1995 Buick Riviera

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 130 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seat belts › front › retractor. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor11
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip8
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission8
000
Unknown or Other5
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline5
000
Engine5
010
Electrical System › Horn5
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System4
000
Engine and Engine Cooling4
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing00V057000
Filed Feb 28, 200085,253 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Apr 29, 201596,000 milesCA

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

EngineFire
Filed Nov 14, 2014DE

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

Engine
Filed Aug 8, 201425,678 milesMO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,678. THE CONSUMER STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN TRAFFIC. ON EACH OCCASION, THERE WAS A LOSS POWER BRAKES. IN APRIL 2013, THERE WERE FOUR INSTANCES WHERE THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A YEAR LATER, THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 12, 2014AZ

THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING AT DIFFERENT TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN 1999. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLS AND I LOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL. EXPERIENCING LONG CRANKS BEFORE ENGINE WILL START. HOWEVER, ENGINE EVENTUALLY RESTARTS BUT ENGINE STALLS AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE CAR WILL RUN WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. HAVE HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS DONE ON THIS CAR REGARDING THIS ISSUE SUCH AS IGNITION MODULE. HAD REPAIRS DONE IN OCTOBER 2013 WHERE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, CYLINDER AND KEY WERE REPLACED. IN APRIL 2014 BEGAN EXPERIENCING SAME ISSUE AGAIN. *TR

Engine
Filed Mar 14, 201435,000 milesFL

THE INFO ABOVE IS APPROX. YOUR RECALL OF GM CARS WITH RE: TO IGNITION PROBLEMS MAY NOT BE BROAD ENOUGH. I TRADED IN MY 95 RIVIERA IN APRIL OF 2007 AFTER PLOWING $1500 INTO AND STILL NO SATISFACTORY REPAIR ON WHY IT WAS STALLING. THE LAST STALL WAS IN A THREE WAY INTERSECTION IN CHICAGO. EACH TIME IT STALLED I LOST POWER STEERING. I DON'T RECALL IF THE DEALER LOOKED AT IGNITION ISSUES. I DO RECALL THAT THEY WERE AT ONE POINT FOCUSED ON THE CARBURETOR. IT WAS BEING SERVICED BY A DEALER IN SCHAUMBERG, ILL. SORRY I DON'T HAVE BETTER RECALL OF DETAILS. ONCE I TRADED THE CAR, I TOSSED THE DOCUMENTATION. THE LAST STALL WAS SCARY AND THE REASON I TRADED THE CAR. *TR

Power Train
Filed Oct 11, 201369,900 milesFL

WHILE DRIVING, BEGAN TO SMELL ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CABIN. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, OPENED HOOD TO WITNESS FUEL SUPPLY LINE TO REAR FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAKING ON TO TOP OF ENGINE. FUEL CONTINUED TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE EVEN AFTER I SHUT OFF THE CAR. *TR

Engine
Filed Aug 27, 2012110,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 10/24/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE OFTEN STALLED WHEN COASTING DOWN HILL OR TO A STOP. UPDATED 11/13/2012 *JS

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Sep 1, 2009109,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLEX FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109000.

Steering
Filed Dec 17, 200875,544 milesMO

1. THE STEERING COLUMN SUPPORT BRACKET ATTACHING BOLTS WERE UNDER TORQUED DURING ASSEMBLY. MY VEHICLE HAS WIRING PROBLEMS AND STARTING PROBLEMS THAT COME AND GO. INADEQUATE TORQUE CAN CAUSE THESE BOLTS TO VIBRATE LOOSEN OR FALL OUT RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL SUPPORT BRACKET ATTACHING BOLTS TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS. THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1995 BUICKS BUT NOT INCLUDING MY BUICK. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 29, 200755,000 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, BUT THE STALLING COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.*AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 17, 2006147,000 milesOH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THE COOLANT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WAS ILLUMINATED. THE COOLANT WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THERE WAS A LEAK INTO UPPER PLENUM AND UPPER MANIFOLD. THE GASKETS WERE REPLACED AND THE MANIFOLD WAS CLEANED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED A YEAR LATER, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE SAME REPAIRS WERE MADE AS WELL AS VALVES AND ADAPTERS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME REPAIR SHOP.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Apr 22, 200659,000 milesHI

