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1989 Buick Riviera

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 9 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

9 reports
147,000 miles · Nov 8, 2007
Service Brakes, Air

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 BUICK RIVIERA. ON NOVEMBER 7, 2007, THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ABS LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. WHEN HE CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID, IT WAS LEVELED; HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 BUICK RIVIERA. ON NOVEMBER 7, 2007, THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ABS LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. WHEN HE CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID, IT WAS LEVELED; HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE, THE FLUID FILLED UP AS IF THERE WAS A BACK UP SOMEWHERE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE SOME OF THE BRAKE FLUID. THE DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW IF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 89V056000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR ANTILOCK) APPLIES TO HIS VIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ODI #10208428

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2001
Structure

PLEASE REFERENCE NHTSA RECALL NO. 97V058/GM RECALL OF BUICK REGALS SOLD IN ILLINOIS 1998 - 1991. MY TIRE TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT THE CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS ON MY 1989 BUICK RIVIERA WERE TOTALLY CORRODED AND THAT THEY COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY MY GENRAL MOTORS DEALER WHO STATED THAT I COULD LOSE STEERIN…

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PLEASE REFERENCE NHTSA RECALL NO. 97V058/GM RECALL OF BUICK REGALS SOLD IN ILLINOIS 1998 - 1991. MY TIRE TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT THE CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS ON MY 1989 BUICK RIVIERA WERE TOTALLY CORRODED AND THAT THEY COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY MY GENRAL MOTORS DEALER WHO STATED THAT I COULD LOSE STEERING CONTROL AND THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME THAT BUICK HAD RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THAT THE RIVIERAS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES STILL ON THE ROAD...THEY ARE A UNIQUE VEHICLE AND IN DEMAND BY RIVIERA COLLECTORS. IF THIS CORROSION FAILURE OCCURRED ON MY EXCELLENTLY MAINTAINED VEHICLE, I AM CONCERNED THAT IT COULD POSE A LETHAL THREAT TO OTHER 1989 - 1991 BUICK RIVIERA OWNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. PLEASE NOTE THAT BILL HEMBROUGH BUICK HAS BEEN SOLD TO LOU BACHRODT COMPANY IN ROCKFORD AND THAT THE REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE BY THE BACHRODT SERVICE DEPARTMENT.THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS NOTICE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #753555

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2000
Structure

CRADLE THAT HOLDS ENGINE CORRODED AND RUSTED TO THE POINT IT WAS ABOUT TO FALL OUT CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME IMPOSSIBLE

NHTSA ODI #9000978

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2000
Seats

RECALL ? VERY UNSAFE !! BOTH FRONT "HYDRAULIC" (RUSTY, AND NOT WORKING)SEAT MECHANISMS (THAT LOOK LIKE 2 BLACK SHAPED "PISTONS") THAT ENGAGE WITH EACH END OF THE BOTTOM REAR PART OF THE TWO FRONT SEATS TO "WORK" SEATING POSITIONS BACK AND FORTH DOES NOT "ENGAGE" THE SEATS -- SO THAT THE BACK PART OF TH…

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RECALL ? VERY UNSAFE !! BOTH FRONT "HYDRAULIC" (RUSTY, AND NOT WORKING)SEAT MECHANISMS (THAT LOOK LIKE 2 BLACK SHAPED "PISTONS") THAT ENGAGE WITH EACH END OF THE BOTTOM REAR PART OF THE TWO FRONT SEATS TO "WORK" SEATING POSITIONS BACK AND FORTH DOES NOT "ENGAGE" THE SEATS -- SO THAT THE BACK PART OF THE SEATS WHERE YOUR BACK RESTS UP AGAINST DOES ACTUALLY "LUNGE" FORWARD AT "STOPS" SO EVEN THOUGH YOU OR YOUR PASSENGER WEARS A "SAFETY BELT" -- NEITHER ONE OF YOU ARE TRULY "RESTRAINED" !! MEANING, IT WOULD NOT STOP YOU FROM GOING FORWARD INTO THE FRONT DASHBOARD OR WORSE YET -- THE WINDSHIELD !! VERY "UNSAFE" !! THE ELECTRICAL MECHANISM MOVES THE SEAT, BUT THE "PERMANENCE OF THE SEAT, THE "HYDRAULIC" MECHANISM'S ABILITY TO ATTACH/ENGAGE WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT" IS BROKEN ! *AK

