IllustrationCONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH AND ALL FOUR TIRES' TREAD SEPARATED, AND VEHICLE VEERED INTO MEDIAN STRIP.*AK
1998 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: 8 of 29 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 4 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 reports2 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
29 reportsVEHICLE WAS REARENDED WHILE AT A STANDSTILL. DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS DUE TO BACK BREAKING. BOTTOM OF TRACKS WAS TWISTED. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE IS STOPPED IN GEAR EXTREME VIBRATIONS OCCURS. DEALER CAN NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
PE00 020; WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MHP ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE THREW HIM SIDEWAYS AND HE HITS SOME BUSHES VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED.*AK
ROTORS ON DISC BRAKES ARE RUSTING AND WARPING CAUSING IMPROPER BRAKE ACTION AND CAUSED ONE NEAR ACCIDENT INCIDENT WHERE MY WIFE WAS UNABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE BUMPING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE FIRST 15,000 MILES. BUICK HAS STATED THE PROBLEM IS "COSMETIC" AND…
Read full complaint
ROTORS ON DISC BRAKES ARE RUSTING AND WARPING CAUSING IMPROPER BRAKE ACTION AND CAUSED ONE NEAR ACCIDENT INCIDENT WHERE MY WIFE WAS UNABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE BUMPING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE FIRST 15,000 MILES. BUICK HAS STATED THE PROBLEM IS "COSMETIC" AND NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE ALLEGE THAT WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR ENOUGH AND WE LIVE TO NEAR TO THE OCEAN. BUICK'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONTACTED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE LATEST INCLUDED A 3 WAY CONVERSATION WITH THE DEALER AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT STAFFF. THEY STATED THAT THE DEALER HAS ANOTHER WOMAN WHO IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE TECHNICAL STAFF STATED THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION. THEY EXPECT THE ROTORS TO FAIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3 - 4 MONTHS. THEY HAVE DIRECTED ME TO THE FLORIDA "LEMON LAW' FOR RESOLUTION. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE WHEN EXPOSED TO SALT AIR. JUST AS IN THE FIRESTONE CASE, THE DATA MUST BE ISOLATED TO REFLECT THE NUMBER OF FAILURES OF ROTOR ASSEMBLIES LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SALT WATER. BRAKE ROTORS SHOULD NOT FAIL EVERY 3 - 4 MONTHS IN NORMAL USAGE. THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND INTEND TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR.*AK
WHEN CONSUMER IS TRAVELING ABOUT SEVENTY MPH THE VEHICLE VIBRATES, AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO THE OTHER LANE. VEHICLE HAD ROTORS REPLACED TWICE ALREADY, BUT STILL NEEDS A SET OF ROTORS. *AK *ML
WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES THE VEHICLE DOESN'T STOP. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
STEERING RACK AND PINION FAILED. YH
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.