1996 Buick RIVIERA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
116,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 30 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 23.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 10.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Steering:Column | 2 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm): 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Steering:Column: 2
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 16 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 | 1 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 2; 2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2002: 7; 2003: 1; 2004: 4; 2006: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10025588 · 2003-07-07 (July 7, 2003)
I HAVE A BUICK RIVERA 1996, AND THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS EXPLODED ONCE, AND NOW THE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. THERE IS A LEAK OF WATER IN THE BACK SEAT ON THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT, THE TRACTION LIGHT ARE ONE AGAIN. I KNOW THERE WERE BUICK'S RECALLED BECAUSE OF DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS EXPLODING, HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED GM THEY SAID NOT ON THE RIVERA. NOW, ALL OF THESE ARE BUICK CARS, AND I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS. THIS HAS PUT MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY PASSANGERS IN DANGER, BECAUSE IF THAT AIRBAG DEP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054927 · 2004-01-26 (January 26, 2004)
ELECTRICAL (?)--THE ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WHEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING BUT DOES RESTART WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED! THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVEN TIMES DURING THE PAST 9 MONTHS AND IS HAPPENING WITH MORE FREQUENCY--4 TIMES THIS MONTH! THE BUICK SERVICE DEPT. HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND CANNOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055854 · 2004-01-26 (January 26, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055854 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080843 · 2004-07-12 (July 12, 2004)
THE DRIVERS' SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH AND MUST BE REPLACED. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080843 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092902 · 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL 00V057000. 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. DEALER INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT RECALL APPLIED ONLY FOR THE YEAR 1995 .*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10092902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152100 · 2006-03-07 (March 7, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE SHROUD OFF OF THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE HAD A HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED WITH A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE. UPDATED 3/22/2006 - THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND THAT WHEN THE CONSUMER OPEN THE HOOD AND SAY THE MIST OF FUEL BEING SPRAYED ONTO THE HOT ENGINE. THE RUBBER FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED WITH A HIGH PRESSURE RUBBER LINE AT AND INDEPENDENT SHOP. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 123,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220677 · 2008-03-10 (March 10, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING A FUEL AND A WATER LEAK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 04-08-08 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 131,451 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10230002 · 2008-06-05 (June 5, 2008)
FUEL SMELL WHEN TANK IS FULL. REMOVED ACCESS COVER FOR FUEL PUMP MODULE FOUND WELL FOR MODULE FILLED WITH DIRT OVER TOP OF MODULE. CLEAN OUT DIRT FOUND METAL RING TO HOLD MODULE IN ROTTED OFF TANK THERE WAS NOTHING HOLDING FUEL PUMP MODULE IN TANK IF CAR ROLLED OVER. FUEL CAN RUN OUT LOOKS LIKE A BAD HAZARD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230002 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
95V204000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
Reported: 1995-10-23 (October 23, 1995)
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER CHIME REMINDER FUNCTIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES ARE ALSO AFFECTED.
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE; THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR THAT THE SAFETY BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V116000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
Reported: 1996-07-01 (July 1, 1996)
A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