Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1989 Buick Riviera
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Body & Structure
330.0%
Brakes
330.0%
Median failure at 147,000 miles
Seats
110.0%
Fuel & Propulsion
110.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
110.0%
Electrical System
110.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 3Nov 2007
Recalls on the 1989 Buick Riviera
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1989051516 units in Canada
Brakes
ON VEHICLES WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES (ABS), THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE COULD CONTACT THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BRACKET. OVER TIME, THIS CONTACT COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE LINE TO WEAR THROUGH RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE AND PARTIAL BRAKE LOSS. THIS WOULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE PIPE ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED.
Recall 198905022 units in Canada
Brakes
ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES (ABS), ONE OR BOTH ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEATED. THIS COULD CAUSE INCREASED PEDAL TRAVEL AND/OR POOR PEDAL FEEL IF THE ATTACHMENT LOOSENS. ALSO, THE ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT COULD SEPARATE FROM ITS MOUNTING BRACKET RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKES AND A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 147,000 milesPort Angeles, WA
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 BUICK RIVIERA. ON NOVEMBER 7, 2007, THE BRAKES FAILED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ABS LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. WHEN HE CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID, IT WAS LEVELED; HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE, THE FLUID FILLED UP AS IF THERE WAS A BACK UP SOMEWHERE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE SOME OF THE BRAKE FLUID. THE DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW IF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 89V056000 (SERVICE BRAKES, AIR ANTILOCK) APPLIES TO HIS VIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
NHTSA complaint #10208428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockford, IL
STRUCTURE
PLEASE REFERENCE NHTSA RECALL NO. 97V058/GM RECALL OF BUICK REGALS SOLD IN ILLINOIS 1998 - 1991. MY TIRE TECHNICIAN NOTED THAT THE CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS ON MY 1989 BUICK RIVIERA WERE TOTALLY CORRODED AND THAT THEY COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY MY GENRAL MOTORS DEALER WHO STATED THAT I COULD LOSE STEERING CONTROL AND THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME THAT BUICK HAD RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THAT THE RIVIERAS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES STILL ON THE ROAD...THEY ARE A UNIQUE VEHICLE AND IN DEMAND BY RIVIERA COLLECTORS. IF THIS CORROSION FAILURE OCCURRED ON MY EXCELLENTLY MAINTAINED VEHICLE, I AM CONCERNED THAT IT COULD POSE A LETHAL THREAT TO OTHER 1989 - 1991 BUICK RIVIERA OWNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. PLEASE NOTE THAT BILL HEMBROUGH BUICK HAS BEEN SOLD TO LOU BACHRODT COMPANY IN ROCKFORD AND THAT THE REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE BY THE BACHRODT SERVICE DEPARTMENT.THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #753555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Orange, FL
STRUCTURE
CRADLE THAT HOLDS ENGINE CORRODED AND RUSTED TO THE POINT IT WAS ABOUT TO FALL OUT CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME IMPOSSIBLE
NHTSA complaint #9000978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP, FITTINGS, LINES... COSTING $467.00 ON 11/23/99 -- THE MECHANIC AND MANAGER INFORMED US OF THE IMMINENT DANGERS OF THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE OF "RUSTED-THROUGH CRADLE ARM AND BREAKING, RUSTY BOLTS PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE CRADLE" THAT WILL REQUIRE THAT THE ENGINE BE EXTRACTED AND THE "CRADLE" BE REPLACED (OR IF POSSIBLE? "WELDED" ?). WE JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, WHO DID LOTS OF "MAINTANENCE" AND "REPAIRS" AND LOTS OF MONEY $$$ ON THE 1989 BUICK RIVIERA. WE LOVE RIVIERA'S ! THIS "SEEMED" LIKE IT WAS IN "GOOD SHAPE" UNTIL THE "STEERING" WASN'T QUITE RIGHT, DRIFTING ON HIGHWAY (WITH OR WITHOUT ICY CONDITIONS) ! THEN, IT WAS DISCOVERED WHILE "ON THE LIFT" AT MIDWEST MARATHON IN PARMA WE HAVE PUT ALOT OF MONEY IN IT, TOO ! WE DO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR CARS, AND LIKE OLDER MODELS RATHER THAN THE NEWER MODELS -- SO WE BOUGHT THIS WITH THE PLAN TO KEEP IT AWHILE ! WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION AND HELP IN NOTIFYING GM/BUICK ABOUT THIS "ENGINE CRADLE" PROBLEM? ANY RECALLS ? WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR US !! WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OURSELVES ! THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE WE BELIEVE FOR THIS COSTLY REPAIR !! PLEASE, EMAIL US : LOGOLOOKS@AOL.COM OR WRITE OR CALL US !
