1997 Buick Riviera Owner Complaints

I HAVE A 1997 BUICK RIVIERA THAT HAS A SECURITY LIGHT PROBLEM. I TRY TO CRANK THE CAR AND SOMETIMES IT WILL CRANK OTHER TIMES IT WONT. I AM A YOUNG MALE THAT NORMALLY TRAVELS BACK AND FORTH TO WORK BUT SOME MORNING'S ALL I CAN DO IS PRAY. IT NEVER REALLY BOTHERED ME BEFORE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I HAVE THE PATIENCE OF A SLUG. BUT TODAY I WAS PULLED OVER BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT IN MY WINDOW WAS OUT LONG STORY SHORT. I ASKED THE OFFICER IF I COULD LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY PROBLEM WHILE HE CHECKED MY PAPER WORK INSURANCE REGISTRATION ETC. HE STATED FOR BOTH OF OUR MIND STATES IT WOULD BEST IF I TURNED OFF THE MOTOR. I DID AS I WAS ASKED THE OFFICER RETURNED TO THE CAR TO DELIVER MY DRIVERS LICENSE INSURANCE ETC. HE GAVE ME A WARNING TO GET THE LIGHT REPLACED THEN LEFT MEAN WHILE FOR THE NEXT HOUR AND A HALF. HE RETURNED AROUND 45 MINUTES LATER. I AM ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY I TRIED CLEANING THE KEY WITH A DRY RAG LETTING THE KEY SET IN THE IGNITION UNTIL THE LIGHT TURNED OFF. I EVEN UNPLUGGED THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY CABLE TO LET THE COMPUTER RESET ITS SELF. I WENT TO GM AND HAD A KEY MADE FOR THE CAR BECAUSE MY FIRST KEY HAD THE RUBBER TIP REMOVED. SO I FIGURED I WOULD GET A NEW KEY MADE FOR THE CAR AS WELL AS A NEW KEY PAD EVERYTHING WORKED FINE FOR A DAY OR TWO. I CALLED GM THE MANAGER ASKED ME TO COME BACK IN AND STATED THAT MAYBE THE KEY WAS UNDER CUT BECAUSE THEY HAD JUST PURCHASED A NEW KEY CUTTING MACHINE AND WERE STILL WORKING OUT THE BUGS. THE CAR STARTED FINE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I JUST DID NOT LET IT BOTHER ME FOR A WHILE. NOW IM INFORMING YOU GUYS BECAUSE MY OTHER CAR WAS TOTALED BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER WHILE IT WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I LEFT IT TO PUT AIR IN THE SPARE TIRE. I HOPE THAT WE CAN COME TO A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ITS TO LATE FOR ME OR ANYONE ELSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10441133

Incident

Dec 23, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL ON THE ENGINE DUE TO AN OIL LEAK FROM THE VALVE COVERS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10406811

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

170,000 mi

ON THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 11, 2009 MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FORM THE GROCERY STORE ONE NIGHT, AS HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN HE SMELLED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR, HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO SEE WERE IT WAS COMING FROM. WHEN HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR HE SEEN A CLOUD OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE, HE LIFTED UP THE HOOD IN SAW FLAMES COMING FROM PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE CAR UNDER THE HOOD, HE WENT INTO THE FACILITIES TO WERE HE PULLED OVER AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT THE FIRE WAS TO BIG TO BUT OUT, SO HE CALLED 911 IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR IS AT A TOTAL LOST. THE CAR A WEEK AGO BEFORE IT HAPPEN HAD A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR, BUT AFTER 1 TO 2 DAYS THE SMELL WENT A WAY, IT WAS CHECK FOR GAS AND OIL LEAKS BUT THERE WASN'T ANY. ME AND MY FAMILY WAS VERY TERRIFIED AND UPSET BECAUSE, THIS FIRE COULD HAVE CAUSE DEATH. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 19996 BUICK RIVERA FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. WHEN RESEARCHED THIS CAR AFTER THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS SIMILAR CASE TO MINES. I REALLY HOPE NO ONE ELSE WILL BE PUT IN MY SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280631

Incident

Aug 11, 2009

STEERING COLUMN/WHEEL STARTED A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM, (WOULDN'T LOCK INTO PLACE AFTER ADJUSTING POSITION). WITHIN ABOUT A MONTH OR SO IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. IT WOULD NOT STAY IN A FIXED POSITION AT ALL. IN SEPTEMBER 2006 WE TOOK IT IN TO BE REPAIRED. THEY HAD TO FIND AND REBUILD ANOTHER STEERING COLUMN. IT COST US ALMOST $1000 DOLLARS, PLUS THE COST OF A RENTAL FOR ABOUT TEN (10) DAYS. THE BIGGEST REASON I'M WRITING THIS NOW IS BECAUSE, IT HAS BROKEN AGAIN. (IT IS THE SAME EXACT THING AS BEFORE). I AM WANTING TO KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANYBODY ELSE OR IS IT AN ISOLATED THING ?. ALSO, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS BREAKING (THE HEADS SHEARING OFF) ?. IF NOT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED ITEMS THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL VEHICLES I'VE EVER OWNED. THANK YOU FOR ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN GIVE ME. KELLY GARDNER *TR

