, loss of braking, involved in recall 87v93000. Tt”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · reported 1995-06-14

“Anti-lock brakes failed, also brake light came on intermittently prior to recall (87v-093). *ak”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP · reported 1994-12-10

Defect investigations

Investigation EA87022 Opened 1987-08-27 · closed 1991-11-27

STALLING

SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO…

Investigation EA88019 Opened 1988-01-28 · closed 1990-10-31

HYDRO BOOST

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA88031 Opened 1988-04-22 · closed 1989-10-23

SUDDEN ACCELERATION

STATUS:ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IS IN PROGRESS.HOWEVER, NEITHER NHTSA OF GM HAS IDENTIFIED A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THATCOULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.SOME VEHICLES IN THIS GROUP WEREFOUND POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO THROTTLE CABLE RESTRICTIONS, AND WERERECALLED ALONG WITH H CARS WITH SIMILAR…

Investigation EA89028 Opened 1989-07-28 · closed 1990-07-27

REAR BRAKE PIN

SUMMARY:THESE VEHICLES HAVE REAR DRUM BRAKES.THE PARKING LEVER PIVOTPIN IS HELD BY AN E RING.WHEN THE RING FAILS, PARTS OF THE RING ANDPIN FALL LOOSE INTO THE DRUM AND MAY JAM THE BRAKE, LOCKING THE WHEEL.A STRONGER E RING IS USED IN 1988 AND NEWER CARS.THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GMS C BODY CARS…

Investigation PE87038 Opened 1987-07-09 · closed 1988-01-28

HYDROBOOST FAILURE

SUBJECT VEHICLES:CAPRICE, CAPRICE CLASSIC, CUSTOM CRUISER, DEVILLE,ELECTRA, ESTATE WAGON, FLEETWOOD, LESABRE, NINETY-EIGHT, PARISIENNE,PARK AVENUE.(ALL 1984-86 GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDROBOOST II SYSTEMS)ANALYSIS:CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGE SEVERAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE POWERSTEERING AND POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS OF…

Investigation PE89098 Opened 1989-03-10 · closed 1989-05-17

ANTI LOCK BRAKES

===

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 Buick Electra as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.