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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

Service Brakes, Air complaints

1 reports
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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

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.