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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.

About this comparison →
9Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

2Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19865
19871
19889
198916
19908
199112
1992
Compare all Riviera years →

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

What owners reported most

Structure
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Electrical System
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seats
1
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Air
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

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

Seats complaints

1 reports
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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…

Read full complaint

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

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.