NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–1999

Buick Riviera recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 252 owner complaints for the Buick Riviera, covering model years 1995 to 1999. The 1995 model year drew the most complaints (130), and Engine and Engine Cooling is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Buick Riviera VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

3 recall campaigns on file
252 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
5 model years with data (1995–1999)

most complaints: 1995 (130 for that model year)
top component: Engine and Engine Cooling (38 complaints)
latest recall 00V057000 (reported Feb 28, 2000)

14 complaints reporting a crash (5.6%)
12 complaints reporting a fire (4.8%)
7 complaints reporting an injury (2.8%)
1 complaint reporting a death (0.4%)

Buick Riviera complaints by model year

5 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1995 model year has the most complaints: 130 of 252, or 51.6%. Next come 1996 (44) and 1997 (43). The fewest are for 1999, with 6 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Buick Riviera complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Buick Riviera complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury	Reporting a death
1995	130	7	4	5	1
1996	44	0	1	0	0
1997	43	3	5	2	0
1998	29	3	2	0	0
1999	6	1	0	0	0
All model years	252	14	12	7	1

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Buick Riviera components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Engine and Engine Cooling is the component named most often, in 38 complaints (15.1% of all 252), followed by Steering (36) and Electrical System (32).

Components named most often in Buick Riviera complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Buick Riviera complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Engine and Engine Cooling	38	15.1%
Steering	36	14.3%
Electrical System	32	12.7%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	32	12.7%
Power Train	31	12.3%
Seat Belts	31	12.3%
Fuel System, Gasoline	13	5.2%
Structure	12	4.8%
Air Bags	11	4.4%
Engine	11	4.4%
Visibility	10	4.0%
Unknown or Other	9	3.6%
Tires	8	3.2%
Vehicle Speed Control	8	3.2%
Seats	6	2.4%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Buick Riviera recalls

3 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Riviera, newest first. The 3 campaigns cover model years 1995 to 1996. The 1996 model year appears in the most campaigns (2).

3 recall campaigns

Buick Riviera recall campaigns covering each model year
1995: 1 campaign	1996: 2 campaigns

Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 00V057000
Reported Feb 28, 2000
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing
Model year 1995
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.
Consequence:
In a crash, an occupant may receive more severe injuries if there is excessive slack in the shoulder belt.
Remedy:
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.
Filed by General Motors, LLC
NHTSA campaign 96V116000
Reported Jul 1, 1996
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Model year 1996
A backfire during engine starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold.
Consequence:
This condition can cause a no-start condition and possibly an engine compartment fire.
Remedy:
Dealers will update the powertrain control module programming. Until the campaign repair is made, the vehicle hood should be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury.
Filed by General Motors, LLC
NHTSA campaign 95V204000
Reported Oct 23, 1995
Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-Theft › Control Module
Model year 1996
These vehicles were assembled with a malfunction alarm, lighting and locking (mall) module that can contain a damaged capacitor. If the capacitor is damaged, the "key in the ignition" warning chime and the driver seat belt unbuckled warning chime and indicator lamp may not work. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 114, "theft protection" and FMVSS No. 208, "occupant crash protection." In addition, other chime reminder functions, interior lighting controls, and power door locking features are also affected.
Consequence:
Consequence of non-compliance; the driver may not be aware that the key was left in the ignition or that the safety belt was not buckled.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the mall module.
Filed by General Motors, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Buick Riviera questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Buick Riviera have?

NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recall campaigns for the Buick Riviera, covering model years 1995 to 1999. The most recent, 00V057000, was reported on February 28, 2000 and is filed under “Seat belts”. The 1996 model year is covered by the most campaigns (2).

Which Buick Riviera model year has the most complaints?

The 1995 model year, with 130 of the 252 complaints in NHTSA’s file (51.6%). The next are 1996 (44) and 1997 (43). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Buick Riviera complaint?

Engine and Engine Cooling is the component named most often: 38 complaints, or 15.1% of all 252. Steering (36) and Electrical System (32) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Buick Riviera?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Buick dealer.

How many Buick Riviera complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 252 complaints, 14 report a crash, 12 a fire, 7 at least one injury and 1 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Buick models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Buick VIN decoder with every Buick model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Buick LeSabre 1995–2006 · 12 recalls · 2,992 complaints
Buick Enclave 2008–2026 · 29 recalls · 2,495 complaints
Buick Regal 1995–2020 · 43 recalls · 2,357 complaints
Buick LaCrosse 2005–2019 · 24 recalls · 2,120 complaints
Buick Century 1995–2005 · 11 recalls · 1,415 complaints
Buick Rendezvous 2001–2007 · 9 recalls · 1,241 complaints
Buick Park Avenue 1995–2005 · 13 recalls · 1,004 complaints
Buick Lucerne 2006–2011 · 6 recalls · 943 complaints

All Buick models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.