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Buick RivieraModel year report

1996 Buick Riviera Problems

Complaints
44filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
116,250miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns 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
21 mpgcombined, 3.8L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1996 Buick Riviera (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 44 consumer complaints for the 1996 Buick Riviera. The part named most often is brakes, with 8 complaints (18% of the total), followed by engine cooling (8) and fuel system (8). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 7% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 116,250 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 17 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

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.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (1), Other or unknown (1), Body and structure (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “Could not get first incident date entered. This is current time started in 2013. Have had repaired 5 times and needs again. When driving on freeway above 60 miles per hour and have to brake heavily it will start to shake and shimmy steering column fixed 2 times this year, as it loosens up and you can move it up to two inches back and forth.”

NHTSA complaint #10630201, filed 2014-09, 126,861 miles

Engine cooling: “While driving the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to duplicate the problem. Please provide any additional information.”

NHTSA complaint #10055854, filed 2004-01, 135,000 miles

Fuel system: “While driving I noticed a smell of gas. I stopped & was at a truck stop. I checked under the gas tank vehicle & spotted no gas dripping from the tank. Then I went around to front of the vehicle & saw no gas leaking. Then several days later, I drove to fresno, parked the car & told my daughter that I smelled gas. I opened the hood, removed the engine cover & fuel was spraying from the plastic fuel line, the size of a pinhole. I placed some tape on it & drove it home. I contacted the dealer & ordered a new fuel line. I will be taking into the Buick dealership for repair. …”

NHTSA complaint #10232104, filed 2008-06, 132,550 miles

Seat belts: “The contact owns a 1996 Buick Riviera. The contact stated that the front driver side seat belt failed. The contact stated that he attempted to put the seat belt on but it failed to connect. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection but they did not provide the cause of failure, just the replacement part number. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and they stated that the part was no longer available. The failure mileage was 76,000. The VIN was not available.”

NHTSA complaint #10492888, filed 2013-01, 76,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

7% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 68,000 and 131,451 miles.

0%0–100%10–257%25–5021%50–7514%75–10057%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 116,250 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

’968’99’02’06’10’15
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 1996 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 automatic172721$3,200
Riviera FWD3.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic162519$4,350

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 1996 Buick Riviera → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 17 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 17 bulletins →

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 1996 Buick Riviera have?

NHTSA recorded 44 consumer complaints for the 1996 Buick Riviera as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1996 Buick Riviera is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 8 complaints (18% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 8.

Has the 1996 Buick Riviera been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Buick Riviera get?

The EPA rates the 1996 Buick Riviera (Riviera, 3.8L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 17 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1996 Buick Riviera reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 116,250 miles and the middle half falls between 68,000 and 131,451 miles; 7% 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.