1996 Buick Riviera problems
The 1996 Buick Riviera has 69 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (13%) concerns brakes. Next are fuel system (13%) and electrical system (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 69 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 13% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 113,000 miles 17 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 17 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 112,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a fire. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 94% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the Buick Riviera with enough data (27 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 buick riviera. While driving approximately 45 MPH the engine started hesitating. He pulled over to the side of the road, and noticed an engine compartment fire. The fire department extinguished the flames. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage center. The vehicle was completely destroyed . The cause of failure has not been determined at this time.
3800 series II super charged engine; while driving heard clanking engine dropped dead on highway coast to stop. Dealer will not open engine, just replace. Tt
Auto-tran: while driving highway 55 MPH, suddenly gears quit working, vehicle started coasting, no warning, 1st/2nd gears replaced, problem still exist, seems as as though a plastic ring in transmission is defective.
While driving the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to duplicate the problem. Please provide any additional information.
I smelled gas. I opened the hood, removed the engine cover & fuel was spraying from the plastic fuel line, the size of a pinhole. I contacted the dealer to order a new fuel line and was told the fuel line part #25648136 is discontinued, as soon as I find one left somewhere, I will be taking to an independent repair shop for repair. There are no recalls listed on this? A dangerous situation. I went into various auto forums on the internet & noticed that several other people were having the same problem.