AutoStatsIQ
Data through Oct 2026
Model year

1990 Buick Riviera

Coupe, gasoline, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Aug 8, 1995 to Sep 13, 2004.

Recalls (5)Complaints (16)Investigations (1)Bulletins (0)
Recall campaigns covering this model year5206k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints16Close to the median 1990 coupe
Severity index6.31990 coupes average 16.7
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 1990 Buick Riviera peaked in 1997, with 5 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

0246199551998200120042007201020132016201920222026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

25% of complaints about the 1990 Buick Riviera name brakes

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Brakes
4
Airbags
3
Lighting
3
Electrical system
2
Powertrain
2
Engine and cooling
1
Structure
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

5 recall campaigns cover the 1990 Buick Riviera

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 1990 Buick Riviera
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
95V-110May 31, 1995Front outer shoulder belt web sew stop can become stuck in the retractorSeat belts113,343Repair or modification
91V-158Sep 13, 1991Brake 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…Brakes18,904Part replacement
90E-043-004Oct 30, 1990Threaded inflator components may have been damaged during assembly which may allow components to separate when inflator receives a signal to…Airbags39Part replacement
90V-164Sep 6, 1990Transaxle shift control cable may disengage from the from the floor shift control with loss of gear indicator reference and shift selector operationPowertrain63,964Repair or modification
90V-028Feb 12, 1990Misaligned rear seat safety belt shoulder retractor assemblies could cause pendulum interference, causing the belt to remain in locked position or…Seat belts10,166Not stated
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Look up a VIN at NHTSA
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 1990 Buick Riviera

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

16 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Sep 13, 2004Failure Aug 13, 2004100,000 milesLOS Angeles, CAEngine and engine cooling

    VEHICLE HESITATE D BEFORE ACCELERATING. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10091911
  2. Filed Mar 11, 2002Failure Jul 30, 2001Fenton, MIService brakes, Foundation components

    ABS BRAKING PROBLEM, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS NOISE AND LESS BRAKING POWER. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 8005341
  3. Filed Jan 30, 2001Kinderhook, NYService brakes, Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

    WHILE DRIVING AND UPON ATTEMTPING TO STOP, BRAKE PEDAL GOT VERY HARD, CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO SKID OUT INTO TRAFFIC. IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED PART NUMBER 1646523, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 879294
  4. Filed Oct 7, 1999Failure Aug 1, 1998Eugene, ORService brakes, Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

    ANTI-LOCK BRAKES CONTINUALLY FAILING, SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL, ALMOST RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. MJS

    NHTSA complaint 548919
  5. Filed Jul 29, 1998Failure Jul 21, 1998Fredonia, WIFrontal

    CONSUMER HAS A COMPLAINT CONCERNING DEALER/MANUFACTURER'S. REFUSAL TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S AIR BAG. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 825988
  6. Filed Oct 7, 1997Failure Sep 22, 1997Poncha Spring, COHeadlights

    THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 816919
  7. Filed Sep 30, 1997Failure Sep 22, 1997Poncha SPR, COExterior lighting

    VEHICLE LOST ALL LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF SIGHT.

    NHTSA complaint 604604
  8. Filed Sep 14, 1997Failure Aug 15, 1997Mokena, ILFrame and members

    RIGHT ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED.

    NHTSA complaint 522071
  9. Filed Jul 14, 1997Failure Jul 14, 1997Fort Washington, MDPower train

    CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY ON HIS VEHICLE COMES AND GOES . WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER GOES THERE IS NO WAY OF TELLING THE SPEED OF VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 814128
  10. Filed Mar 26, 1997Skokie, ILFrontalCrash

    OWNER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. OWNER QUESTIONS THE SAFETY OF THE AIRBAGS. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 810427
  11. Filed Dec 31, 1996Failure Dec 25, 1996Milltown, NJTurn signal

    WHILE DRIVING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR, CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO SMOKE. REPLACED TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR.

    NHTSA complaint 806925
  12. Filed Oct 9, 1996Cherry Hill, NJAutomatic transmission

    PURCHASED CAR NEW, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AND SECOND TRANSMISSION STILL SLIPS OUT OF GEAR . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

    NHTSA complaint 803373
  13. Filed Aug 28, 1996North Edwa, CAElectrical system

    VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD BECOMES INOPERATIVE INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT THE DLR CANNOT LOCATE.THIS OCCURS WITH PRIOR WARNING.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 801485
  14. Filed Oct 31, 1995Failure Apr 1, 1994Temple Terra, FLHorn

    THE HORN BUTTONS FELL OFF AND NOW THE DRIVER HAS NO HORN. BUICK HAS REDESIGNED THE HORN MECHANISM. TT AT FIRST THE HORN WAS REPAIRD WITH SUPER GLUE. AFTER A YEAR, BOTH BUTTONS WERE REPLACED. *YH

    NHTSA complaint 974243
  15. Filed Oct 30, 1995Failure Aug 1, 1995Amarillo, TXFrontal

    AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, DUE TO AIR BAG BEING INOPERATIVE, PRIOR TO RECALL.(90E043004) *DSH

    NHTSA complaint 487311
  16. Filed Aug 8, 1995Alexandria, VAService brakes, Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

    CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TRY TO STOP THERE IS A SLOW PROCESS IN STOPPING HAVE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM . TT

    NHTSA complaint 969996
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

1 NHTSA investigation on file

  • EA94010 Engineering analysis, Seat belts
    SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS
    Opened Feb 28, 1994, closed Jun 16, 1995 · led to a recall
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
All investigations
Service bulletins

No manufacturer communications on file

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.
About service bulletins