The 1991 Buick Riviera has 1 safety recall and 8 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (5 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints8filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Seat belts › Front › Webbing
NHTSA recall 95V110000 · May 31, 1995 · 113,343 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT A PERSON FROM USING THEIR RESTRAINT SYSTEM RESULTING IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALER WILL INSTALL A WEBBING STOP BUTTON IF THE CUSTOMER REQUESTS REPAIR.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
Riviera
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Power assist
5
0
0
0
—
Seat belts Front › Anchorage; Front › Webbing
3
2
0
4
—
Air bags
2
2
0
4
—
Vehicle speed control
2
0
0
0
—
Parking brake Conventional
1
0
0
0
—
Power train
1
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline
1
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, air
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Nov 1, 1196 · 200,000 milesSeat belts › Front THE SEATBELT IN THE FRONT DOES NOT PULL OUT. WHEN IT RAINS OR SNOWS THE BRAKE CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Jun 1, 1993Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip WHEN APPLYING BRAKE UNDER NORMAL BRAKING SITUATIONS THERE IS EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE. FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, AND CALIPERS ONCE. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DEATAILS.*AK
Dec 10, 2001Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline IN HOT WEATHER, ENGINE OVERHEATS AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT RESTART AFTER SHUTOFF, CONSUMER HAS TO LET IT SET A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START, THERMOSTAT HAS BEEN REPLACED, RADIATOR HAS BEEN CLEANED, ENGINE HAS BEEN SERVICED, AND ANTI FREEZE HAS BEEN CHANGED, HOWEVER ENGINE CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT. *SLC
Jul 20, 1998Power train WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER CAN'T DETERMINE HOW FAST VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AND HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT REFUSED TO FIX THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY SAID THE VEHICLE ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
Aug 28, 1998Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE CAR DID NOT STOP AT ALL. BUICK STATES THE BOOSTER HAD BEEN MODIFIED TO IMPROVE BRAKES. HOWEVER, DEALER STATES THE BOOSTER IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK
Sep 30, 1996 · crash · 2 injuriesSeat belts › Front › Anchorage THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED TO RESTRAIN OCCUPANT.
Nov 1, 1995Parking brake › Conventional PARKING BRAKE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Sep 25, 1995Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist THE VACUUM IS NOT WORKING EARLY IN MORNING. TT
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.