NHTSA ID

10278474

Incident

Jul 10, 2006

Mileage

165,000 mi

THIS MORNING I TRIED TO START THE CAR TO GET MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, I TURN THE KEY BUT THE ENGINE DIDN'T START, IMMEDIATELY A BIG LOUD EXPLOSION (THE CAR NEVER STARTED), THEN SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, I GOT OUT TO OPEN THE HOOD AND FIRE WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE RIGHT NEXT DASHBOARD NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE.....THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME TO GET THE FIRE OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252095

Incident

Dec 17, 2008

Mileage

106,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMALL FLAMES ERUPTING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SMOKE IMMEDIATELY APPEARED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, FOLLOWED BY FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10249436

Incident

Nov 5, 2008

GM HAS RECALLED 1997-2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX AND BUICK REGALS WIT THE 3.8 LITER SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINES FOR OIL LEAKING AND BURNING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING SOME 267 KNOWN FIRES. I HAVE A 1997 BUICK RIVIERA 3.8 LITER SUPERCHARGED ENGINE WHICH HAS BEGUN DOING THE SAME THING RECENTLY. I HAVE NOT SEEN THE RIVIERA INCLUDED IN ANY WEB SEARCH BUT I AM SURE GM IS TRYING TO GET BY WITHOUT REPAIRING AS MANY 3.8 SUPERCHARGED AS POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221494

Incident

Mar 17, 2008

VEHICLE - 1997 BUICK RIVERIA 3.8 L SUPERCHARGED ENGINE -- OIL LEAK FROM FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET -- RECALL JUST RELEASED FOR 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND GRAND PRIX BUT LEFT THE RIVERIA OUT OF THE RECALL LIST FOR THE EXACT SAME ENGINE --- I REPLACED THE GASKET MYSELF (VERY EXPENSIVE GASKET) - 11/05 -- AND FEEL THAT GM SHOULD AT LEAST REIMBURSE ME FOR THE GASKET ---. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221447

Incident

Nov 14, 2005

Mileage

150,000 mi

1997 BUICK RIVERA. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ONTO THE TURNPIKE UPON STOPPING AT THE TOLL PLAZA HE NOTICED SMOKE AND SMELLED PLASTIC BURNING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. *MC OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10193186

Incident

Apr 7, 2007

POWER STEERING RACK FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10187580

Incident

Mar 17, 2007

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK RIVIERA. THE PAINT IS BEGINNING TO PEEL OFF FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. SHE CONTACTED GM , AND THEY CHECKED FOR OPEN RECALLS, AND THEY WANTED HER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10132259

Incident

Aug 3, 2005

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN SECURITY LIGHT IS ON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT 2-3 MINUTES, SOMETIMES LONGER, AND THE VEHICLE WILL START.*AK

NHTSA ID

10125281

Incident

Jun 4, 2004

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL COMPLETELY DISENGAGED. *JB *SC

NHTSA ID

10103404

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

93,000 mi

1997 BUICK RIVERA ... DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY-HOLE WORN INTO HIGH PRESSURE FREON DISCHARGE HOSE-FREON SPRAYED THROUGHOUT ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONTO DRIVE BELTS-BELT BROKE AND WRAPPED AROUND HARMONIC BALANCER - BROKE TEETH AND CRANK SENSOR- ENGINE DIED IMMEDIATELY-LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKING, ETC., DEAD CAR HARD TO CONTROL - TOWED TO GM DEALER - DEALER REPLACED ALL PARTS ($900.00) - GM MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGER ALL AGREED TO BUICK DESIGN FLAW - STEEL MANIFOLD FOR FREON HOSES IS FORMED IN SUCH A WAY TO CAUSE FREON HOSES TO RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER AND EVENTUALLY WEAR A HOLE INTO FREON HOSE. - I KEPT PART - CALLED DEALER TO COMPLAIN- THEY REFERRED ME TO BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE- THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS NO RECALLS NOR SERVICE BULLETINS HAD BEEN ISSUED ON THE MATTER - I ASKED FOR INFORMATION AS TO HOW MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS HAD OCCURRED - OR HOW MANY OF THIS FREON MANIFOLD REPLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN SOLD - OR IF THERE HAD BEEN A REDESIGN TO CORRECT THIS PART - THEY WOULD FURNISH ME WITH NONE OF THIS REQUESTED INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105736

