1998 Buick Riviera Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 10%of 29 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 200,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the seats of the 1998 Buick Riviera, 10% of the 29 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 200,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I started my car, 98 Buick Riviera, and turned the seat heater on. I came back 5 minutes later and started driving my car to work. About 4 minutes after I left my house I started smelling smoke like something was burning but I was very near my work so I just kept going. At work when I stepped out of my car I noticed that there was a small fire on my seat and that my leather coat was burning. I put out the fire and discontinued the use of my seat heater.”
NHTSA complaint #10215716, filed 2008-01, 200,000 miles“Consumer purchased two new tires due to flats and the lost of air in a tire that could not be replaced. The first tire went flat four times due to wear around the wheel covering (tire info not given).”
NHTSA complaint #562951, filed 2001-09Seats: other model years
Other parts of the 1998 Buick Riviera
7 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsEngine
4 complaintsElectrical system
3 complaintsTires
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Buick Riviera
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology