Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
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. Best against its own year: 1994.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Roadmaster | 52 | 2 |
| 1995 Roadmaster | 50 | 5 |
| 1994 Roadmaster | 85 | 5 |
| 1993 Roadmaster | 46 | 0 |
| 1992 Roadmaster | 87 | 3 |
| 1991 Roadmaster | 9 | 2 |
| 1990 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Service brakes, hydraulic57
- Electrical system40
- Engine and engine cooling37
- Suspension34
- Air bags28
- Vehicle speed control27
- Visibility25
- Power train24
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 18 Roadmaster vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 10 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | 2 | 1 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 | 3 | 2 |
| 1993 | 3 | 2 |
| 1992 | 5 | 4 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 2 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 13.1–13.2 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Roadmaster · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 9.9 | 13.1 |
| 1995 | Roadmaster · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 15.6 | 10.2 | 13.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
31 Roadmaster cars are on the New Zealand register; 84% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 1992 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1958 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1957 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1956 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1954 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1953 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1952 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1951 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1950 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
11 campaigns cover the Roadmaster.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULATOR CAN CORRODE AND LEAK FLUID FROM THE FRONT BRAKE CIRCUIT.
THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY.
DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.
THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL LINKAGE. THIS DOES NOT MEET WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."
THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH BOTH THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT CAUTION LABEL AND A ROOF RACK CAUTION LABEL INSTALLED ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE SUN VISOR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO.208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS." AT LOW TEMPERATURES, EXCESSIVE FRICTION CAN OCCUR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
THE FUEL TANK ATTACHMENT STRAP FASTENERS WERE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED. THE FASTENERS CAN COMPLETELY DETACH, EVENTUALLY ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO SAG AND THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK TO STRIKE THE ROADWAY.
PAINT ON THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES CAN ACT AS A SHIM BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE ROTOR/DRUM. AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE WHEEL IMBEDS INTO THE PAINT, LOOSENING THE LUG NUT AND CAUSING A LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD.
THE ENGINE OIL COOLER INLET HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING GEAR CAUSING CHAFING. THE CHAFING CAN EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH THE HOSE'S PROTECTIVE SLEEVE RESULTING IN ENGINE OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE.
THE SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP PLASTIC COVERING MAY CRACK AND EXPOSE THE STEEL SUB-PLATE.
SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES CAN CORRODE, CAUSING A HIGH LATCH RELEASE EFFORT AND POSSIBLY PREVENTING THE HOOD FROM LATCHING PROPERLY WHEN IT IS CLOSED.
NHTSA recalls