RoadVitals

1990 Buick Riviera

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Sep 13, 2004
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest May 31, 1995
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Buick Riviera, most frequently naming the brakes, exterior lighting and airbags categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes425.0%
  • Exterior lighting318.8%
  • Airbags318.8%
  • Electrical212.5%
  • Transmission16.3%
  • Body & structure16.3%
  • Engine16.3%
  • Powertrain (other)16.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
95V110000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

May 31, 1995
113,343 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT OUTER SHOULDER BELT WEB SEW STOP CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. THE BELT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT OF THE RETRACTOR AND SOME OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FASTEN THE BELT.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT A PERSON FROM USING THEIR RESTRAINT SYSTEM RESULTING IN AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A WEBBING STOP BUTTON IF THE CUSTOMER REQUESTS REPAIR.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
91V158000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP

Sep 13, 1991
18,904 units potentially affected
The defect: BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT MAY NOT LIGHT WHEN IGNITION IS IN THE "ON" POSITION, THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, AND THE SHIFT SELECTOR IS IN THE PARK OR NEUTRAL GEAR RANGE.
The risk: VEHICLES WOULD NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 101AND 105.
The remedy: REPLACE THE PROM IN THE BODY COMPUTER MODULE TO PREVENT THIS CONDITION FROM OCCURRING.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
90E043004

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Oct 30, 1990
39 units potentially affected
The defect: THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.
The risk: INFLATOR COMPONENT SEPARATION ALLOWS HOT COMBUSTION GASESTO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA94010ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS

Opened Feb 28, 1994
Closed Jun 16, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTORLed to recall 95V110000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 16
Engine
Filed Sep 13, 2004

VEHICLE HESITATE D BEFORE ACCELERATING. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10091911
Incident
Aug 13, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 11, 2002

ABS BRAKING PROBLEM, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS NOISE AND LESS BRAKING POWER. *AK

NHTSA ID
8005341
Incident
Jul 30, 2001
Brakes
Filed Jan 30, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON ATTEMTPING TO STOP, BRAKE PEDAL GOT VERY HARD, CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO SKID OUT INTO TRAFFIC. IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED PART NUMBER 1646523, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
879294
Brakes
Filed Oct 7, 1999

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES CONTINUALLY FAILING, SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL, ALMOST RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. MJS

NHTSA ID
548919
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Airbags
Filed Jul 29, 1998

CONSUMER HAS A COMPLAINT CONCERNING DEALER/MANUFACTURER'S. REFUSAL TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S AIR BAG. *AK

NHTSA ID
825988
Incident
Jul 21, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 7, 1997

THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
816919
Incident
Sep 22, 1997
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 30, 1997

VEHICLE LOST ALL LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF SIGHT.

NHTSA ID
604604
Incident
Sep 22, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Sep 14, 1997

RIGHT ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED.

NHTSA ID
522071
Incident
Aug 15, 1997

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buick Riviera by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000001—
1999602—
1998290144.2
1997430144.9
1996442247.8
19951301248.9
1994000—
1993510—
1992122052.4
1991810—
1990Viewing165151.7
1989930—
1988112—
1987523—
1986223—
1985222—
1984022—
1983111—
1982111—
1981010—
1979020—
1978010—
1977020—
1976010—
1975030—
1974010—
1973110—
1972030—
1971020—
1970020—
1969100—
1966010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.