U.S. public vehicle records

Buick RIVIERA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

222 owner complaints analyzed

33 distinct recall campaigns

82,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1966 to 1999 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 63 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 222 complaints (6.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	39	17.6%
Braking behavior	34	15.3%
Engine operation	12	5.4%
Transmission and shifting	10	4.5%
Electrical and battery issues	9	4.1%
Fuel system concerns	8	3.6%

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Electrical System:Horn

Engine

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor

Electrical System

Engine And Engine Cooling

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	15
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	12
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	12
Electrical System:Horn	11
Engine	11
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	11
Electrical System	10
Engine And Engine Cooling	10

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 12; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Electrical System:Horn: 11; Engine: 11; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 11; Electrical System: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 10

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 159 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.

1995

1996

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

1995: 22; 1996: 9; 2000: 38; 2001: 32; 2002: 26; 2003: 22; 2004: 19; 2005: 8; 2006: 5; 2007: 6; 2008: 11; 2009: 4; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 3; 2016: 5

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 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 487195 · 1995-10-23 (October 23, 1995)

'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487195 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 800535 · 1996-08-06 (August 6, 1996)

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE CUT OFF/STALLS, CAUISING LOSS OF POWER STEERING.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 800535 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 971536 · 1995-09-02 (September 2, 1995)

BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING THE COMPUTER IS SAYING SOMETHING WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM . TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971536 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10208428 · 2007-11-08 (November 8, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 BUICK RIVIERA. ON NOVEMBER 7, 2007, THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ABS LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. WHEN HE CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID, IT WAS LEVELED; HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE, THE FLUID FILLED UP AS IF THERE WAS A BACK UP SOMEWHERE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE SOME OF THE BRAKE FLUID. THE DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW IF…

Owner-reported narrative. 147,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208428 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 488001 · 1995-11-11 (November 11, 1995)

TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488001 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 563848 · 2001-12-10 (December 10, 2001)

WHILE DRIVING, TACKOMETER FAILED, CRUISE CONTROL FAILED, AND VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CONSUMER HAD TRANSMISSION CHECKED. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 563848 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 722281 · 2000-05-04 (May 4, 2000)

RECALL ? VERY UNSAFE !! BOTH FRONT "HYDRAULIC" (RUSTY, AND NOT WORKING)SEAT MECHANISMS (THAT LOOK LIKE 2 BLACK SHAPED "PISTONS") THAT ENGAGE WITH EACH END OF THE BOTTOM REAR PART OF THE TWO FRONT SEATS TO "WORK" SEATING POSITIONS BACK AND FORTH DOES NOT "ENGAGE" THE SEATS -- SO THAT THE BACK PART OF THE SEATS WHERE YOUR BACK RESTS UP AGAINST DOES ACTUALLY "LUNGE" FORWARD AT "STOPS" SO EVEN THOUGH YOU OR YOUR PASSENGER WEARS A "SAFETY BELT" -- NEITHER ONE OF YOU ARE TRULY "RESTRAINED" …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722281 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 722279 · 2000-05-04 (May 4, 2000)

AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP, FITTINGS, LINES... COSTING $467.00 ON 11/23/99 -- THE MECHANIC AND MANAGER INFORMED US OF THE IMMINENT DANGERS OF THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE OF "RUSTED-THROUGH CRADLE ARM AND BREAKING, RUSTY BOLTS PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE CRADLE" THAT WILL REQUIRE THAT THE ENGINE BE EXTRACTED AND THE "CRADLE" BE REPLACED (OR IF POSSIBLE? "WELDED" ?). WE JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, WHO DID LOTS OF "MAINTANENCE" AND "REPAIRS" AND LOTS OF MONEY $$…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722279 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 ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

1983: 1; 1984: 1; 1985: 1; 1986: 1; 1987: 1; 1988: 0; 1989: 2; 1990: 4; 1991: 1; 1992: 2; 1993: 1; 1995: 1; 1996: 2; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Buick RIVIERA model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1966	0	1	Not available
1969	1	0	Not available
1970	0	2	+2
1971	0	2	0
1972	0	3	+1
1973	1	1	-2
1974	0	1	0
1975	0	3	+2
1976	0	1	-2
1977	0	2	+1
1978	0	1	-1
1979	0	2	+1
1981	0	1	Not available
1982	1	1	0
1983	1	1	0
1984	0	1	0
1985	2	1	0
1986	0	1	0
1987	3	1	0
1988	1	0	-1
1989	6	2	+2
1990	7	4	+2
1991	5	1	-3
1992	6	2	+1
1993	1	1	-1
1995	89	1	Not available
1996	30	2	+1
1997	36	0	-2
1998	26	0	0
1999	6	0	0