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BUICK · vehicle model

BUICK RIVIERA

438 NHTSA complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 1973–1999.

Complaints
438
Recalls
0
Model years
17

The BUICKRIVIERA appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 438 consumer safety complaints and 0 recall campaigns across 17 model years (1973–1999). That averages roughly 26 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 1 investigation file tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
199912
199843
199748
199669
1995177
19939
199217
199116
199016
198910
19881
19878
19862
19857
19831
19821
19731

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

19
’95
27
’96
25
’97
53
’98
48
’99
61
’00
46
’01
40
’02
29
’03
23
’04
7
’05
6
’06
6
’07
12
’08
4
’09
2
’10
3
’11
1
’12
3
’13
9
’14
6
’15
8
’16

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare BUICKRIVIERA to Similar Vehicles

BUICKRIVIERA vs HYUNDAITUCSON HYBRID → BUICKRIVIERA vs KIACARNIVAL → BUICKRIVIERA vs CHEVROLETC/K PICKUPS → BUICKRIVIERA vs KIARONDO →

NHTSA Investigations

DP87017Defect PetitionClosed1987-04-22

82 BUICK SEAT DISLODGEMENT

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the BUICK RIVIERA?▼
The BUICK RIVIERA has received 438 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1973 to 1999, with 0 recalls. That averages about 26 complaints per model year.
What years of BUICK RIVIERA are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the BUICK RIVIERA from 1973 to 1999 (17 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the BUICK RIVIERA have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many BUICK RIVIERA model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common BUICK RIVIERA complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the BUICK RIVIERA are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my BUICK RIVIERA has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. BUICK RIVIERA totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.