NHTSA Data Explorer

Buick Riviera

Data refreshed May 30, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Buick Riviera.

Complaints

293

Active records

Recalls

9

Active records

TSBs

286

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

2

Injuries

19

Crashes

21

Fires

13

Top reported issues — Buick Riviera

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

86

Operating state

81

Safety restraint issue

54

Safety restraint behavior

37

Fluid issue

35

Braking behavior

31

Driver assistance issue

27

Engine behavior

27

Reporting mechanism

26

Thermal issue

26

Steering behavior

21

Noise

18

Vibration/harshness

16

Performance issue

15

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

12

Starting behavior

11

Access/entry issue

9

Lighting behavior

6

Electrical issue

5

Wiper/washer behavior

5

Ride/handling behavior

4

Smell

4

HVAC behavior

3

Infotainment behavior

1

Powering on/off behavior

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

1998 BUICK RIVIERA

Filed Sep 21, 2016


ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, WHEN FUELING MY VEHICLE, I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL, INLINE WITH THE FUEL FILLER DOOR. I HAD NOTED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUBSEQUENTLY CAME ON AND CODE 0440 (OR A VARIANT OF THAT, I CANNOT RECALL WITH 100% CERTAINTY. WHEN I HAD SOME FREE TIME, I STARTED INVESTIGATING THE EMISSIONS CODE AND DECIDED TO CHECK THE FUEL SYSTEM FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WORKING FORWARD. WHILE LOOKING AT THE FUEL FILLER NECK, I NOTED A GLINT OF…

1998 BUICK RIVIERA

Filed Sep 21, 2016


IT STARTED OUT AS A SMALL OIL LEAK, BUT I RECENTLY NOTICED THE LEAK HAS EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY. IT'S DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT THE LEAK, BUT AN OIL PAN UNDER THE CAR SHOWS SIGNIFICANT PUDDLING OF OIL. A SEALER/CONDITIONER DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. WHILE ONLINE, I NOTED THAT THE 3800CC 3.8L ENGINE SEEMS NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND OTHER MODELS OF GM CARS APPEAR TO BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL. NOT SO THE BUICK, WHICH TO ME, HAS THE SAME ENGINE. GIVEN THAT IS IS KNOWN NOW, I'M…

1999 BUICK RIVIERA

Filed Sep 4, 2016


WELL FOR STARTERS THE CAR HAS 131,000 MILES ON IT AND CLEAN INTERIOR. BUT....THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT INCLINE DOESN'T WORK, THE BLEND BOX OR AN ACTUATOR IS BAD, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK, AND THE AC COMPRESSOR IS LOCKED UP. BUT.... THE WORST PART IS THE OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE FRONT VALVE COVER. IT IS SPILLING OUT ON MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND SMOKES BADLY. I JUST READ GM HAS A RECALL ON ALL THE L67 3.8L SUPERCHARGED MOTORS IN GRAND PRIX AND REGALS AMONGST OTHER MODELS WITH THE 3.8L BUT…

1998 BUICK RIVIERA

Filed Mar 16, 2016


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED ENGINE OIL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V701000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,513. UPDATED 04/29/16*LJ *TR

1998 BUICK RIVIERA

Filed Feb 5, 2016


Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE STOPPED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. UPDATED 04/07/16*LJ *JS

1998 BUICK RIVIERA

Filed Oct 27, 2015


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL DRIPPING NEAR THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.

1995 BUICK RIVIERA

Filed Apr 29, 2015


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LATER FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 7/1/15*CN

1996 BUICK RIVIERA

Filed Feb 3, 2015


I SMELLED GAS. I OPENED THE HOOD, REMOVED THE ENGINE COVER & FUEL WAS SPRAYING FROM THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE, THE SIZE OF A PINHOLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO ORDER A NEW FUEL LINE AND WAS TOLD THE FUEL LINE PART #25648136 IS DISCONTINUED, AS SOON AS I FIND ONE LEFT SOMEWHERE, I WILL BE TAKING TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIR. THERE ARE NO RECALLS LISTED ON THIS? A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WENT INTO VARIOUS AUTO FORUMS ON THE INTERNET & NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME…

1995 BUICK RIVIERA

Filed Nov 14, 2014


Fire

FOUL SMELL THEN PARKED AND WENT INSIDE MALL CAME BACK CAR HAD BEEN ON FIRE. *TR

1996 BUICK RIVIERA

Filed Sep 2, 2014


COULD NOT GET FIRST INCIDENT DATE ENTERED. THIS IS CURRENT TIME STARTED IN 2013. HAVE HAD REPAIRED 5 TIMES AND NEEDS AGAIN. WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY ABOVE 60 MILES PER HOUR AND HAVE TO BRAKE HEAVILY IT WILL START TO SHAKE AND SHIMMY STEERING COLUMN FIXED 2 TIMES THIS YEAR, AS IT LOOSENS UP AND YOU CAN MOVE IT UP TO TWO INCHES BACK AND FORTH. *TR

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated May 30, 2026. Refreshed nightly.