IllustrationGOES OUT OF HIGH GEAR WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-65. *AK
1997 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: 10 of 43 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.
- Steering. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports5 fire reports2 injury reports
Power Train complaints
3 reportsVEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISES UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO, WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE THE RPMS WOULD MOVE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT. DEALER SAID VEHICLE NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION.. *AK
AFTER STOPPING AT AN UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTION, MY FRONT BUMPER WAS INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE SO I BACKED UP ABOUT TWO FEET IN CASE A CAR WAS COMING FROM MY LEFT THAT I MIGHT NOT SEE. I SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SO I COULD PROCEED ACROSS THE LANES AND COMPLETE MY LEFT TURN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW TO ENGAGE COMPLE…
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AFTER STOPPING AT AN UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTION, MY FRONT BUMPER WAS INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE SO I BACKED UP ABOUT TWO FEET IN CASE A CAR WAS COMING FROM MY LEFT THAT I MIGHT NOT SEE. I SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SO I COULD PROCEED ACROSS THE LANES AND COMPLETE MY LEFT TURN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW TO ENGAGE COMPLETELY INTO DRIVE AND LURCHED FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT LET ME ACCELERATE INTO MY LEFT TURN. I WAS ALMOST BROADSIDED ON MY RIGHT AS THIS TRANSMISSION NEEDED A LONG PAUSE BEFORE ENGAGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I HAVE HAD THIS TRANSMISSION OPENED UP AND REPAIRED BY MY BUICK DEALER TWICE IN TWO YEARS. BUICK HAS PUBLISHED MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS DEALING WITH HARSH SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND ALSO HARSH SHIFTING IN GENERAL. I TOOK THE CAR AGAIN INTO DON SNELL BUICK ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 AND ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION OR SEE IF ANOTHER SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED. AFTER TWO DAYS IN WHICH I HAD SOME NORMAL 30000 MILE SERV ICE DONE, THE SERVICE FOREMAN POLITELY TOLD ME THAT THIS PAUSE CAN'T BE FIXED AND I HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. THE PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO BE IN THE RIVIERA MODEL NOT OTHER BUICKS. IN THIS DAY OF FASTER AND FASTER COMPUTERS, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS TRANSMISSION MUST PAUSE FOR A FEW SECONDS TO ENGAGE IN DRIVE FROM REVERSE. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAS THIS CAUSED OR WILL CAUSE IN THE FUTURE? I GUESS SINCE THE RIVIERA IS NO LONGER MADE , THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE WILL FADE AWAY IN BUICK'S EYES. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN NUDGE BUICK INTO ISSUING A FIX FOR THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.