Reliability & cost of ownership
Buick Riviera Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Buick Riviera? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for a full reliability and repair-cost forecast.
Buick Riviera problems by model year
3 recall entries and 252 owner complaints on file across 5 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Riviera | 0 | 6 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 1998 Riviera | 0 | 29 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 1997 Riviera | 0 | 43 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 1996 Riviera | 2 | 44 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 1995 Riviera | 1 | 130 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Buick Riviera, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- engine and engine cooling35 complaints
- steering35 complaints
- electrical system30 complaints
- power train30 complaints
- seat belts30 complaints
- service brakes29 complaints
- hydraulic28 complaints
- fuel system18 complaints