Model year record

1995 Buick Riviera recalls & problems

The 1995 Buick Riviera has 1 safety recall and 130 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (24 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints130filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 4reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths8 · 1reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsFeb 28, 2000

Front › Webbing

Recall 00V05700085,253 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: IN A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT MAY RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES IF THERE IS EXCESSIVE SLACK IN THE SHOULDER BELT.
Fix: 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.

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

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/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*
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	24	0	2	0	80,000 mi
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Anchorage	22	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemHorn; Ignition › Module	18	0	1	0	85,500 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)	18	1	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components	16	0	0	2	—
SteeringHydraulic power assist system; Steering wheel/handle bar	13	0	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal; Side/window	9	6	0	4	—
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Windshield	9	0	0	0	—
StructureBody › Door; Body	9	0	2	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Delivery › Fuel pump	7	0	0	0	69,900 mi
SuspensionFront; Front › Stabilizer bar	5	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	5	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LATER FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 7/1/15*CN
Jun 1, 2012 · 96,000 miles
EngineFire
FOUL SMELL THEN PARKED AND WENT INSIDE MALL CAME BACK CAR HAD BEEN ON FIRE. *TR
Nov 14, 2014
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,678. THE CONSUMER STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN TRAFFIC. ON EACH OCCASION, THERE WAS A LOSS POWER BRAKES. IN APRIL 2013, THERE WERE FOUR INSTANCES WHERE THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A YEAR LATER, THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A…
Apr 10, 2013 · 25,678 miles
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 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
Sep 20, 2013
Engine
THE INFO ABOVE IS APPROX. YOUR RECALL OF GM CARS WITH RE: TO IGNITION PROBLEMS MAY NOT BE BROAD ENOUGH. I TRADED IN MY 95 RIVIERA IN APRIL OF 2007 AFTER PLOWING $1500 INTO AND STILL NO SATISFACTORY REPAIR ON WHY IT WAS STALLING. THE LAST STALL WAS IN A THREE WAY INTERSECTION IN CHICAGO. EACH TIME IT STALLED I LOST POWER STEERING. I DON'T RECALL IF THE DEALER LOOKED AT IGNITION ISSUES. I DO RECALL THAT THEY WERE AT ONE POINT FOCUSED ON THE CARBURETOR. IT WAS BEING SERVICED BY A DEALER IN SCHAUMBERG, ILL. SORRY I DON'T HAVE BETTER RECALL OF DETAILS. ONCE I TRADED THE CAR, I TOSSED THE DOCUMENTATION. THE LAST STALL WAS SCARY AND THE REASON I TRADED THE CAR. *TR
Mar 1, 2007 · 35,000 miles
Power train
WHILE DRIVING, BEGAN TO SMELL ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CABIN. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, OPENED HOOD TO WITNESS FUEL SUPPLY LINE TO REAR FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAKING ON TO TOP OF ENGINE. FUEL CONTINUED TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE EVEN AFTER I SHUT OFF THE CAR. *TR
Sep 30, 2013 · 69,900 miles
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 10/24/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE OFTEN STALLED WHEN COASTING DOWN HILL OR TO A STOP. UPDATED 11/13/2012 *JS
Aug 27, 2012 · 110,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLEX FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109000.
Jul 20, 2009 · 109,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORClosedLed to recall 00V057000
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.
EA00006 · opened Feb 22, 2000 · closed Mar 6, 2000
REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORClosed
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.
PE99059 · opened Sep 15, 1999 · closed Feb 22, 2000