1995 Buick RIVIERA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
89 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
75,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 89 complaints (10.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 13 | 14.6% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 11.2% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 10.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 9 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 9; Electrical System:Horn: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Engine: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 24 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1995: 8; 1996: 5; 2000: 24; 2001: 12; 2002: 7; 2003: 11; 2004: 7; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10045135 · 2003-10-30 (October 30, 2003)
BELOW IS THE SAME THING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO ME FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. DEALER AND MECHANIC CANNOT SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING. MAKE: BUICK MODEL: RIVIERA YEAR: 1995 COMPLAINT NUMBER: 725331 SUMMARY: WHILE DRIVING 25-50 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING POWER STEERING LOSS, AND THE INTERIOR LOCKS OPEN AND CLOSE RAPPIDLY. ONLY AFTER COASTING OFF THE HIGHWAY COMING TO A STOP, PUTTING THE CAR IN "PARK" TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, AND WAITING A C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10045135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057439 · 2004-02-03 (February 3, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THIS MADE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014557 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
THE ABS AND TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND THE MODULATION VALVE. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE EGR SYSTEM FAILED. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 137,971 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046766 · 2003-11-12 (November 12, 2003)
BRAKES HAVE A TENDENCY TO MOMENTARILY DELAY IN STOPPING. NOTICED THIS PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES UPON LEAVING PARKING LOTS AT SLOW SPEEDS (5 - 10 MPH). PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN BARELY ACCELERATING & THEN APPLYING BRAKE TO STOP. CAN FEEL BRAKES LOCK UP UNDER BRAKE PEDAL. HASN'T CREATED AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY IN THE WINTER TIME. NEVER HAD ANY LIGHTS OR WARNING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL. HAVE ALSO NOTICED PROBLEM IN THE FRONT WHEELS WHILE MANUEVERING TIRES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. FEELS LIKE TIRES POPPING AGAINST…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186495 · 2007-03-29 (March 29, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, BUT THE STALLING COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.*AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472587 · 2012-08-27 (August 27, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 10/24/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STA…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 727827 · 2000-08-14 (August 14, 2000)
PUMP IN TRANSMISSION BROKE WITHOUT WARNING OF PENDING PROBLEMS ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 727827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 735019 · 2000-10-24 (October 24, 2000)
THE AIR CONDITIONING AND TRANASMISSION HAVE BEEN CHECKED OUT A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG , THE TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES DOES NOT SHIFT AND STICKS IN FIRST GEAR , THE AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT BLOW COOL OR COLD AIR WHEN IT IS HOT AND MUGGY OUT. IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BLOW COOL AIR ON ONE SIDE AND HOT AIR ON ANOTHER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046497 · 2003-11-06 (November 6, 2003)
DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEFLATED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. IN ADDITION, HORN FAILED AND CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10547659 · 2013-10-11 (October 11, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING, BEGAN TO SMELL ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CABIN. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, OPENED HOOD TO WITNESS FUEL SUPPLY LINE TO REAR FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAKING ON TO TOP OF ENGINE. FUEL CONTINUED TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE EVEN AFTER I SHUT OFF THE CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 69,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547659 at NHTSA ↗