The Buick Riviera has 17 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1981–1996. On average a defect was admitted 6.21 years after the car was built, the slowest took 22 years. The most recalled system is Fuel System, Gasoline (3 campaigns). Owners also filed 246 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Buick Riviera
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Fuel System, Gasoline 3 Read
What's wrong. A backfire during engine starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold
Risk. This condition can cause a no-start condition and possibly an engine compartment fire
Fix. Dealers will update the powertrain control module programming. Until the campaign repair is made, the vehicle hood should be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury
What's wrong. Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n g3727, with date codes x52911 through x60801 sequentially or x600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing manufactured from october 18, 2005, through march 21, 2006, sold for use on the vehicles listed above and on certain school buses. (to see the school bus engine sizes, click on "document search" and then "bus applications"). The connector on the fuel filter was not manufactured to honeywell's specification. As a result, the o-ring may not seat correctly on the fuel line
Risk. This condition may cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur
Fix. Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. The recall began on october 18, 2006. Owners may contact fram customer service at 1-800-890-2075 (option 1)
What's wrong. Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n g3727, with date codes x52911 through x60801 sequentially or x600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing manufactured from october 18, 2005, through march 21, 2006, sold for use on the vehicles listed above and on certain school buses. (to see the school bus engine sizes, click on "document search" and then "bus applications"). The connector on the fuel filter was not manufactured to honeywell's specification. As a result, the o-ring may not seat correctly on the fuel line
Risk. This condition may cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur
Fix. Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. The recall began on october 18, 2006. Owners may contact fram customer service at 1-800-890-2075 (option 1)
Seat Belts 3 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear shoulder belt(s) do not retract. A retainer could separate from a rear seat shoulder belt retractor which results in the retractor return spring becoming disengaged
Risk. In a crash, an occupant may receive more severe injuries if there is excessive slack in the shoulder belt
Fix. Dealers will inspect both rear shoulder belt retractors for correct function and install a spring cover retaining strap to each retractor. If a retractor does not function correctly, it will be replaced
What's wrong. The front outer shoulder belt web sew stop can become stuck in the retractor. The belt can be difficult to pull out of the retractor and some occupants may not be able to fasten the belt
Risk. This condition can prevent a person from using their restraint system resulting in an increased risk of injury in an accident
Fix. Dealer will install a webbing stop button if the customer requests repair
What's wrong. The front outer shoulder belt web sew stop can become stuck in the retractor. The belt can be difficult to pull out of the retractor and some occupants may not be able to fasten the belt
Risk. This condition can prevent a person from using their restraint system resulting in an increased risk of injury in an accident
Fix. Dealer will install a webbing stop button if the customer requests repair
Steering 2 Read
What's wrong. The intermediate shaft to steering rack lower coupling pinch bolt may be missing
Risk. If this condition exists and shaft disengagement occurs, loss of steering control will be experienced by the driver which could result in an accident
Fix. Install pinch bolt
What's wrong. Insufficient clearance between the power steering pump pressure hose assembly and the transmission governor/speed sensor connector could cause abrasion of the hose
Risk. This could result in a fluid leak, with the potential foran underhood fire
Fix. Replace the power steering pump pressure hose
What's wrong. Insufficient clearance between the power steering pump pressure hose assembly and the transmission governor/speed sensor connector could cause abrasion of the hose
Risk. This could result in a fluid leak, with the potential foran underhood fire
Fix. Replace the power steering pump pressure hose
Service Brakes, Air 2 Read
What's wrong. Left front brake pipe may contact the cruise control servo bracket
Risk. Brake line could wear through causing loss of brakefluid and partial loss of braking capability; this could result in a vehiclecrash
Fix. Replace left front brake pipe assembly
What's wrong. One or both ABS hydraulic unit mounting bolts may not be properly seated and could loosen
Risk. This condition could lead to separation of the abshydraulic unit from the mounting bracket and result in loss of brake functionand a crash without prior warning
Fix. Replace both ABS hydraulic unit mounting bolts
Electrical System 1 Read
What's wrong. These vehicles were assembled with a malfunction alarm, lighting and locking (mall) module that can contain a damaged capacitor. If the capacitor is damaged, the "key in the ignition" warning chime and the driver seat belt unbuckled warning chime and indicator lamp may not work. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 114, "theft protection" and fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection." in addition, other chime reminder functions, interior lighting controls, and power door locking features are also affected
Risk. Consequence of non-compliance; the driver may not be aware that the key was left in the ignition or that the safety belt was not buckled
Fix. Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the mall module
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 Read
What's wrong. Brake indicator light may not light when ignition is in the "on" position, the parking brake is applied, and the shift selector is in the park or neutral gear range
Risk. Vehicles would not meet the requirements of fmvss 101and 105
Fix. Replace the prom in the body computer module to prevent this condition from occurring
Air Bags 1 Read
What's wrong. Threaded inflator components may have been damaged during assembly which may allow components to separate when inflator receives a signal to deploy the air bag
Risk. Inflator component separation allows hot combustion gasesto escape into the passenger compartment which could result in injuries to vehicle occupants
Fix. Replace air bag modules containing potentially defective inflators
Power Train 1 Read
What's wrong. Transaxle shift control cable may disengage from the from the floor shift control with loss of gear indicator reference and shift selector operation
Risk. Driver would not be able to determine actual gearposition the transaxle is in, which could result in unexpected vehicle movementand an accident without prior warning
Fix. Install a transaxle shift control cable retaining clip to prevent cable disengagement
Vehicle Speed Control 1 Read
What's wrong. A small nylon bushing in the cruise control servo bail may slip out of place, causing intermittent and unexpected increases in engine speed or dieseling (engine run on with ignition off)
Risk. Servo rod assembly could catch on engine components andresult in a stuck throttle with potential for a vehicle crash
Fix. Install a new bushing in cruise control servo bail
What's wrong. A small nylon bushing in the cruise control servo bail may slip out of place, causing intermittent and unexpected increases in engine speed or dieseling (engine run on with ignition off)
Risk. Servo rod assembly could catch on engine components andresult in a stuck throttle with potential for a vehicle crash
Fix. Install a new bushing in cruise control servo bail
Visibility 1 Read
What's wrong. During windshield wiper operation, the noise suppresion capacitor in the wiper motor relay may overheat
Fix. The dealer will modify the windshield wiper motor delay relay by removing the noise suppresion capacitor. This will be done free of charge
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 6.21 years |
| Slowest campaign | 22 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 37.5% |
| Campaigns on record | 17 |
Which Riviera years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Electrical System | |
| 1995 | Seat Belts | |
| 1993 | Seat Belts | |
| 1992 | Steering | |
| 1991 | Seat Belts | |
| 1990 | Air Bags | |
| 1989 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1988 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1987 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1986 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1985 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1984 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1983 | Visibility | |
| 1982 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1981 | Suspension |
Check your own car
A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
Go deeper
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Buick Riviera have?
17 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1981–1996. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my Riviera still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 6.21 years, and the slowest campaign came 22 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.