1996 Buick Riviera Owner Complaints

I SMELLED GAS. I OPENED THE HOOD, REMOVED THE ENGINE COVER & FUEL WAS SPRAYING FROM THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE, THE SIZE OF A PINHOLE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO ORDER A NEW FUEL LINE AND WAS TOLD THE FUEL LINE PART #25648136 IS DISCONTINUED, AS SOON AS I FIND ONE LEFT SOMEWHERE, I WILL BE TAKING TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIR. THERE ARE NO RECALLS LISTED ON THIS? A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WENT INTO VARIOUS AUTO FORUMS ON THE INTERNET & NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. A PINHOLE LEAK IN THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE REPLACED THIS LINE IN THE 4 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR WITH 60000 MILES BETWEEN THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED AND NOW. GM NEEDS TO OFFER A REDESIGNED REPLACEMENT PART THAT DOESN'T LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680980

Incident

Dec 22, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

COULD NOT GET FIRST INCIDENT DATE ENTERED. THIS IS CURRENT TIME STARTED IN 2013. HAVE HAD REPAIRED 5 TIMES AND NEEDS AGAIN. WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY ABOVE 60 MILES PER HOUR AND HAVE TO BRAKE HEAVILY IT WILL START TO SHAKE AND SHIMMY STEERING COLUMN FIXED 2 TIMES THIS YEAR, AS IT LOOSENS UP AND YOU CAN MOVE IT UP TO TWO INCHES BACK AND FORTH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630201

Incident

Sep 2, 2014

Mileage

126,861 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10594863

Incident

Nov 20, 2013

Mileage

68,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10492888

Incident

Nov 7, 2012

Mileage

76,000 mi

SEAT BELT FAILURE: THE SEAT BELT FASTENER(CLASP/HOOK) ON MY 1996 BUICK RIVIERA VIN # [XXX] HAS FAILED. INSERTION OF THE MALE END OF THE BELT INTO THE FEMALE FASTENER FAILS TO RESULT IN THE UNIT LOCKING. BUICK STATES THEY HAVE NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE OR ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR IT. THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT (LEFT SIDE, I.E. BEHIND DRIVER) FAILS TO RETRACT THE BELT OR SNUG IT UP AFTER THE BELT IS FASTENED. THIS RESULTS IN MORE THAN A FOOT OF SLACK BELT AND THUS AFFORDS LITTLE PROTECTION TO A PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A BUICK RECALL ON PRECISELY THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL CAR (GM 00023, DATED 15 NOVEMBER 2000, IN RESPONSE TO A 28 FEBRUARY 2000 NHTSA RECALL ORDER, NUMBER 00V057000) BUICK TELLS ME IT DOES NOT COVER MY VEHICLES VIN NUMBER AND IS ALSO NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR. SINCE BOTH ISSUES CLEARLY INVOLVE SAFETY ISSUES, I THOUGHT THE NHTSA WOULD BE INTERESTED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10373140

Incident

Dec 18, 2010

Mileage

112,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED HESITATING. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND NOTICED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED . THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. ALTHOUGH HE EXPERIENCED AN IDENTICAL FAILURE, HE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V116000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL) . THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10291539

Incident

Nov 9, 2009

Mileage

140,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A SMELL OF GAS. I STOPPED & WAS AT A TRUCK STOP. I CHECKED UNDER THE GAS TANK VEHICLE & SPOTTED NO GAS DRIPPING FROM THE TANK. THEN I WENT AROUND TO FRONT OF THE VEHICLE & SAW NO GAS LEAKING. THEN SEVERAL DAYS LATER, I DROVE TO FRESNO, PARKED THE CAR & TOLD MY DAUGHTER THAT I SMELLED GAS. I OPENED THE HOOD, REMOVED THE ENGINE COVER & FUEL WAS SPRAYING FROM THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE, THE SIZE OF A PINHOLE. I PLACED SOME TAPE ON IT & DROVE IT HOME. I CONTACTED THE DEALER & ORDERED A NEW FUEL LINE. I WILL BE TAKING INTO THE BUICK DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THERE ARE NO RECALLS LISTED ON THIS???? A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WENT INTO VARIOUS AUTO FORUMS ON THE INTERNET & NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. A PINHOLE LEAK IN THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE. THIS BEING ON THE 1995 - 1999 BUICK RIVIERA'S ( 3.8 L ) V6. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232104

