RoadVitals

1996 Buick Riviera Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
9
Latest Feb 3, 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.
20%
of 44 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.
0
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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Buick Riviera submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 engine

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

EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 3, 2015

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
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 2004

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
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 2004

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
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Sep 9, 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
Engine
Filed Oct 30, 2001

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
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jun 13, 2000

STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED ON OCCASION AND REQUIRED REPAIR, STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE DUE TO LOOSE BOLTS AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *MJS

NHTSA ID
552641
Incident
May 22, 2000
BrakesEngineVisibility
Filed Nov 19, 1999

DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL, BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THE BRAKE MODULE JUST DID THE SAME THING IT DID LAST YEAR AND WE JUST HAD THE OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. FOR THIS EXPENISVE A CAR, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP CONSTANTLY AND IS UNRELIABLE. WE HAVE NEVER IN THE LAST NINE CARS HAD ANY OF THEM BE IN THE SHOP LIKE THIS. THIS IS REGRETFULLY OUR FIRST AND LAST BUICK AT THIS RATE. THE CAR IS LOVELY, BUT CAN'T BE TRUSTED ON OVER A TWO HOUR TRIP. *AK

NHTSA ID
715035
Incident
Nov 19, 1999
Engine
Filed Sep 11, 1997

COOLANT SENSOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604854
Engine
Filed Nov 28, 1995

3800 SERIES II SUPER CHARGED ENGINE; WHILE DRIVING HEARD CLANKING ENGINE DROPPED DEAD ON HIGHWAY COAST TO STOP. DEALER WILL NOT OPEN ENGINE, JUST REPLACE. TT

NHTSA ID
975561
Incident
Nov 19, 1995

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

Fuel system8Brakes8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .