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1995 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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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 22 of 130 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

17 reports
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96,000 miles · Apr 29, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineTraction Control System

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10713537

25,678 miles · Aug 8, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

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 CO…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10620930

75,000 miles · Nov 6, 2003
Air BagsElectrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEFLATED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. IN ADDITION, HORN FAILED AND CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10046497

137,971 miles · Apr 8, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

THE ABS AND TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND THE MODULATION VALVE. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE EGR SYSTEM FAILED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10014557

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2003
Electrical System

THE HORN WORKED INTERMITTENTLY.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10009100

125,000 miles · Feb 20, 2003
Electrical System

THE HORN FAILED TO WORK.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10008953

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2003
Electrical System

HORN WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AFTER A FEW MONTHS HORN BEGAN TO "BLOW" WITHOUT WARNING. CURRENTLY, HORN HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10006371

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8005584

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2001
Electrical System

HORN SOUNDED CONSTANTLY. DEALER DETERMINED THAT CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #899369

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2001
Air BagsElectrical System

ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH HORN GOING ON BY ITSELF. TOLD BY DEALER THAT HORN AND AIRBAGS ARE TIRED TOGETHER AND THAT THE AIRBAG HAS COLAPSED, CAUSING HORN TO GO ON. DEALER SAYS THEY MUST REPLACE AIRBAG, COST $900.00. HAVE CONTACTED BUICK, AND BOTH BUICK AND DEALER REFUSE TO HELP. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DOUBT A COLAPSED AIRBAG…

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ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH HORN GOING ON BY ITSELF. TOLD BY DEALER THAT HORN AND AIRBAGS ARE TIRED TOGETHER AND THAT THE AIRBAG HAS COLAPSED, CAUSING HORN TO GO ON. DEALER SAYS THEY MUST REPLACE AIRBAG, COST $900.00. HAVE CONTACTED BUICK, AND BOTH BUICK AND DEALER REFUSE TO HELP. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DOUBT A COLAPSED AIRBAG WILL WORK. THE HORN GOING ON BY ITSELF COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I'VE NOTICED FROM SEARCHING YOUR WEBSITE THAT 1994 AND 1995 BUICKS HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN MOST MODELS. NHTSA HAS MANY COMPLAINTS ON FILE FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH BUICK, ESPECIALLY 1995 SKYLARKS AND 1994 ROADMASTERS. PLEASE HELP ME. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ODI #753360

Official recalls

1

00V057000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing

Feb 28, 2000

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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

2

EA00006 · Rear Seat Belt Retractor

Opened Feb 22, 2000 · Closed Mar 6, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other

IN ITS LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 25, 2000 TO NHTSA, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 85,253 MODEL YEAR 1995 BUICK RIVIERA AND OLDSMOBILE AURORA VEHICLES FOR THE DEFECT IN THE OUTBOARD REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES.

PE99059 · Rear Seat Belt Retractor

Opened Sep 15, 1999 · Closed Feb 22, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other

COMPLAINTS GENERALLY STATED THAT ONE OR BOTH OUTBOARD REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AT ALL AND ARE USELESS.IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT PROVIDE ANY TENSION AND HAVE EXCESS SLACK.THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY HAS A PLASTIC COVER NEXT TO THE RETRACTOR RETURN SPRING.ACCORDING TO GENERAL MOTORS (GM), HEAT MAY SOFTEN, WARP AND DEFLECT THE PLASTIC SPRING COVER ALLOWING THE RETURN SPRING TO DISENGAGE THROUGH AND JAM IN THE SPRING COVER ACCESS HOLE RENDERING THE RETURN SPRING NONFUNCTIONAL.TO ELIMANATE THE PROBLEM, GM CHANGED THE SPRING COVER MATERIAL AND ACCESS HOLE AT THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1996 BUICK RIVIERA AND OLDSMOBILE AURORA VEHICLES.BOTH COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS HAVE DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM MY 1995 SUBJECT VEHICLES TO MY 1996 VEHICLES.