Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Buick Riviera problems
Owners filed 29 complaints about the 1998 Buick Riviera with NHTSA between Feb 1999 and Sep 2016. The most-cited component is steering (7).
Complaints
29
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Steering7
- Engine4
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Electrical system3
- Power train3
- Tires3
- Seats2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Seat belts1
- Parking brake1
- Fuel system, other1
- Other / unknown1
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
3
3
7
3
2
2
0
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 4 |
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
Steering
7 reports
“STEERING WHEEL HAS DEVELOPED A VERY SIGNIFICANT "WOBBLE" WHICH EXISTS REGARDLESS OF WHAT TILT POSITION IT IS IN. THE WOBBLE IS DIAGONAL, FROM NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST IN DIRECTION, AND THE APPARENT PIVOT POINT OF THE WOBBLE IS JUST BEHIND INSTRUMENT PANEL LEVEL. HAD CAR AT DEALER FOR OTHER WORK, AND THEY COMMENTED ON IT TOO. DID NOT CALL IT A SAFETY ISSUE THOUGH... WANTED $120 TO FIX IT. I DECLINED AT THE TIME, SINCE THEY DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. I WOULD TEND TO DIFFER WITH THEIR OPINION THOUGH, AND FEEL THEY SHOULD REPAIR THIS AT NO CHARGE DUE TO IT BEING THE STEERING MECHANISM INVOLVED. I'VE HEARD THIS COMPLAINT FROM MANY OTHER 95-99 RIVIERA OWNERS, AND IT SEEMS TO BE EPIDEMIC AMONG THESE CARS. *TR”
Engine
4 reports1 fire
“IT STARTED OUT AS A SMALL OIL LEAK, BUT I RECENTLY NOTICED THE LEAK HAS EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY. IT'S DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT THE LEAK, BUT AN OIL PAN UNDER THE CAR SHOWS SIGNIFICANT PUDDLING OF OIL. A SEALER/CONDITIONER DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. WHILE ONLINE, I NOTED THAT THE 3800CC 3.8L ENGINE SEEMS NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND OTHER MODELS OF GM CARS APPEAR TO BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL. NOT SO THE BUICK, WHICH TO ME, HAS THE SAME ENGINE. GIVEN THAT IS IS KNOWN NOW, I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS LOW PRODUCTION VEHICLE WAS LEFT OUT OF THE RECALL AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED. PUDDLE OF OIL PHOTO ENCLOSED. THIS CONDITION IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
4 reports
“UPON STOPPING VEHICLE HAS TO PRESS BRAKES DOWN HARD TO HOLD VEHICLE IN PLACE. VEHICLE JUMPS IF BRAKES ARE NOT HELD DOWN FIRMLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK”
Electrical system
3 reports
“INTERMITTENTLY HORN BECAME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S SAFETY. DEALER COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK”
Power train
3 reports
“VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT PROPERLY DUE TO GEARS GRINDING IN TRANSMISSION. ENGINE WAS SUPER CHARGED, BUT NOT TRANSMISSION. AT TRANSMISSION CENTER, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BEARINGS WERE FAILING AND CAUSED THE GRINDING. *AK *YH”
Tires
3 reports2 crashes
“CONSUMER PURCHASED TWO NEW TIRES DUE TO FLATS AND THE LOST OF AIR IN A TIRE THAT COULD NOT BE REPLACED. THE FIRST TIRE WENT FLAT FOUR TIMES DUE TO WEAR AROUND THE WHEEL COVERING (TIRE INFO NOT GIVEN).”
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.