Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1990 Buick Riviera
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
425.0%
Lights
318.8%
Airbags
318.8%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Electrical System
212.5%
Transmission & Drivetrain
212.5%
Body & Structure
16.3%
Engine & Cooling
16.3%
Median failure at 100,000 miles
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.
Aug 1995peak 1Sep 2004
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 Buick Riviera
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA94010Opened 28 Feb 1994Closed 16 Jun 1995SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS
Recalls on the 1990 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 19951012,718 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
ON CERTAIN TORONADO TROFEO'S THE FRONT OUTER SHOULDER BELT WEB SEW STOP MAY BECOME STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. THIS COULD MAKE THE BELT DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT OF THE RETRACTOR, AND SOME OCCUPANTS MAY BE UNABLE TO FASTEN THE BELT. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE AT A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RISK OF INJURY THAN THOSE WHO ARE BELTED. CORRECTION: A WEBBING STOP BUTTON WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Recall 1991130452 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S.105- HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS AND C.M.V.S.S.101- CONTROL LOCATION AND IDENTIFICATION. THE BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT LIGHT WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE "ON" POSITION, THE PARKING BRAKE APPLIED, AND THE SHIFT SELECTOR IN THE (P) PARK OR (N) NEUTRAL GEAR RANGE POSITION. CORRECTION: THE PROGRAMMABLE READ ONLY MEMORY (PROM) IN THE BODY COMPUTER MODULE (BCM) WILL BE REPLACED.
Recall 199018663 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT REQUIRING DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG, THE INFLATOR MODULE COULD SEPARATE AND THE AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE AS INTENDED. IN ADDITION, SEPARATION OF THE INFLATOR MODULE MAY RESULT IN HOT GASES ESCAPING INTO THE OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT, PRESENTING THE POSSIBILITY OF BURN INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. CORRECTION: THE AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WILL BE REPLACED.
Recall 19901421,541 units in Canada
Powertrain
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FLOOR CONTROL ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT OPERATION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE TRANSMISSION NOT BEING IN THE GEAR INDICATED BY THE SELECTOR THEREBY ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY IF PARKED ON AN INCLINE OR TO PROCEED IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE ONE SELECTED. CORRECTION: TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED ON SUSPECT VEHICLES.
Recall 1990025346 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
A MISALIGNED REAR SEAT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY RESULT IN PENDULUM INTERFERENCE CAUSING THE BELT TO REMAIN IN THE LOCKED POSITION OR TO TRAVEL FREELY WITHOUT LOCKING. A NON-LOCKING SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR COULD INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO A SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REALIGN THR REAR SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Skokie, ILCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #810427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 100,000 milesLOS Angeles, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE HESITATE D BEFORE ACCELERATING. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10091911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fenton, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
ABS BRAKING PROBLEM, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS NOISE AND LESS BRAKING POWER.
NHTSA complaint #8005341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kinderhook, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: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.
NHTSA complaint #879294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eugene, OR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fredonia, WI
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER HAS A COMPLAINT CONCERNING DEALER/MANUFACTURER'S. REFUSAL TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S AIR BAG.
NHTSA complaint #825988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poncha SPR, CO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE LOST ALL LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF SIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #604604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mokena, IL
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
RIGHT ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED.
NHTSA complaint #522071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poncha Spring, CO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #816919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Washington, MD
POWER 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.
NHTSA complaint #814128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Skokie, ILCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #810427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milltown, NJ
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
WHILE DRIVING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR, CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO SMOKE. REPLACED TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR.
NHTSA complaint #806925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cherry Hill, NJ
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PURCHASED CAR NEW, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY DEALER AND SECOND TRANSMISSION STILL SLIPS OUT OF GEAR . PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #803373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Edwa, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD BECOMES INOPERATIVE INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT THE DLR CANNOT LOCATE.THIS OCCURS WITH PRIOR WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #801485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Amarillo, TX
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, DUE TO AIR BAG BEING INOPERATIVE, PRIOR TO RECALL.(90E043004) *DSH
NHTSA complaint #487311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Temple Terra, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
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.
NHTSA complaint #974243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexandria, VA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.