IllustrationWHEN 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
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Riviera years →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, Hydraulic complaints
2 reportsTOTAL 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
Official recalls
289V055000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.