RoadVitals

1995 Buick Riviera Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
17
Latest Apr 29, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 130 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Buick Riviera submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 29, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LATER FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 7/1/15*CN

NHTSA ID
10713537
Incident
Jun 1, 2012
Mileage
96,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 8, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,678. THE CONSUMER STATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN TRAFFIC. ON EACH OCCASION, THERE WAS A LOSS POWER BRAKES. IN APRIL 2013, THERE WERE FOUR INSTANCES WHERE THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND THE BRAKES AND POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A YEAR LATER, THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10620930
Incident
Apr 10, 2013
Mileage
25,678 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 6, 2003

DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEFLATED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. IN ADDITION, HORN FAILED AND CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10046497
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Mileage
75,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 8, 2003

THE ABS AND TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND THE MODULATION VALVE. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE EGR SYSTEM FAILED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID
10014557
Incident
Nov 27, 2002
Mileage
137,971 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 24, 2003

THE HORN WORKED INTERMITTENTLY.*JB

NHTSA ID
10009100
Incident
Feb 12, 2003
Electrical
Filed Feb 20, 2003

THE HORN FAILED TO WORK.*JB

NHTSA ID
10008953
Incident
Jan 2, 2003
Mileage
125,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 4, 2003

HORN WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AFTER A FEW MONTHS HORN BEGAN TO "BLOW" WITHOUT WARNING. CURRENTLY, HORN HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH. *AK

NHTSA ID
10006371
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 13, 2002
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE. CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8005584
Incident
Sep 13, 2001
Electrical
Filed Nov 21, 2001

HORN SOUNDED CONSTANTLY. DEALER DETERMINED THAT CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
899369
Incident
Jul 15, 2001
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Oct 18, 2001

ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH HORN GOING ON BY ITSELF. TOLD BY DEALER THAT HORN AND AIRBAGS ARE TIRED TOGETHER AND THAT THE AIRBAG HAS COLAPSED, CAUSING HORN TO GO ON. DEALER SAYS THEY MUST REPLACE AIRBAG, COST $900.00. HAVE CONTACTED BUICK, AND BOTH BUICK AND DEALER REFUSE TO HELP. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DOUBT A COLAPSED AIRBAG WILL WORK. THE HORN GOING ON BY ITSELF COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I'VE NOTICED FROM SEARCHING YOUR WEBSITE THAT 1994 AND 1995 BUICKS HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN MOST MODELS. NHTSA HAS MANY COMPLAINTS ON FILE FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH BUICK, ESPECIALLY 1995 SKYLARKS AND 1994 ROADMASTERS. PLEASE HELP ME. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID
753360
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
ElectricalSeat beltsTransmission
Filed Jun 15, 2000

#1.TRACTION OFF LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED ON. REPLACED PMC. #2. REAR SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. RETRACTOR NEEDS REPLACING.

NHTSA ID
724074
Incident
Sep 18, 1999
Electrical
Filed Dec 3, 1998

ELECTRICAL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON FOR NO GIVEN REASON, THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF, NOT ENOUGH POWER TO GO. DEALER CONTACTED AND PUT A NEW COMPUTER IN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
831705
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+2 more
Filed Jul 14, 1998

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES CAUSING MANY COMPONENTS TO FAIL, DEFROSTER, SIGNALS, ETC.

NHTSA ID
537865
Incident
Nov 1, 1996
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+2 more
Filed May 28, 1998

HEATER FAN INOPERABLE DUE TO SHORTED WIRE IN THE RELAY CENTER.

NHTSA ID
536101
Incident
Dec 20, 1995
Electrical
Filed Aug 11, 1995

ALTERNATOR FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
600566
Incident
Jul 1, 1994
Electrical
Filed Jul 19, 1995

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER CHIP. TT

NHTSA ID
969102
Incident
Jul 12, 1995
Electrical
Filed Apr 25, 1995

WHILE DRIVING, AT APPROX. 20MPH SUDDENLY ENGINE SHUT DOWN, FOR NO APARENT REASON, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. TT

NHTSA ID
964298

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Engine26Seat belts21Transmission16Brakes14Steering13Airbags8Body & structure8Fuel system8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .