Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Buick Riviera problems
Owners filed 44 complaints about the 1996 Buick Riviera with NHTSA between Nov 1995 and Feb 2015. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (7).
Complaints
44
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Power train7
- Fuel system, gasoline6
- Seat belts6
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Electrical system5
- Steering3
- Visibility3
- Air bags2
- Engine1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Service brakes1
- Fuel system, other1
- Exterior lighting1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
3
8
3
2
3
2
7
1
4
0
1
0
3
1
1
0
0
1
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 1997 | 8 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
7 reports
“ELECTRICAL (?)--THE ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ENGINE WILL NOT RESTART WHEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL WHILE STILL ROLLING BUT DOES RESTART WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED! THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVEN TIMES DURING THE PAST 9 MONTHS AND IS HAPPENING WITH MORE FREQUENCY--4 TIMES THIS MONTH! THE BUICK SERVICE DEPT. HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND CANNOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *LA”
Power train
7 reports
“TRACTION LIGHT STAYS ON WITH CAUSE UNKNOWN. THE OWNER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT HE PROBABLY RAN THROUGH SOME WATER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*JB”
Fuel system, gasoline
6 reports1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED FROM EXCESSIVE CORROSION CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 8//1/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE TANK WAS PLASTIC WITH A METAL RING BONDED TO THE TANK, WITH A METAL LOCK RING THAT HELD THE FUEL PUMP IN PLACE. BOTH METAL RINGS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED, TO THE POINT THEY WERE CRUMBLING AND FLAKING. UPDATED 08/26/14”
Seat belts
6 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE SEAT BELT ON BUT IT FAILED TO CONNECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY DID NOT PROVIDE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE, JUST THE REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
6 reports
“TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED WHEN TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING*AK CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THE ABS LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE TO INDICATE THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. *TT *JB”
Electrical system
5 reports1 related recall
“THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL# 95V20400 ELECTRIC SYSTEM: ANTI-THEFT DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT DEALT WIT SAME PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.