Buick Riviera complaints by model year
314 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 | 43 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | 44 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 | 130 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| 1993 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 1991 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 1989 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1989–1999. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Power train | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Buick Riviera recalls (15)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Riviera model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00V057000 | Feb 28, 2000 | GM/REAR SHOULDER BELTS | 1995 | — |
| 96V116000 | Jul 1, 1996 | GM/FUEL:CARBURETOR:SINGLE:MANIFOLD:INTAKE | 1996 | — |
| 95V204000 | Oct 23, 1995 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT | 1996 | — |
| 95V110000 | May 31, 1995 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:SHOULDER BELTS | 1990–1993 | — |
| 91V157000 | Sep 18, 1991 | STEERING:GEAR:SHAFT LOWER FLEXIBLE PINION | 1992 | — |
| 91V158000 | Sep 13, 1991 | BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:LAMP LIGHT:BRAKE WARNING | 1990 | — |
| 90V164000 | Sep 6, 1990 | POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC:LEVER AND LINKA | 1990 | — |
| 90V028000 | Feb 12, 1990 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT RETRACTORS | 1990 | — |
| 89V102000 | Jun 16, 1989 | EQUIPMENT:SPEED CONTROL | 1984, 1985 | — |
| 89V055000 | Apr 5, 1989 | BRAKES:AIR:ANTILOCK SYSTEM | 1989 | — |
| 89V056000 | Apr 5, 1989 | BRAKES:AIR:ANTILOCK SYSTEM | 1989 | — |
| 88V078000 | May 10, 1988 | STEERING:POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1986, 1987 | — |
| 82V110000 | Nov 15, 1982 | VISUAL SYSTEMS:WINDSHIELD WIPER:MOTOR | 1983 | — |
| 82V012000 | Jan 3, 1982 | FUEL:FUEL INJECTION:UNKNOWN TYPE:ACCUMULATOR | 1982 | — |
| 81V073000 | Jun 16, 1981 | SUSPENSION:INDEPENDENT FRONT CONTROL ARM:UPPER | 1981 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Buick Riviera FAQ
How many recalls has the Buick Riviera had?
NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns that cover at least one Buick Riviera model year from 1982 to 1999. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Buick Riviera year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 1995 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (130) and the 1983 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Buick Riviera problems?
Across the 1989–1999 model years, owners most often name the service brakes, engine and engine cooling, steering in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Buick Riviera get?
EPA rates the 1999 Buick Riviera at 19 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.