Incident

May 22, 2003

Mileage

54,000 mi

WE HAVE A '97 RIVIERA WITH PAINT PROBLEMS...IF THE PAINT BECOMES CHIPPED OR SCRATCHED, TEMPERATURE CHANGES CAUSE THE PAINT TO SHRINK AND EXPAND (MORESO WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLDER) AND UNLESS I BREAK THE SHEETS OF PEELING PAINT OFF, IT KEEPS SPREADING. THIS EXPOSES THE GRAY METAL SEALER. I'D BE GLAD TO SEND YOU A SAMPLE OF THE PAINT (CHAMPAINGE PEARL) WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. *JB

NHTSA ID

10102781

Incident

Nov 29, 2003

THE SENDING UNIT FAILED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME AT 44,000 MILES, SECOND TIME AT 67,000 MILES, AND THIRD TIME AT 80,000 MILES. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH GAS WAS ACTUALLY IN THE VEHICLE. *AK THE SENDING UNIT HAD BARE AND MELTED COMPONENTS. *TC

NHTSA ID

10092730

Incident

Dec 4, 2001

Mileage

44,000 mi

JACK FOR MY 1997 BUICK RIVIERA COLLAPSED WHEN I TRIED TO CHANGE TIRE. FORTUNATELY, I HAD NOT REMOVED THE FLAT TIRE YET AND WAS NOT INJURED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD EVER USED THE JACK SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I STILL HAVE THE DEFECTIVE JACK. I ALSO OWN A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA AND ITS JACK IS MUCH STURDIER AND HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM. I SHOWED THE BROKEN JACK TO MY AUTO MECHANIC. HE SAID THE JACK WAS UNSAFE AND NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE CAR. HE SAID THE JACK WAS TOO SMALL AND LIGHTWEIGHT FOR THE BUICK RIVIERA. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF I HAD BEEN UNDER THE CAR OR ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE FLAT TIRE WHEN THE JACK COLLAPSED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093047

Incident

Sep 3, 2004

Mileage

95,000 mi

PAINT IS PEELING IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS RANGING FROM THE FRONT HOOD TO THE BACK SIDES.

NHTSA ID

10068989

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10054192

1997 BUICK RIVIERA WITH 3800 ENGINE HAS A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT DEGRADES AND LEAKS COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSES HYDROLOCK, THEREBY RENDERING THE VEHICLE USELESS. THIS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME AND LEAVE YOU STRANDED AND IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE TYPE. GM ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM IN JULY OF 2001 (TSB 01-06-01-007A) AND THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE INDICATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN AND ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE FOLKS AT GM AND I AM HAVING NO SATISFACTION WITH THEM WHATSOEVER. THEY CLAIM THAT THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO SERVICE RECORD ON FILE WITH A DEALER PLAY A BIG PART IN HOW THEY LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A LARGER PROBLEM THAN GM WOULD WANT TO ADMIT TO, SEE WEBSITE WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM. I FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM AND IF ENOUGH PEOPLE TAKE THEIR COMPLAINTS TO TH NHTSA THEN MAYBE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10042940

Incident

May 20, 2003

Mileage

93,773 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE TRAVELING OVER PUDDLES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10040759

AS I TURNED THE SWITCH ON, THE CAR BACK FIRED AND THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING IN THE CAR AND IT WAS SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, I IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT. MY HUSBAND WHO HAD HEARD THE BACK FIRE FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE, OPENED THE HOOD, AND THE FIRE WAS ALREADY BLAZING. WE TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BUT ENDED UP CALLING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CARE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10039206

Incident

Sep 6, 2003

THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO NOT START, EXCEPT AFTER TURNING THE KEY TO START, THEN WAIT EXACTLY 3 MINUTES AND IT WOULD START EACH TIME WITH NO FAILURES. ALL THE POWER WORKED EXCEPT NO START OR NOISE AND NO CRANK WITHOUT SECURITY READ OUT BY THE SPEEDOMETER. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WITHOUT OUT FAILURE AND THEY STATED THAT THEY STARTED THE VEHICLE 25-30 TIMES WITH OUT FAILURE. THE DEALER REMOVED THE DASH IN ORDER TO REPAIR, AND IT NOW HAS A RATTLE IN THE DASH. *SCC

NHTSA ID

568001

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON GRAVEL ROAD AND NO WARNING THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX DEFECT DUE TO THE MILES ON THE VEHICLE. PH 09-DEC-2002

NHTSA ID

8021474

Incident

Jul 9, 2002

VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO HAVING DIFFICULTY RESTARTING ONCE IT HAS BEEN SHUT OFF. THE OWNER WOULD HAVE TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES OR LONGER BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE COMPUTER AND THEY CAN NOT REPLACE IT. NLM

NHTSA ID

8019598