FOUR YEARS AGO I FILED A REPORT OF WHAT I CONSIDERED A DANGEROUS PART FAILURE ON OUR 1995 BUICK RIVIERA, IN THAT A FUEL LINE HAD DEVELOPED A PIN HOLE AND GAS WAS SPRAYING OUT OVER THE ENGINE. I ALSO WROTE A LETTE TO GENERAL MOTORS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM BUT I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM ANYONE. THIS WEEK WE AGAIN SMELLED GAS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL LINE WHICH WAS REPLACED IN 4/02 HAD AGAIN FAILED AND GAS WAS SPRAYING OUT INTO INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE COST OF REPAIR THEN WAS APRX $90 AND I WOULD EXPECT IT TO BE MORE THAN THAT NOW, TO REPAIR SOMETHING WHICH CONSIDERING THE SAFETY ASPECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO A FACTORY RECALL AND REPLACED WITH A HEAVY DUTY LINE. *NM

Suspension › Front › Control Arm
Filed Aug 3, 2005OH

DT: CONTACT WAS GOING TO BUY A CAR FROM FALLS CHRYSLER JEEP AND DODGE. IT WAS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. HE CRAWLED UP UNDER THE CAR AND SAW THE WHOLE ARM THAT COE OUT FROM THE SUB FRAME THAT HOLD THE WHEEL ON WAS RUSTED THROUGH PAPER THIN. HE DID NOT BUY THE VEHICLE BUT LATER CALLED TO TELL THEM ABOUT THE RUST HE NOTICED ,AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY HAD SOLD THE VEHICLE TO SOMEONE, AND THEY HAD SIGNED THREE DIFFERENT PAPERS. HE DID NOT CARE IF THE CAR BROKE DOWN AFTER IT LEF TTHE LOT. *AK

Seat Belts › Front
Filed May 6, 200575,200 milesSC

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT SUPPORT THE DRIVER. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NM ON 5/32004 CONSUMER WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A 18 WHEELER. THEY REPLACED THE SEAT BELT WITH A NEW ONE AND THE SAME PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE DESIGN OF THIS GM BELT IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT PROVIDE PROTECTION DURING SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENTS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES ALL BUICK RIVIERA'S NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH BELTS THAT WILL WORK AND GIVE PROTECTION . *BF *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Apr 15, 200576,410 milesFL

WHILE DRIVING COULD SMELL STRONG FUEL ODOR. OPENED HOOD, AND FOUND PLASTIC FUEL LINE SPRAYING FUEL OVER ENGINE. SHUT ENGINE OFF AND FUEL CONTINUED TO SPRAY. MY BROTHER WILL REPAIR AND SAVE OLD PARTS. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing
Filed Nov 1, 200435,705 miles00

THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT AS WELL AS THE RIGHT SIDE. THE REAR SEATS WERE RARELY USED. THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN RECALL 00V057000 REAR SHOULDER BELTS BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 1, 200480,000 milesAZ

PLASTIC RADIOR TANK CRACKS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH GM VEHICLES IN GENERAL. I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. CRACK SEEMS TO START AT MOUNTING BOLT FOR RADIOR. I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED GM VEHICLES AND CURRENTLY OWN 3 HOWEVER, AT THE COST OF $400.00+ TO REPLACE MY PLASTIC RADIOR, I MAY HAVE TO RECONSIDER MY FUTURE PURCHASES.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 24, 2004VA

WHILE DRIVING AT 25-50 MPH ENGINE AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS DOWN. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Apr 20, 200463,523 milesNJ

A GASOLINE ODOR ENTERED THE PASSENGER CABIN. THE CONSUMER ASSESSED THE PROBLEM, AND FOUND THE FUEL LINE HAD A LEAK AND WAS SPRAYING GASOLINE ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK *JB

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Apr 20, 2004OH

PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE AT LOW RPM'S. PUMP WAS REPLACED WITHOUT RESOLVE OF ISSUE. *AK

20 of 130 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19996000Routine
199829020Routine
199743050Routine
199644210Routine
1995 — this page130141Fatalities reported
19935101Fatalities reported
199212210Routine
19918100Routine
199016500Routine

Compare every Riviera year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 28, 2000. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.