FaultScore

1997 Buick Riviera steering problems

10 of the 48 complaints about the 1997 Buick Riviera are about the steering — 21% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 165,000 miles.

F

10

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Steering 3 30.0%
Rack AND Pinion 3 30.0%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 2 20.0%
Steering Wheel/Handle BAR 1 10.0%
Anti-Theft Device 1 10.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 165,000 miles Concord, CA

STEERING

STEERING COLUMN/WHEEL STARTED A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM, (WOULDN'T LOCK INTO PLACE AFTER ADJUSTING POSITION). WITHIN ABOUT A MONTH OR SO IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. IT WOULD NOT STAY IN A FIXED POSITION AT ALL. IN SEPTEMBER 2006 WE TOOK IT IN TO BE REPAIRED. THEY HAD TO FIND AND REBUILD ANOTHER STEERING COLUMN. IT COST US ALMOST $1000 DOLLARS, PLUS THE COST OF A RENTAL FOR ABOUT TEN (10) DAYS. THE BIGGEST REASON I'M WRITING THIS NOW IS BECAUSE, IT HAS BROKEN AGAIN. (IT IS THE SAME EXACT THING AS BEFORE). I AM WANTING TO KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANYBODY ELSE OR IS IT AN ISOLATED THING ?. ALSO, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS BREAKING (THE HEADS SHEARING OFF) ?. IF NOT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED ITEMS THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL VEHICLES I'VE EVER OWNED. THANK YOU FOR ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN GIVE ME. KELLY GARDNER

NHTSA complaint #10278474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Detroit, MI Crash 1 injured

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

POWER STEERING RACK FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10187580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Derry, PA

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN SECURITY LIGHT IS ON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT 2-3 MINUTES, SOMETIMES LONGER, AND THE VEHICLE WILL START.

NHTSA complaint #10125281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Merrimack, NH

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10054192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bradenton, FL

STEERING

CONSUMER NOTICED STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE TRAVELING OVER PUDDLES.

NHTSA complaint #10040759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort ANN, NY

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING TO THE LEFT, STEERING WHEEL WILL BECOME VERY STIFF AND HARD TO TURN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND HAS SERVICED VEHICLE BEFORE. THIS WILL BE THE 2ND TIME.*AK DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR, THIS STOPPED THE HARD STEERING, HOWEVER THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE, JUST RECENTLY VEHICLE FAILED TO STEER LEFT AND DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR DUE TO VEHICLE NOT BEING PURCHASED NEW. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8012340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roseburg, OR

STEERING

DEFECTIVE STEERING

NHTSA complaint #9006336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clinton, OK

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #748767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Athens, TN

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD STEERING WAS GETTING HARDER TO TURN/ TO MANEUVER VEHICLE. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION.

NHTSA complaint #855168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Macungie, PA Crash

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL CONTROL ARM BOLT CAME LOOSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FACE THE RIGHT WHEEL, AND LOST CONTROL AND WENT INTO DITCH. CONSUMER HAS ASKED DEALER TO REPLACE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #822333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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