BUICK RIVIERA · model year

1995 BUICK RIVIERA

177 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995BUICKRIVIERA carries 177 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 6 fires, 9 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1995 RIVIERA is seat belts:front:retractor with 12 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (10) and power train:automatic transmission (8). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1995 RIVIERA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

177
Complaints
8
Crashes
6
Fires
9
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

177 filings

Crashes Reported

8 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR12
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP10
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS5
ENGINE5
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR4
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE3

Recent Complaints

20150429ENGINE

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

Mileage: 96,000

20150429ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 96,000

20150429TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 96,000

20141114FireENGINE

FOUL SMELL THEN PARKED AND WENT INSIDE MALL CAME BACK CAR HAD BEEN ON FIRE. *TR

20141114FireSTRUCTURE:BODY

FOUL SMELL THEN PARKED AND WENT INSIDE MALL CAME BACK CAR HAD BEEN ON FIRE. *TR

20140808ENGINE

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.

Mileage: 25,678

20140808ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 25,678

20140612ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING AT DIFFERENT TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN 1999. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLS AND I LOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL. EXPERIENCING LONG CRANKS BEFORE ENGINE WILL START. HOWEVER, ENGINE EVENTUALLY RESTARTS BUT ENGINE STALLS AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE CAR WILL RUN WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. HAVE HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS DONE ON THIS CAR REGARDING THIS ISSUE SUCH AS IGNITION MODULE. HAD REPAIRS DONE IN OCTOBER 2013 WHERE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, CYLINDER AND KEY WERE REPLACED. IN APRIL 2014 BEGAN EXPERIENCING SAME ISSUE AGAIN. *TR

20140314ENGINE

THE INFO ABOVE IS APPROX. YOUR RECALL OF GM CARS WITH RE: TO IGNITION PROBLEMS MAY NOT BE BROAD ENOUGH. I TRADED IN MY 95 RIVIERA IN APRIL OF 2007 AFTER PLOWING $1500 INTO AND STILL NO SATISFACTORY REPAIR ON WHY IT WAS STALLING. THE LAST STALL WAS IN A THREE WAY INTERSECTION IN CHICAGO. EACH TIME IT STALLED I LOST POWER STEERING. I DON'T RECALL IF THE DEALER LOOKED AT IGNITION ISSUES. I DO RECALL THAT THEY WERE AT ONE POINT FOCUSED ON THE CARBURETOR. IT WAS BEING SERVICED BY A DEALER IN SCHAUMBERG, ILL. SORRY I DON'T HAVE BETTER RECALL OF DETAILS. ONCE I TRADED THE CAR, I TOSSED THE DOCUMENTATION. THE LAST STALL WAS SCARY AND THE REASON I TRADED THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 35,000

20131011POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING, BEGAN TO SMELL ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CABIN. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, OPENED HOOD TO WITNESS FUEL SUPPLY LINE TO REAR FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAKING ON TO TOP OF ENGINE. FUEL CONTINUED TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE EVEN AFTER I SHUT OFF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 69,900

20131011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING, BEGAN TO SMELL ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CABIN. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, OPENED HOOD TO WITNESS FUEL SUPPLY LINE TO REAR FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAKING ON TO TOP OF ENGINE. FUEL CONTINUED TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE EVEN AFTER I SHUT OFF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 69,900

20120827ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 10/24/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE OFTEN STALLED WHEN COASTING DOWN HILL OR TO A STOP. UPDATED 11/13/2012 *JS

Mileage: 110,000

20090901FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLEX FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109000.

Mileage: 109,000

20081217STEERING

1. THE STEERING COLUMN SUPPORT BRACKET ATTACHING BOLTS WERE UNDER TORQUED DURING ASSEMBLY. MY VEHICLE HAS WIRING PROBLEMS AND STARTING PROBLEMS THAT COME AND GO. INADEQUATE TORQUE CAN CAUSE THESE BOLTS TO VIBRATE LOOSEN OR FALL OUT RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL SUPPORT BRACKET ATTACHING BOLTS TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS. THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1995 BUICKS BUT NOT INCLUDING MY BUICK. *TR

Mileage: 75,544

20070329ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. AT 50 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, BUT THE STALLING COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.*AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

Mileage: 55,000

20061017ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THE COOLANT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WAS ILLUMINATED. THE COOLANT WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THERE WAS A LEAK INTO UPPER PLENUM AND UPPER MANIFOLD. THE GASKETS WERE REPLACED AND THE MANIFOLD WAS CLEANED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED A YEAR LATER, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE SAME REPAIRS WERE MADE AS WELL AS VALVES AND ADAPTERS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME REPAIR SHOP.

Mileage: 147,000

20060422FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FOUR YEARS AGO I FILED A REPORT OF WHAT I CONSIDERED A DANGEROUS PART FAILURE ON OUR 1995 BUICK RIVIERA, IN THAT A FUEL LINE HAD DEVELOPED A PIN HOLE AND GAS WAS SPRAYING OUT OVER THE ENGINE. I ALSO WROTE A LETTE TO GENERAL MOTORS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM BUT I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM ANYONE. THIS WEEK WE AGAIN SMELLED GAS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL LINE WHICH WAS REPLACED IN 4/02 HAD AGAIN FAILED AND GAS WAS SPRAYING OUT INTO INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE COST OF REPAIR THEN WAS APRX $90 AND I WOULD EXPECT IT TO BE MORE THAN THAT NOW, TO REPAIR SOMETHING WHICH CONSIDERING THE SAFETY ASPECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO A FACTORY RECALL AND REPLACED WITH A HEAVY DUTY LINE. *NM

Mileage: 59,000

20050803SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

DT: CONTACT WAS GOING TO BUY A CAR FROM FALLS CHRYSLER JEEP AND DODGE. IT WAS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. HE CRAWLED UP UNDER THE CAR AND SAW THE WHOLE ARM THAT COE OUT FROM THE SUB FRAME THAT HOLD THE WHEEL ON WAS RUSTED THROUGH PAPER THIN. HE DID NOT BUY THE VEHICLE BUT LATER CALLED TO TELL THEM ABOUT THE RUST HE NOTICED ,AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY HAD SOLD THE VEHICLE TO SOMEONE, AND THEY HAD SIGNED THREE DIFFERENT PAPERS. HE DID NOT CARE IF THE CAR BROKE DOWN AFTER IT LEF TTHE LOT. *AK

20050415FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

WHILE DRIVING COULD SMELL STRONG FUEL ODOR. OPENED HOOD, AND FOUND PLASTIC FUEL LINE SPRAYING FUEL OVER ENGINE. SHUT ENGINE OFF AND FUEL CONTINUED TO SPRAY. MY BROTHER WILL REPAIR AND SAVE OLD PARTS. *AK

Mileage: 76,410

20050121SEAT BELTS:FRONT

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT SUPPORT THE DRIVER. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NM ON 5/32004 CONSUMER WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A 18 WHEELER. THEY REPLACED THE SEAT BELT WITH A NEW ONE AND THE SAME PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE DESIGN OF THIS GM BELT IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT PROVIDE PROTECTION DURING SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENTS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES ALL BUICK RIVIERA'S NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH BELTS THAT WILL WORK AND GIVE PROTECTION . *BF *NM

Mileage: 75,200

Compare 1995BUICKRIVIERA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 BUICK RIVIERA have?
The 1995 BUICK RIVIERA has 177 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 6 fires, 9 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 BUICK RIVIERA?
The most-complained component for the 1995 BUICK RIVIERA is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1995 BUICK RIVIERA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.