NHTSA ODI #722281

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2000
Fuel System, GasolineStructure

AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP, FITTINGS, LINES... COSTING $467.00 ON 11/23/99 -- THE MECHANIC AND MANAGER INFORMED US OF THE IMMINENT DANGERS OF THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE OF "RUSTED-THROUGH CRADLE ARM AND BREAKING, RUSTY BOLTS PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE CRADLE" THAT WILL…

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AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP, FITTINGS, LINES... COSTING $467.00 ON 11/23/99 -- THE MECHANIC AND MANAGER INFORMED US OF THE IMMINENT DANGERS OF THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE OF "RUSTED-THROUGH CRADLE ARM AND BREAKING, RUSTY BOLTS PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE CRADLE" THAT WILL REQUIRE THAT THE ENGINE BE EXTRACTED AND THE "CRADLE" BE REPLACED (OR IF POSSIBLE? "WELDED" ?). WE JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, WHO DID LOTS OF "MAINTANENCE" AND "REPAIRS" AND LOTS OF MONEY $$$ ON THE 1989 BUICK RIVIERA. WE LOVE RIVIERA'S ! THIS "SEEMED" LIKE IT WAS IN "GOOD SHAPE" UNTIL THE "STEERING" WASN'T QUITE RIGHT, DRIFTING ON HIGHWAY (WITH OR WITHOUT ICY CONDITIONS) ! THEN, IT WAS DISCOVERED WHILE "ON THE LIFT" AT MIDWEST MARATHON IN PARMA WE HAVE PUT ALOT OF MONEY IN IT, TOO ! WE DO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR CARS, AND LIKE OLDER MODELS RATHER THAN THE NEWER MODELS -- SO WE BOUGHT THIS WITH THE PLAN TO KEEP IT AWHILE ! WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION AND HELP IN NOTIFYING GM/BUICK ABOUT THIS "ENGINE CRADLE" PROBLEM? ANY RECALLS ? WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR US !! WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OURSELVES ! THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE WE BELIEVE FOR THIS COSTLY REPAIR !! PLEASE, EMAIL US : LOGOLOOKS@AOL.COM OR WRITE OR CALL US ! *AK

NHTSA ODI #722279

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYNG THE BRAKES AT 35 TO 40 MPH, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. DEALER CUT ROTORS DOWN BEYOND SIZE REQUIRED BY STATE. THE ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847954

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE MOTOR MODULE FOR THE ABS SYSTEM IS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844121

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 1998
Electrical System

THE COMPUTER SCREEN ON INSTRUMENT PANEL KEPT BLINKING OFF & ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WAS THE CAUSE. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER AS OF YET.*AK

NHTSA ODI #826915

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 1995
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED VEHICLE SURGED AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. TT

NHTSA ODI #958225

Official recalls

2

89V055000 · Service Brakes, Air:antilock

Apr 5, 1989

ONE OR BOTH ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEATED AND COULD LOOSEN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE ABSHYDRAULIC UNIT FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET AND RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTIONAND A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: REPLACE BOTH ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS.

89V056000 · Service Brakes, Air:antilock

Apr 5, 1989

LEFT FRONT BRAKE PIPE MAY CONTACT THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BRACKET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BRAKE LINE COULD WEAR THROUGH CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKEFLUID AND PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY; THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH.

Remedy: REPLACE LEFT FRONT BRAKE PIPE ASSEMBLY.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.