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Buick RivieraModel year report

1990 Buick Riviera Problems

Complaints
16filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
100,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 3.8L 6-cyl FWD · 16 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1990 Buick Riviera (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1990 Buick Riviera. The part named most often is brakes, with 4 complaints (25% of the total), followed by air bags (3) and exterior lighting (3). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 100,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the lamp filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Brakes: “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, filed 1999-10

Air bags: “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, filed 1997-03

Electrical system: “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, filed 1995-10

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 100,000 and 100,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–100100%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 100,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

199519961997519981999200120022004
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1990 Buick Riviera version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Riviera FWD3.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic162519$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1990 Buick Riviera → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1990 Buick Riviera.

Other model years of the Buick Riviera

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
1999655,8700—19—Not enough data
199829161,0000—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19974394,3860—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199644116,2502—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199513075,1001—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199351,2001—20—Not enough data
199212172,0002—19—Not enough data
19918200,0001—19—Not enough data
199016100,0004—19—Stable
19899147,0002—20—Not enough data
19875—1—19—Not enough data

All Buick Riviera model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1990 Buick Riviera have?

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1990 Buick Riviera as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1990 Buick Riviera is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 4 complaints (25% of the total), followed by air bags with 3.

Has the 1990 Buick Riviera been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1990 Buick Riviera get?

The EPA rates the 1990 Buick Riviera (Riviera, 3.8L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1990 Buick Riviera reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 100,000 miles and the middle half falls between 100,000 and 100,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.