1990 BUICK RIVIERA
5 recalls, 16 complaints
95V110000 May 31, 1995
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
Defect Description
THE FRONT OUTER SHOULDER BELT WEB SEW STOP CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. THE BELT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT OF THE RETRACTOR AND SOME OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FASTEN THE BELT.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT A PERSON FROM USING THEIR RESTRAINT SYSTEM RESULTING IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALER WILL INSTALL A WEBBING STOP BUTTON IF THE CUSTOMER REQUESTS REPAIR.
91V158000 Sep 13, 1991
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP
Defect Description
BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT MAY NOT LIGHT WHEN IGNITION IS IN THE "ON" POSITION, THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, AND THE SHIFT SELECTOR IS IN THE PARK OR NEUTRAL GEAR RANGE.
Consequence
VEHICLES WOULD NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 101AND 105.
Remedy
REPLACE THE PROM IN THE BODY COMPUTER MODULE TO PREVENT THIS CONDITION FROM OCCURRING.
90E043004 Oct 30, 1990
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Defect Description
THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.
Consequence
INFLATOR COMPONENT SEPARATION ALLOWS HOT COMBUSTION GASESTO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Remedy
REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.
90V164000 Sep 6, 1990
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
Defect Description
TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FROM THE FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL WITH LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.
Consequence
DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL GEARPOSITION THE TRANSAXLE IS IN, WHICH COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENTAND AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy
INSTALL A TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP TO PREVENT CABLE DISENGAGEMENT.
90V028000 Feb 12, 1990
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
Defect Description
MISALIGNED REAR SEAT SAFETY BELT SHOULDER RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES COULD CAUSE PENDULUM INTERFERENCE, CAUSING THE BELT TO REMAIN IN LOCKED POSITION OR TO TRAVEL FREELY WITHOUT LOCKING.
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A PANIC STOP OR ACCIDENT, IF THE BELT RETRACTOR INERTIA LOCK DOES NOT ENGAGE, THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD HAVE AN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY.
Remedy
REALIGN REAR SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY.
Complaint Statistics
16 total complaints
1 crashes
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Sep 13, 2004
Incident date: Aug 13, 2004
VEHICLE HESITATE D BEFORE ACCELERATING. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
Mar 11, 2002
Incident date: Jul 30, 2001
ABS BRAKING PROBLEM, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS NOISE AND LESS BRAKING POWER. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Jan 30, 2001
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON ATTEMTPING TO STOP, BRAKE PEDAL GOT VERY HARD, CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO SKID OUT INTO TRAFFIC. IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED PART NUMBER 1646523, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ... Read more
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Oct 29, 1999
Incident date: Aug 1, 1998
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES CONTINUALLY FAILING, SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL, ALMOST RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. MJS
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Jul 29, 1998
Incident date: Jul 21, 1998
CONSUMER HAS A COMPLAINT CONCERNING DEALER/MANUFACTURER'S. REFUSAL TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S AIR BAG. *AK
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 29, 1998
Incident date: Sep 22, 1997
VEHICLE LOST ALL LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF SIGHT.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Dec 4, 1997
Incident date: Aug 15, 1997
RIGHT ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Oct 7, 1997
Incident date: Sep 22, 1997
THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. *AK
POWER TRAIN
Jul 14, 1997
Incident date: Jul 14, 1997
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY ON HIS VEHICLE COMES AND GOES . WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER GOES THERE IS NO WAY OF TELLING THE SPEED OF VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Mar 26, 1997
OWNER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. OWNER QUESTIONS THE SAFETY OF THE AIRBAGS. *AK
Crash
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
Dec 31, 1996
Incident date: Dec 25, 1996
WHILE DRIVING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR, CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO SMOKE. REPLACED TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Oct 9, 1996
PURCHASED CAR NEW, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AND SECOND TRANSMISSION STILL SLIPS OUT OF GEAR . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Aug 28, 1996
VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD BECOMES INOPERATIVE INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT THE DLR CANNOT LOCATE.THIS OCCURS WITH PRIOR WARNING.*AK
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Mar 14, 1996
Incident date: Aug 1, 1995
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, DUE TO AIR BAG BEING INOPERATIVE, PRIOR TO RECALL.(90E043004) *DSH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
Oct 31, 1995
Incident date: Apr 1, 1994
THE HORN BUTTONS FELL OFF AND NOW THE DRIVER HAS NO HORN. BUICK HAS REDESIGNED THE HORN MECHANISM. TT AT FIRST THE HORN WAS REPAIRD WITH SUPER GLUE. AFTER A YEAR, BOTH BUTTONS WERE REPLACED. *YH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Aug 8, 1995
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TRY TO STOP THERE IS A SLOW PROCESS IN STOPPING HAVE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM . TT
EPA Fuel Economy, 1990 BUICK RIVIERA
| Trim / Engine | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined MPG | Fuel Type | Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd (Front-Wheel Drive) | 16.0 | 25.0 | 19.0 | Regular | $3,300 |
CO2 Emissions: -1.0 g/mile (Midsize Cars)
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.
NHTSA Safety Investigations, BUICK RIVIERA
Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.
EA00006
Opened: Feb 22, 2000 , Closed: Mar 6, 2000
REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR
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
Opened: Sep 15, 1999 , Closed: Feb 22, 2000
REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR
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 (G... Read more
EA94010
Opened: Feb 28, 1994 , Closed: Jun 16, 1995
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS
There is no summary currently available
EA88036
Opened: Jul 22, 1988 , Closed: Aug 30, 1991
REAR DISC BRAKES
SUMMARY: CORROSION IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PREVENTS AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT FOR PAD WEAR. THIS MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF REAR SERVICE BRAKE AND PARKING BRAKE. GM HAS ADDED CORROSION PROTECTION AND CHANGED SPRING RATE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. SAME BASIC DESIGN USED ON ALL MODELS IDENTIFIED.
BUICK RIVIERA - All Years Overview
Complete safety history for the BUICK RIVIERA across all model years (1966, 1996).
46
Total Recalls
439
Total Complaints
4
Investigations
30
Reported Crashes
23
Reported Fires
5
Reported Deaths
BUICK RIVIERA - Year by Year
Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 | 12 | View |
| 1998 | 0 | 43 | View |
| 1997 | 0 | 48 | View |
| 1996 | 2 | 69 | View |
| 1995 | 1 | 177 | View |
| 1993 | 1 | 9 | View |
| 1992 | 2 | 17 | View |
| 1991 | 1 | 16 | View |
| 1990 (current) | 5 | 16 | |
| 1989 | 3 | 10 | View |
| 1988 | 1 | 1 | View |
| 1987 | 2 | 8 | View |
| 1986 | 2 | 2 | View |
| 1985 | 2 | 7 | View |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 | View |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 | View |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 | View |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 | View |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 | View |
| 1975 | 3 | 0 | View |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 | View |
| 1973 | 1 | 1 | View |
| 1972 | 3 | 0 | View |
| 1971 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 1969 | 0 | 1 | View |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 | View |