Complaints
48
Crashes
3
Fires
5
Injuries
4
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Buick Riviera Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#13 complaints
Electrical Faults
Fires:2
#23 complaints
Automatic Transmission
#33 complaints
Steering Defects
Considering a 1997 Buick Riviera?
Check the actual VIN — every car is different.
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $8.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Buick Riviera.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Air:Disc:Rotor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — |
Electrical Faults
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Air:Disc:Rotor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Buick Riviera. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Buick Riviera Years
1997 Buick Riviera — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Buick Riviera reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 1997 Buick Riviera has 48 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 3 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Buick Riviera?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (3 complaints); Automatic Transmission (3 complaints); Steering Defects (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1997 Buick Riviera?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Buick Riviera include 3 crash-related reports, 5 fire reports, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Buick Riviera have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Buick Riviera as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Buick Riviera?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Buick Riviera reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Buick Riviera
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $8.99