1995 Buick Riviera Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1995 Buick Riviera most often describe three recurring patterns: engines that quit without warning while driving (with the run of long cranking and no-start afterwards), a plastic fuel line that develops a leak and sprays gasoline onto the engine, and rear shoulder belts that no longer retract. Cooling-system complaints about coolant loss traced to the intake manifold and plenum gaskets also recur, and many reports surface on cars well past 60,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls and quits while driving, sometimes won't

   • 19 complaints (15%)
   • median 62,450 mi at 17.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2015

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off at speed or in traffic with no warning, taking power steering and power brakes with it, and the car only restarting after being shut off and left to sit. Several owners report long cranks or repeated no-starts and say dealers could not duplicate the problem on a test drive. Repairs mentioned in the complaints include ignition module, crank position sensor, mass air flow sensor and a power control module, with the stalling returning in some cases. Reported from roughly 25,000 to 147,000 miles, often as an intermittent fault that comes and goes.

   What to check: Ask whether the car has a documented history of stalling and which ignition or sensor parts have been replaced. Test drive long enough to include idling in traffic and a highway stretch, and note any long cranking when starting.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The info above is approx. Your recall of GM cars with re: to ignition problems may not be broad enough. I traded in my 95 Riviera in april of 2007 after plowing $1500 into and still no satisfactory repair on why it was stalling. The last stall was in a three way intersection in chicago. Each time it stalled I lost power steering. I don't recall if the dealer looked at ignition issues. I do recall that they were at one point focused on the carburetor. It was being serviced by a dealer in schaumberg, ill. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10569453, filed 2014-03, 35,000 miles

   “While driving 25-50mpr, without warning, the engine shuts down, causing power steering loss, and the interior locks open and close rappidly. Only after coasting off the highway coming to a stop, putting the car in park turning off the ignition, and waiting a couple of minutes will the car restart. Dealer could not duplicate! Need a resolution, because the family refuses to enter the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #725331, filed 2000-07
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Rear shoulder belts will not retract

   • 27 complaints (21%)
   • median 75,200 mi at 11.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2012

   Complaints describe the rear shoulder belts failing to retract, leaving the belt slack instead of stowing, in some cars with rear seats that were rarely used. Several owners link the symptom to recall 00V057000 and report that their vehicle identification number was not included when they checked with a dealer. Others say front belts showed the same non-retracting behavior and were repaired at the owner's expense. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 35,000 miles up past 75,000.

   Recall 00V057000

   What to check: Pull each rear shoulder belt out and let it go; it should retract smoothly on its own. Have a dealer confirm by VIN whether recall 00V057000 was performed or applies to that car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The rear seat belts failed to retract as well as the right side. The rear seats were rarely used. This failure was due to the defect described in recall 00v057000 rear shoulder belts but the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10099142, filed 2004-11, 35,705 miles

   “The consumer took the vehicle to have recall repair oov-057 of the rear seat belt, the consumer requested that the dealer also replace the front seat belt since they failed in the same manner as the rear (not retracting), the consumer paid for the repair of the front seat belts but feels they should have been recalled with the rear ones since they exhibited the same failure. Nlm”

   NHTSA complaint #561516, filed 2001-06
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel line leaks and sprays gasoline on the engine

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • median 69,900 mi at 11.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2013

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell inside or outside the car, then finding the line to the injector rail or a plastic/flex fuel line leaking and spraying fuel over the engine. In some accounts fuel kept dripping after the engine was shut off. The reported remedy is replacing the fuel line, and one owner says a replaced line failed again about four years later. Mostly reported between roughly 59,000 and 109,000 miles, in some cases on a line that had already been replaced.

   What to check: Look over the fuel lines to the injector rail and the flexible sections for cracking, seepage or previous replacements, and follow up on any gasoline smell in the cabin.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Four years ago I filed a report of what I considered a dangerous part failure on our 1995 Buick Riviera, in that a fuel line had developed a pin hole and gas was spraying out over the engine. I also wrote a lette to general motors regarding this problem but I never heard back from anyone. This week we again smelled gas when driving the vehicle and discovered that the fuel line which was replaced in 4/02 had again failed and gas was spraying out into into the engine compartment. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10155892, filed 2006-04, 59,000 miles

   “While driving, began to smell odor of fuel in the cabin. Pulled to side of road, opened hood to witness fuel supply line to rear fuel injector rail leaking on to top of engine. Fuel continued to leak onto engine even after I shut off the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10547659, filed 2013-10, 69,900 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   ABS light on and soft or sticking brake pedal

   • 11 complaints (8%)
   • median 116,985 mi at 12.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2015

   Complaints describe the ABS and traction warning lights coming on, a soft pedal and longer stopping distances when the brakes are applied. Some owners report the pedal locking up or sticking at low speed and odd noises, with repairs listed as ABS control module, modulation valve, hub and sensor replacements that did not always settle the problem. Reported at varying mileages across the life of the car, often noticed first in low-speed stops or slippery conditions.

   What to check: Watch for a lit ABS or traction warning lamp after start-up and feel the pedal through several low-speed stops. Ask what ABS service has been done, including module and sensor replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The ABS and traction light illuminated. The dealer replaced the ABS control module and the modulation valve. The wiring harness was replaced. The EGR system failed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10014557, filed 2003-04, 137,971 miles

   “Left front ABS hub failure - brakes pulsated at low speed without foot on brakes prior to ABS warnig light being activated which would shut down the system.”

   NHTSA complaint #745199, filed 2001-05
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Coolant loss from intake manifold and plenum gaskets

   • 5 complaints (4%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 9.6 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2006

   Owners report overheating, coolant consumption and a low-coolant warning, with the coolant replaced but the problem returning. Shops identified leaks at the upper plenum and manifold gaskets, and in one account the same repair was repeated and returned a year later. A separate report describes a cracked plastic radiator tank. Reported from about 74,000 to 147,000 miles, often showing up as a slow loss of coolant before overheating.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue around the intake manifold and plenum seams, and ask whether the intake gaskets have been replaced. Also inspect the plastic radiator tank ends for cracks or seepage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Plastic radior tank cracks. This seems to be an issue with GM vehicles in general. I have talked with several people that have experienced the same problem. Crack seems to start at mounting bolt for radior. I have always owned GM vehicles and currently own 3 however, at the cost of $400.00+ to replace my plastic radior, I may have to reconsider my future purchases.”

   NHTSA complaint #10074593, filed 2004-06, 80,000 miles

   “I was told that the intake manifold failed as well as the lower intake(plenum). (3.8l v6) the work was performed by a firestone retail store in myrtle beach, sc. Has anyone else had this problem and what were the repair costs? I sure am curious. As far as paint, I had the car painted for $1000.00.”

   NHTSA complaint #10070232, filed 2004-01, 74,000 miles

Buying note. These cars are old enough that condition and service history matter more than model reputation, so ask for records and check the items above yourself. A stalling history and fuel-line leaks are the two reports that show up most often and are worth confirming before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.