- The problem
- A child could open the rear side compartment door and enter this compartment. The child could become entrapped if the door were to close, as it cannot be unlatched from the inside.
- The fix
- Dealer will replace the original compartment door latch, which can be latched without a key, with a new assembly that requires a key to latch as well as lock the door.
Vehicle safety record
1978 Buick Estate Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1978 Buick Estate have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in July 1979 for the latch.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Estate year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1978 Buick Estate recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1978 Buick Estate yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Buick Estate: every year compared
All Estate years1978 Buick Estate vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 Buick Estate | 0 | 1 | C | |
| 1978 Buick Buick | 1 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 1978 Buick Regal | 1 | 7 | B | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1978 Buick Estate
Does the 1978 Buick Estate have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1978 Buick Estate: latch (July 1979). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1978 Buick Estate had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1978 Buick Estate a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Buick Estate year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Buick Estate years have the most complaints?
1986 (3), 1990 (1), 1993 (1). See every Buick Estate year compared.
What should I do if my 1978 Buick Estate has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data