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1986 Buick RivieraProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 2 owner complaints about the 1986 Buick Riviera, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints20 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem2Electrical system

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 29, 1997. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1986 Buick Riviera has problems

2 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system20

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1986 Buick Riviera recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Buick.

Best & worst years

1986 vs. every other Riviera year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Riviera median. How we score

'66'69'70'71'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'95'96'97'98'99
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1986 Buick Riviera, and the recalls they led to.

  1. THROTTLE NON-RETURNC89001 · closed Jan 16, 1990
    No recall
  2. STALLINGEA87022 · closed Nov 27, 1991
    No recall
  3. REAR DISC BRAKESEA88036 · closed Aug 30, 1991
    No recall
In owners' words

What Riviera owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

VOLTAGE CONVERTER FOR THE DASH AND SHIFTING INDICATORS FAILED. DASH AND SHIFTING INDICATORS ARE DEPENDENT ON VOLTAGE CONVERTER. WITHOUT THE LIGHTS AND IN THE DARK IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE WHERE THE LIGHT SWITCH IS LOCATED OR WHERE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER IS POSITIONED. *AK
Complaint 523903 · Sep 29, 1997

Own a 1986 Riviera?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.