NHTSA complaint #722279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OH
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
RECALL ? VERY UNSAFE !! BOTH FRONT "HYDRAULIC" (RUSTY, AND NOT WORKING)SEAT MECHANISMS (THAT LOOK LIKE 2 BLACK SHAPED "PISTONS") THAT ENGAGE WITH EACH END OF THE BOTTOM REAR PART OF THE TWO FRONT SEATS TO "WORK" SEATING POSITIONS BACK AND FORTH DOES NOT "ENGAGE" THE SEATS -- SO THAT THE BACK PART OF THE SEATS WHERE YOUR BACK RESTS UP AGAINST DOES ACTUALLY "LUNGE" FORWARD AT "STOPS" SO EVEN THOUGH YOU OR YOUR PASSENGER WEARS A "SAFETY BELT" -- NEITHER ONE OF YOU ARE TRULY "RESTRAINED" !! MEANING, IT WOULD NOT STOP YOU FROM GOING FORWARD INTO THE FRONT DASHBOARD OR WORSE YET -- THE WINDSHIELD !! VERY "UNSAFE" !! THE ELECTRICAL MECHANISM MOVES THE SEAT, BUT THE "PERMANENCE OF THE SEAT, THE "HYDRAULIC" MECHANISM'S ABILITY TO ATTACH/ENGAGE WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT" IS BROKEN !
NHTSA complaint #722281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OH
STRUCTURE
AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP, FITTINGS, LINES... COSTING $467.00 ON 11/23/99 -- THE MECHANIC AND MANAGER INFORMED US OF THE IMMINENT DANGERS OF THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE OF "RUSTED-THROUGH CRADLE ARM AND BREAKING, RUSTY BOLTS PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE CRADLE" THAT WILL REQUIRE THAT THE ENGINE BE EXTRACTED AND THE "CRADLE" BE REPLACED (OR IF POSSIBLE? "WELDED" ?). WE JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, WHO DID LOTS OF "MAINTANENCE" AND "REPAIRS" AND LOTS OF MONEY $$$ ON THE 1989 BUICK RIVIERA. WE LOVE RIVIERA'S ! THIS "SEEMED" LIKE IT WAS IN "GOOD SHAPE" UNTIL THE "STEERING" WASN'T QUITE RIGHT, DRIFTING ON HIGHWAY (WITH OR WITHOUT ICY CONDITIONS) ! THEN, IT WAS DISCOVERED WHILE "ON THE LIFT" AT MIDWEST MARATHON IN PARMA WE HAVE PUT ALOT OF MONEY IN IT, TOO ! WE DO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR CARS, AND LIKE OLDER MODELS RATHER THAN THE NEWER MODELS -- SO WE BOUGHT THIS WITH THE PLAN TO KEEP IT AWHILE ! WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION AND HELP IN NOTIFYING GM/BUICK ABOUT THIS "ENGINE CRADLE" PROBLEM? ANY RECALLS ? WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR US !! WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OURSELVES ! THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE WE BELIEVE FOR THIS COSTLY REPAIR !! PLEASE, EMAIL US : LOGOLOOKS@AOL.COM OR WRITE OR CALL US !
NHTSA complaint #722279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Belleville, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHEN APPLYNG THE BRAKES AT 35 TO 40 MPH, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. DEALER CUT ROTORS DOWN BEYOND SIZE REQUIRED BY STATE. THE ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #847954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bayonne, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE MOTOR MODULE FOR THE ABS SYSTEM IS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #844121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE COMPUTER SCREEN ON INSTRUMENT PANEL KEPT BLINKING OFF & ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WAS THE CAUSE. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER AS OF YET.
NHTSA complaint #826915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Malta, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED VEHICLE SURGED AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. TT
NHTSA complaint #958225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.