Menu

1995 Buick RivieraProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 130 owner complaints about the 1995 Buick Riviera, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

25
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid3.0× the Riviera median · #1 of 6 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints13016 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage80kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 29, 2015. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1995 Buick Riviera has problems

130 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
Engine and engine cooling212
Seat belts210
Power train181
Electrical system171
Service brakes, hydraulic141
Steering130
Air bags85
Structure82
Fuel system, gasoline70
11 other systems333

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

1 recall

1995 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.

–no report yet

Front: webbing

Recall 00V-057 · Feb 28, 2000 · 85,253 vehicles

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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

1995 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
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1995 Buick Riviera, and the recalls they led to.

  1. REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOREA00006 · closed Mar 6, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-057
  2. REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORPE99059 · closed Feb 22, 2000
    No recall
In owners' words

What Riviera owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 10597796 · Jun 12, 2014
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, BUT THE STALLING COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.*AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB
Complaint 10186495 · Mar 29, 2007 · 55,000 miles
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THE COOLANT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WAS ILLUMINATED. THE COOLANT WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THERE WAS A LEAK INTO UPPER PLENUM AND UPPER MANIFOLD. THE GASKETS WERE…
Complaint 10171097 · Oct 17, 2006 · 147,000 miles

Own a 1995 Riviera?

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