The 1996 Buick Riviera has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 308,680 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF…
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE; THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR THAT THE SAFETY BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 buick riviera. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, there was a strong gasoline odor. The contact noticed that the fuel tank was fractured from excessive corrosion causing fuel to leak. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage…”
“Tl* 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…”
“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 contacted the dealer to order a new fuel line and was told the fuel line part #25648136 is discontinued, as soon as I find one left somewhere, I will be taking to an…”
“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 contacted the dealer to order a new fuel line and was told the fuel line part #25648136 is discontinued, as soon as I find one left somewhere, I will be taking to an…”
“Seat belt failure: the seat belt fastener(clasp/hook) on my 1996 buick riviera vin # [xxx] has failed. Insertion of the male end of the belt into the female fastener fails to result in the unit locking. Buick states they have no recall on this issue or any responsibility to repair it. The rear…”
“Seat belt failure: the seat belt fastener(clasp/hook) on my 1996 buick riviera vin # [xxx] has failed. Insertion of the male end of the belt into the female fastener fails to result in the unit locking. Buick states they have no recall on this issue or any responsibility to repair it. The rear…”
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…
COMPLAINTS GENERALLY STATED THAT ONE OR BOTH OUTBOARD REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AT ALL AND ARE USELESS.IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT PROVIDE ANY TENSION AND HAVE EXCESS SLACK.THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY HAS A PLASTIC COVER NEXT TO THE RETRACTOR RETURN SPRING.ACCORDING TO GENERAL MOTORS (GM), HEAT MAY…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Buick Riviera as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.