Complaints by model year
Distinct federal complaints filed against each model year of the Buick Riviera, to date. Hover a bar for the count. Older years have had longer to accumulate filings; the rankings below correct for that.
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Highest totals within an 8-year windowAll other years
Model years compared
Ranked from the same federal record on an equal exposure window. Click any year for its full file.
Highest complaint totals
- 1995 Buick Riviera - 107 complaints in its first 8 years (130 to date)
- 1996 Buick Riviera - 34 complaints in its first 8 years (44 to date)
- 1997 Buick Riviera - 33 complaints in its first 8 years (43 to date)
Ranked on distinct complaints filed within eight years of the model year, so old and new years get the same exposure window. Not adjusted for sales volume; a best-selling year files more complaints at the same failure rate.
Lowest totals among mature years
- 1997 Buick Riviera - 33 complaints in its first 8 years (43 to date)
- 1996 Buick Riviera - 34 complaints in its first 8 years (44 to date)
- 1995 Buick Riviera - 107 complaints in its first 8 years (130 to date)
Same eight-year window, among model years old enough to have completed it and with at least 25 complaints in it. Model years before 1990 are excluded because the federal file begins in 1995. A low total is not proof of reliability.
What owners report, all years combined
Every model year
| Model year | Complaints to date | Within 8 years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Buick Riviera | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 Buick Riviera | 29 | 21 | 0 |
| 1997 Buick Riviera | 43 | 33 | 0 |
| 1996 Buick Riviera | 44 | 34 | 2 |
| 1995 Buick Riviera | 130 | 107 | 1 |
| 1993 Buick Riviera | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 1992 Buick Riviera | 12 | 10 | 2 |
| 1991 Buick Riviera | 8 | 5 | 1 |
| 1990 Buick Riviera | 16 | 12 | 4 |
| 1989 Buick Riviera | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 1988 Buick Riviera | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 Buick Riviera | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 Buick Riviera | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1985 Buick Riviera | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 Buick Riviera | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 Buick Riviera | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1982 Buick Riviera | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Recall campaigns, all years
Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN.
| Campaign | Years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00V057000 | 1995 | Seat Belts | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SHOULDER BELT(S) DO NOT RETRACT. |
| 96V116000 | 1996 | Fuel System, Gasoline | A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. |
| 95V204000 | 1996 | Electrical System | THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. |
| 95V110000 | 1990-1993 | Seat Belts | THE FRONT OUTER SHOULDER BELT WEB SEW STOP CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. THE BELT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT OF THE RETRACTOR AND SOME OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FASTEN... |
| 91V157000 | 1992 | Steering | THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO STEERING RACK LOWER COUPLING PINCH BOLT MAY BE MISSING. |
| 91V158000 | 1990 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT MAY NOT LIGHT WHEN IGNITION IS IN THE "ON" POSITION, THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, AND THE SHIFT SELECTOR IS IN THE PARK OR NEUTRAL GEAR RANGE. |
| 90V164000 | 1990 | Power Train | TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FROM THE FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL WITH LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION. |
| 90V028000 | 1990 | Seat Belts | MISALIGNED REAR SEAT SAFETY BELT SHOULDER RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES COULD CAUSE PENDULUM INTERFERENCE, CAUSING THE BELT TO REMAIN IN LOCKED POSITION OR TO TRAVEL FREELY WITHOUT LOCKING. |
| 89V102000 | 1984-1985 | Vehicle Speed Control | A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH... |
| 89V056000 | 1989 | Service Brakes, Air | LEFT FRONT BRAKE PIPE MAY CONTACT THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BRACKET. |
| 89V055000 | 1989 | Service Brakes, Air | ONE OR BOTH ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEATED AND COULD LOOSEN. |
| 88V078000 | 1986-1987 | Steering | INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLY AND THE TRANSMISSION GOVERNOR/SPEED SENSOR CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE ABRASION OF THE HOSE. |
| 82V110000 | 1983 | Visibility | DURING WINDSHIELD WIPER OPERATION, THE NOISE SUPPRESION CAPACITOR IN THE WIPER MOTOR RELAY MAY OVERHEAT. |
| 82V012000 | 1982 | Fuel System, Gasoline | UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE GOVERNOR WEIGHT RETAINER IN THE INJECTION PUMP MAY FAIL. |
| 81V073000 | 1981 | Suspension | THE FRONT LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SECURELY TIGHTENED. THE NUTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF AND WITH CONTINUED DRIVING THE CONTROL ARM FRONT BOLT MAY WORK ITS WAY... |