Incident

Jun 19, 2008

Mileage

132,550 mi

FUEL SMELL WHEN TANK IS FULL. REMOVED ACCESS COVER FOR FUEL PUMP MODULE FOUND WELL FOR MODULE FILLED WITH DIRT OVER TOP OF MODULE. CLEAN OUT DIRT FOUND METAL RING TO HOLD MODULE IN ROTTED OFF TANK THERE WAS NOTHING HOLDING FUEL PUMP MODULE IN TANK IF CAR ROLLED OVER. FUEL CAN RUN OUT LOOKS LIKE A BAD HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230002

Incident

Jun 5, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING A FUEL AND A WATER LEAK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. UPDATED 04-08-08 *BF

NHTSA ID

10220677

Incident

Mar 1, 2008

Mileage

131,451 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE SHROUD OFF OF THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE HAD A HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED WITH A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE. UPDATED 3/22/2006 - THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND THAT WHEN THE CONSUMER OPEN THE HOOD AND SAY THE MIST OF FUEL BEING SPRAYED ONTO THE HOT ENGINE. THE RUBBER FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED WITH A HIGH PRESSURE RUBBER LINE AT AND INDEPENDENT SHOP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152100

Incident

Mar 3, 2006

Mileage

123,800 mi

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL 00V057000. PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SHOULDER BELT(S) DO NOT RETRACT. A RETAINER COULD SEPARATE FROM A REAR SEAT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR WHICH RESULTS IN THE RETRACTOR RETURN SPRING BECOMING DISENGAGED. DEALER INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT RECALL APPLIED ONLY FOR THE YEAR 1995 .*AK

NHTSA ID

10092902

Incident

Sep 21, 2004

THE DRIVERS' SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH AND MUST BE REPLACED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10080843

Incident

Jul 12, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10055854

Mileage

135,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10054927

Incident

Jan 16, 2004

I HAVE A BUICK RIVERA 1996, AND THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS EXPLODED ONCE, AND NOW THE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. THERE IS A LEAK OF WATER IN THE BACK SEAT ON THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT, THE TRACTION LIGHT ARE ONE AGAIN. I KNOW THERE WERE BUICK'S RECALLED BECAUSE OF DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS EXPLODING, HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED GM THEY SAID NOT ON THE RIVERA. NOW, ALL OF THESE ARE BUICK CARS, AND I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS. THIS HAS PUT MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY PASSANGERS IN DANGER, BECAUSE IF THAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR BADLY HURT. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS. IT HAS CAUSED ME CONSTANT MENTAL STRESS JUST WORRYING ABOUT THIS THING DEPLOYING AGAIN. PLEASE HELP ME. I AM A PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS WOMAN AND I AM 41 YEARS OF AGE. I WOULD LIKE GENERAL MOTORS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM ON MY CAR. PLEASE CONTACT ME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025588

Incident

Sep 9, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

8019252

WHILE DRIVING AT ESTIMATED SPEEDS OF 40-45 MPH, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR RUNNING OVER DEBRIS IN ROAD. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8018293

Incident

Jun 11, 2002

TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, WHICH COULD INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE OR BRAKES PER OWNER'S MANUAL. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018154

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

NHTSA ID

8015955

Incident

Jul 25, 2002

Mileage

63,689 mi

MODULATOR AFFECTS ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL, CAN CAUSE WHEEL LOCK-UP AND STEERING PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

764952

Incident

Jul 5, 2002

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

NHTSA ID

8011983

Incident

May 5, 2002

WHILE IN REVERSE AND APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOORBOARD. OWNER DISCOVERED BRAKE FLUID POURING FROM BRAKE LINE. BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED A HOLE IN LINE. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED.*AK *JG

NHTSA ID

566311

Incident

Sep 11, 2001

Mileage

30,000 mi

WATER PUMP FAILED WITH ONLY 50100 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED TO BUICK'S RECOMMENDATIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID

753914

Incident

Oct 9, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

750726

SINCE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE, IT HAS BEEN IN FOR BRAKES ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BRAKES SEEM TO WEAR PREMATURELY. *AK

NHTSA ID

726449

Incident

Jun 7, 1999