1995 Buick RIVIERA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10006371 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
HORN WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AFTER A FEW MONTHS HORN BEGAN TO "BLOW" WITHOUT WARNING. CURRENTLY, HORN HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008022 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
PAINT BUBBLING UP AND PEELING - ALL AREAS OF VEHICLE. PROBLEM STARTED ON FRONT END AND HAS NOW SPREAD FROM BUMPER TO BUMPER. PAINT SLIDES OFF WHEN IT RAINS, WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND NEW CRACKS ARE APPEARING WITH INTENSIVE REGULARITY. ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY BEGINNING IN 1999 (ACCORDING TO OWNER'S MANUAL WAS SIX YEARS FOR PAINT) ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FROM TWO GM DEALERSHIPS AND TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED - PAINT WAS NOT COVERED THIS LONG PERIOD. PAINT IS ORIGINAL PAINT JOB. FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GAIN GM DIRECT …
Owner-reported narrative. 45,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008022 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008953 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
THE HORN FAILED TO WORK.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009100 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE HORN WORKED INTERMITTENTLY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014536 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
NAR 03-27-2003 MR ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION OR COOLANT LEAK INSPECT FOR MATERIAL DEGRADATION/ REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLDS. 1995-97 BUICK RIVIERA, 1995-98- BUICK LESABRE, PARK AVENUE, 1996-98 BUICK REGAL, 1998 CHEV LUMINA, MONTE CARLO, 1995-98 OLDSMOBILE 98, 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, 1995-98 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, 1997-98 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014536 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 10040989 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)
PAINT IS SPLITTING, THEN BLISTERING AND FINALLY POPPING CLEAR OF THE PRIMER. THIS STARTED ALONG BOTH FRONT FENDER 'SEAMS' WHERE THEY MEET THE HOOD. PROBLEM THEN BEGAN ALONG TOP AND BACK SIDE OF TRUNK; THEN REAR FENDERS AND FINALLY INVOLVED ALL PANELS OF THE VEHICLE WITHIN A ONE-YEAR PERIOD. PRIMER SHOWS FIRST AS A GREEN SHADE THAT FADES TO GREY. GM TELLS ME THIS IS 'EXCESSIVE ULTRAVIOLET EXPOSURE' EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT - EVIDENTLY THESE CARS SUFFER FROM SUNBURN? OVER 50% OF THE PAINT ON THIS VEHICLE IS INVOLVED.
Owner-reported narrative. 44,387 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042815 · 2003-10-14 (October 14, 2003)
AN ODD SMELL ENTERED VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING . CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER HOOD, AND NOTICED FUEL LINE WAS SPRAYING FUEL ONTO MANIFOLD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042815 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V057000 · Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Reported: 2000-02-28 (February 28, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SHOULDER BELT(S) DO NOT RETRACT. A RETAINER COULD SEPARATE FROM A REAR SEAT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR WHICH RESULTS IN THE RETRACTOR RETURN SPRING BECOMING DISENGAGED.
Consequence: IN A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT MAY RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES IF THERE IS EXCESSIVE SLACK IN THE SHOULDER BELT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH REAR SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS FOR CORRECT FUNCTION AND INSTALL A SPRING COVER RETAINING STRAP TO EACH RETRACTOR. IF A RETRACTOR DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