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Model file · BuickUpdated · 16 sources

Selling a junk or non-running Buick Riviera

One model year owns the Riviera's record. Of 312 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about Rivieras from 1985 to 1999, 130 are on the 1995, the first year of the last generation. The four model years after it add 122 more. The nine model years before it, from 1985 to 1993, total 60.

A white third-generation Buick Riviera two-door coupe driving on a road past a gated wall and palm trees
Photo: Noah Wulf · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Model years in EPA data
1984-1999
Complaints to NHTSA
312
Year with the most complaints
1995 (130)
Recall campaigns
12
Complaints reporting a fire
15
No 1994 model
Generations jump from 1993 to 1995

So the age of your Riviera tells you a lot about what's in its file. If it's done, we buy whole non-running and junk cars, and pickup is free anywhere in the US.

Three generations in the data

The EPA lists the Riviera from 1984 to 1999, including the Riviera Convertible. Wikipedia splits those years across three generations. The photo shows a car from the 1971-1973 design. Wikipedia gives that one a 455 cubic-inch Buick V8, and every Riviera in the tables below came later.

These Riviera complaint counts come from NHTSA, checked October 10, 2026. Read them as a count, not a grade of the car. A recall's vehicle total belongs to its entire campaign, which GM often shared across other nameplates.

Sixth generation, 1984-1985: built in New Jersey

Wikipedia lists this generation from 1979 to 1985, built at Linden Assembly in New Jersey with front-wheel drive, a 3.8-liter Buick V6 and a 3-speed TH-325 automatic. NHTSA has only 2 complaints for the 1985, and both name the engine and engine cooling. Both also report a fire.

The one recall, 89V102, covers 1984-1985. Riviera owners sometimes find a small nylon bushing has slipped out of the cruise control servo. That can make engine speed rise without warning, or keep the engine running with the key off. With 1,755,897 vehicles in the campaign, it spans many GM cars.

Seventh generation, 1986-1993: brakes and belts

Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly in Michigan built this generation, and Wikipedia lists it as transverse-engined with front-wheel drive. These eight model years have 58 complaints between them. The hydraulic service brakes are the most-named part in 1990, 1991 and 1993, and tie with structure for the lead in 1989.

Recalls cluster around brakes, belts and steering:

  • 1986-1987 (88V078): the power steering pressure hose can rub against a transmission connector and wear through.
  • 1989 (89V056, 89V055): the left front brake pipe can touch the cruise control bracket, and the ABS unit's mounting bolts can loosen.
  • 1990: four campaigns, the most of any Riviera year. Rear belt retractors can lock or fail to lock (90V028). The shift cable can come off the floor shifter (90V164). The brake warning light may not come on (91V158).
  • 1990-1993 (95V110): the front shoulder belt's stop can jam in the retractor, so some people can't fasten the belt.
  • 1992 (91V157): a pinch bolt in the steering coupling may be missing.

Eighth generation, 1995-1999: the busiest years

There's no 1994. Wikipedia's seventh generation ends with 1993 and the eighth begins with 1995. NHTSA's complaint file agrees: no 1994 row.

The 1995's 130 complaints are led by seat belts (20), then the engine and the power train (15 each). A recall filed in 2000, 00V057, covers the 1995's rear shoulder belts, which may stop retracting when a retainer comes off the retractor. The 1995 also has 1 of the 2 complaints in the whole file that report a death; the other is on the 1993.

The 1996 has 44 complaints and two recalls. Under 96V116, a backfire while starting can break the upper intake manifold, and the fix is new engine software. Under 95V204, a damaged capacitor in the alarm, lighting and locking module can affect the key-in-ignition and seat belt chimes.

By the 1997 and 1998, steering is the most-named part (10 and 6). Fire shows up in 5 of the 1997's complaints, more than in any other Riviera year.

Complaints and recalls by model year

Model yearComplaintsReport a fireReport a crashRecall campaigns
1985-198810202 (89V102, 88V078)
19899002
199016014
19918011
199212132
19935021
1995130471
199644102
199743530
199829230
19996010

Across all years, the most-named parts are the hydraulic service brakes (37), the engine and engine cooling (31), and steering (30).

Fix it or sell it?

Every Riviera here is at least 27 model years old. Before paying for a repair, compare the quote with what the car sells for running.

  1. Enter your VIN in NHTSA's recall search to see which campaigns apply.
  2. A 1996 that backfired and won't run right? Ask about the intake manifold recall before anything else.
  3. Is it a project? Our old project car guide helps you decide. For a high-mileage daily driver, see old or high mileage.

Selling your Riviera whole

  1. Have the year, mileage, and whether it's a coupe or a convertible.
  2. Get an offer online or call (877) 421-6008.
  3. Mention where your Riviera sits and if the wheels roll, and we pick the right truck. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
  4. Sell the whole car as it sits. Leave the engine and trim on, and mention anything already pulled.
  5. Have the title. If it's lost, see selling with no title.

Other Buicks of the same years: the Regal, Park Avenue and LeSabre, or browse every Buick.

Questions people ask

Why does the 1995 Riviera have so many complaints?
The 1995 holds 130 of the Riviera's 312 NHTSA complaints, more than four in ten. It was the first year of the eighth generation. Seat belts lead its complaints with 20, and a 2000 recall (00V057) covers rear shoulder belts on the 1995 that may not retract.
Is there a 1994 Riviera?
Not in these records. Wikipedia's seventh generation ends with 1993 and the eighth starts with 1995, and NHTSA's complaint file has no 1994 row.
Will you buy a Riviera that has been parked for years?
Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and pickup is free anywhere in the US. Tell us the year, whether it rolls, and where it's parked.
What was the 1996 intake manifold recall?
Campaign 96V116 says a backfire while starting can break the upper intake manifold. The fix was new engine computer programming. The campaign counts 275,811 vehicles, so it likely includes other GM models too.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.

  1. NHTSA complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
  2. NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
  3. NHTSA recall 89V102: cruise control servo bushing, 1984-1985 nhtsa.gov
  4. NHTSA recall 88V078: power steering hose, 1986-1987 nhtsa.gov
  5. NHTSA recall 89V056: front brake pipe, 1989 nhtsa.gov
  6. NHTSA recall 89V055: ABS mounting bolts, 1989 nhtsa.gov
  7. NHTSA recall 90V028: rear belt retractors, 1990 nhtsa.gov
  8. NHTSA recall 90V164: transaxle shift cable, 1990 nhtsa.gov
  9. NHTSA recall 91V158: brake warning light, 1990 nhtsa.gov
  10. NHTSA recall 91V157: steering coupling pinch bolt, 1992 nhtsa.gov
  11. NHTSA recall 95V110: front shoulder belt stop, 1990-1993 nhtsa.gov
  12. NHTSA recall 95V204: MALL module, 1996 nhtsa.gov
  13. NHTSA recall 96V116: upper intake manifold, 1996 nhtsa.gov
  14. NHTSA recall 00V057: rear shoulder belts, 1995 nhtsa.gov
  15. EPA fuel economy data (model years and name variants) fueleconomy.gov
  16. Wikipedia: Buick Riviera (generations, plants, engines) en.wikipedia.org