1987 Buick Riviera Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1987 Buick Riviera has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 65,136 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STEERING 88V078000 1988-05-10 65,136 affected
Defect

INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLY AND THE TRANSMISSION GOVERNOR/SPEED SENSOR CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE ABRASION OF THE HOSE.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN A FLUID LEAK, WITH THE POTENTIAL FORAN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy

REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP PRESSURE HOSE.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
1
Total complaints8

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Timing chain broke at startup. Nlm”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · reported 1998-07-03

“Timing chain broke at startup. Nlm”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · reported 1998-07-03

“When driving the vehicle cut off/stalls, cauising loss of power steering.*ak”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE · reported 1996-07-15

“When driving the vehicle cut off/stalls, cauising loss of power steering.*ak”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · reported 1996-07-15

“'cold power steering'. *dsh”

STEERING:RACK AND PINION · reported 1992-01-29

“Brake fluid is leaking the computer is saying something with the electrical system . Tt”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

“Brake fluid is leaking the computer is saying something with the electrical system . Tt”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

“Onboard computer failure.”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

Defect investigations

Investigation C89001 Opened 1989-03-06 · closed 1990-01-16

THROTTLE NON-RETURN

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA87022 Opened 1987-08-27 · closed 1991-11-27

STALLING

SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO…

Investigation EA88036 Opened 1988-07-22 · closed 1991-08-30

REAR DISC BRAKES

SUMMARY: CORROSION IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PREVENTS AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT FOR PAD WEAR. THIS MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF REAR SERVICE BRAKE AND PARKING BRAKE. GM HAS ADDED CORROSION PROTECTION AND CHANGED SPRING RATE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. SAME BASIC DESIGN USED ON ALL MODELS IDENTIFIED.

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Buick Riviera as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.