Buick Riviera Reliability

437 NHTSA complaints (1982–1999). Complaint rate: 5141.2 per 1,000 vehicles.

Severity Score
13141.2
Complaints
437
Crash Rate
6.9%
Fire Rate
5.0%
Injuries
28
Fatalities
4

Which Years to Buy & Avoid

Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.

Bottom line: Avoid the 1995–1998 Buick Riviera. The 1993 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.

Avoid These Years

1995–1998
~84/yr complaints · 14 crashes

Average

1989–1992
~15/yr complaints
1999
~12/yr complaints

Better Years

1993
~9/yr complaints
1985–1987
~6/yr complaints
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Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA complaint count per model year

Buick Riviera — Complaints by Model YearPeak: 1995 (177)
0511021532041985198619871989199019911992199319951996199719981999

Common Buick Riviera Problems

Most reported component complaints to NHTSA

ComponentComplaintsCrash %
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP273.7%
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION185.6%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE170.0%
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR160.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN130.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM130.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING120.0%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE120.0%
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1275.0%
STEERING119.1%

Year-by-Year Breakdown

NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.

YearGenerationComplaintsCrashesFiresDetails
1985GOOD707View
1986GOOD20View
1987GOOD80View
1989100View
1990161View
1991164View
19921731View
1993GOOD94View
1995AVOID17786View
1996AVOID6901View
1997AVOID4835View
1998AVOID4332View
1999123View

See also: Buick Rivieraaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.

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Buick Riviera Years to Avoid (1982–1999) — Reliability, Problems & Best Years to Buy | VinItel