The 1987 Buick Electra has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 514,772 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY.
THIS COULD PREVENT THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO CLOSED(IDLE) POSITION WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED; THUS, ENGINE SPEED WOULDNOT DECREASE, AND LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE.
AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.
THE IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THEPLASTIC WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET MAY, UNDER A HIGH RESISTANCE LOAD,MELT DOWN AND IGNITE THE WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET RESULTING IN AN ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRE.
THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“While applying the accelerator pedal, the vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. However, the driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and pulled over. The vehicle was taken to a garage for inspection. The mechanic informed the driver that the throttle cable needed to be replaced and…”
“Retractor on seat belt does not retract by itself back in. *ak *tt”
“While driving on the road the driver's seat will give and drop down when pushing the lever to recline, it partially reclines. Contacted dealer. *ak”
“Timing chain broke, resulting in steering ability lost, replaced timing belt. Ttwhile at a stop light, engine shut down and failed to restart, vehicle was towed to dealer and consumer was advised that this was a common problem, consumer contacted manufacturer and was told there is no defect in the…”
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…
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…
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…
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Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Buick Electra as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.