1998 Buick Riviera problems
The 1998 Buick Riviera has 43 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (19%) concerns brakes. Next are steering (16%) and engine (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 43 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
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%.
What the data shows
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the Buick Riviera with enough data (19 complaints in that window).
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.
I started my car, 98 buick riviera, and turned the seat heater on. I came back 5 minutes later and started driving my car to work. About 4 minutes after I left my house I started smelling smoke like something was burning but I was very near my work so I just kept going. At work when I stepped out of my car I noticed that there was a small fire on my seat and that my leather coat was burning. I put out the fire and discontinued the use of my seat heater.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 buick riviera. While stopped, the contact noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment of the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The contact was a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the valve cover gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000. Updated 04/07/16
Pe00 020; was traveling about 40mhp on the highway vehicle threw him sideways and he hits some bushes vehicle was damaged.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 buick riviera. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle continued to accelerate and would not stop when the contact depressed the brake pedal with both feet. He drove on the shoulder and had to place the vehicle in neutral for it to stop. The contact opened the hood noticed that the plastic shield separated that covers the motor. He was able to tape the shield back and drove the vehicle to his residence.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 buick riviera. While entering the vehicle, the contact noticed engine oil on the ground under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the valve cover gasket failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15v701000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 56,513. Updated 04/29/16