New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 5 | 1 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 |
| 1987 | 4 | 2 |
| 1986 Electra | 12 | 3 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 2 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 0 | 1 |
| 1981 | 0 | 2 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Vehicle speed control6
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Steering5
- Electrical system4
- Seats3
- Seat belts3
- Unknown or other2
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
In New Zealand
73 Electra cars are on the New Zealand register; 74% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1971 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| 1970 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| 1969 | 12 | 1 | 9 |
| 1968 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1967 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 1966 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1965 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 1964 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1963 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 1962 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 1961 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 1960 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 1959 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In Finland
84 Electra cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 100% petrol, 0% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7 | 259,000 km |
| 1983 | 6 | 45,000 km |
| 1982 | 5 | 72,000 km |
| 1981 | 5 | 49,000 km |
| 1970 | 9 | 58,000 km |
| 1969 | 15 | 50,000 km |
| 1968 | 13 | 29,000 km |
| 1967 | 7 | 61,000 km |
| 1966 | 5 | 34,000 km |
| 1965 | 5 | 70,000 km |
| 1959 | 7 | 54,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
28 Electra cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 | 0 | 1 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | — |
| 1974 | 1 | — |
| 1973 | 2 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 | 1 |
| 1970 | 4 | 1 |
| 1969 | 2 | 1 |
| 1968 | 1 | — |
| 1966 | 1 | — |
| 1965 | 1 | — |
| 1964 | 3 | — |
| 1962 | 2 | — |
| 1961 | 1 | — |
| 1960 | 2 | 1 |
| 1959 | 5 | 1 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
New registrations in Europe
1 new Buick Electra cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2012 and 2012, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2012 the largest markets were United Kingdom (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
11 campaigns cover the Electra.
OWNERS MANUALS DID NOT FULLY EXPLAIN HOW FRONT SHOULDER BELT COMFORT FEATURE WORKS.
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).
EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLES FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY.
AN IN LINE FUSIBLE LINK MAY MELT DOWN AND CAUSE A FIRE.
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 CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND/OR LOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION.
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 ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
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 PRIOR WARNING.
RUBBER FUEL HOSE COULD ALLOW A SLOW FUEL LEAK WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.
UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE GOVERNOR WEIGHT RETAINER IN THE INJECTION PUMP MAY FAIL. THE THROTTLE VALVE COULD STICK, PREVENTING RETURN TO IDLE AND SHUT DOWN OF THE ENGINE BY THE DRIVER.
THE POWER BRAKE VACUUM HOSES MAY FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES". THE MATERIAL USED IN THE HOSES WILL NOT PERFORM ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS REGULATION IS STATED AS, "TO REDUCE DEATH AND INJURIES OCCURRING AS A RESULT OF BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE FROM PRESSURE OR VACUUM LOSS DUE TO HOSE ASSEMBLY RUPTURE".
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH A BRAKE PEDAL SUPPORT BRACKET WHICH WAS DESIGNED FOR USE IN DIESEL ENGINE VEHICLES. THE INCORRECT BRACKET MAY CAUSE THE SERVICE BRAKES TO REMAIN PARTIALLY APPLIED, RESULTING IN BRAKE OVERHEATING AND REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.
NHTSA recalls