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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.

About this comparison →
130Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

1Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
12
19925
1993130
199544
199643
199729
1998
Compare all Riviera years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
21Seat Belts
21Power Train
18Electrical System
17Service Brakes, Hydraulic
14
All reported categories
Steering
13Air Bags
8Structure
8Fuel System, Gasoline
7Visibility
6Engine
5Suspension
5Unknown Or Other
5Vehicle Speed Control
4Exterior Lighting
3Latches/locks/linkages
3Seats
2Tires
2Equipment
1Fuel System, Other
1Traction Control System
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: 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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

21 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING AT DIFFERENT TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN 1999. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLS AND I LOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL. EXPERIENCING LONG CRANKS BEFORE ENGINE WILL START. HOWEVER, ENGINE EVENTUALLY RESTARTS BUT ENGINE STALLS AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE CAR WILL RUN WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR A …

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THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING AT DIFFERENT TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN 1999. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLS AND I LOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL. EXPERIENCING LONG CRANKS BEFORE ENGINE WILL START. HOWEVER, ENGINE EVENTUALLY RESTARTS BUT ENGINE STALLS AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE CAR WILL RUN WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. HAVE HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS DONE ON THIS CAR REGARDING THIS ISSUE SUCH AS IGNITION MODULE. HAD REPAIRS DONE IN OCTOBER 2013 WHERE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, CYLINDER AND KEY WERE REPLACED. IN APRIL 2014 BEGAN EXPERIENCING SAME ISSUE AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597796

55,000 miles · Mar 29, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, BUT THE STALLING COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.*AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10186495

147,000 miles · Oct 17, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THE COOLANT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WAS ILLUMINATED. THE COOLANT WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THERE WAS A LEAK INTO UPPER PLENUM AND UPPER MANIFOLD. THE GASKETS WERE REPLACED AND THE MANIFOLD WA…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THE COOLANT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WAS ILLUMINATED. THE COOLANT WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THERE WAS A LEAK INTO UPPER PLENUM AND UPPER MANIFOLD. THE GASKETS WERE REPLACED AND THE MANIFOLD WAS CLEANED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED A YEAR LATER, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE SAME REPAIRS WERE MADE AS WELL AS VALVES AND ADAPTERS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME REPAIR SHOP.

NHTSA ODI #10171097

80,000 miles · Jun 1, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

PLASTIC RADIOR TANK CRACKS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH GM VEHICLES IN GENERAL. I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. CRACK SEEMS TO START AT MOUNTING BOLT FOR RADIOR. I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED GM VEHICLES AND CURRENTLY OWN 3 HOWEVER, AT THE COST OF $400.00+ TO REPLACE MY PLASTIC RADIOR, I MA…

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PLASTIC RADIOR TANK CRACKS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH GM VEHICLES IN GENERAL. I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. CRACK SEEMS TO START AT MOUNTING BOLT FOR RADIOR. I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED GM VEHICLES AND CURRENTLY OWN 3 HOWEVER, AT THE COST OF $400.00+ TO REPLACE MY PLASTIC RADIOR, I MAY HAVE TO RECONSIDER MY FUTURE PURCHASES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10074593

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT 25-50 MPH ENGINE AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10074125

74,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

I WAS TOLD THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AS WELL AS THE LOWER INTAKE(PLENUM). (3.8L V6) THE WORK WAS PERFORMED BY A FIRESTONE RETAIL STORE IN MYRTLE BEACH, SC. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND WHAT WERE THE REPAIR COSTS? I SURE AM CURIOUS. AS FAR AS PAINT, I HAD THE CAR PAINTED FOR $1000.00.

NHTSA ODI #10070232

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 · Mar 27, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

NAR 03-27-2003 MR ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION OR COOLANT LEAK INSPECT FOR MATERIAL DEGRADATION/ REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLDS. 1995-97 BUICK RIVIERA, 1995-98- BUICK LESABRE, PARK AVENUE, 1996-98 BUICK REGAL, 1998 CHEV LUMINA, MONTE CARLO, 1995-98 OLDSMOBILE 98, 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, 1995-98 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, 1997-9…

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NAR 03-27-2003 MR ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION OR COOLANT LEAK INSPECT FOR MATERIAL DEGRADATION/ REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLDS. 1995-97 BUICK RIVIERA, 1995-98- BUICK LESABRE, PARK AVENUE, 1996-98 BUICK REGAL, 1998 CHEV LUMINA, MONTE CARLO, 1995-98 OLDSMOBILE 98, 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, 1995-98 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, 1997-98 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10014536

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING AND ENGINE COOLING FAN WERE NOT OPERATING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8006044

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

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.