Buick Riviera Complaints

314 consumer complaints on file.

#722279May 4, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, STRUCTURE
AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP, FITTINGS, LINES... COSTING $467.00 ON 11/23/99 -- THE MECHANIC AND MANAGER INFORMED US OF THE IMMINENT DANGERS OF THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE OF "RUSTED-THROUGH CRADLE ARM AND BREAKING, RUSTY BOLTS PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE CRADLE" THAT WILL REQUIRE THAT THE ENGINE BE EXTRACTED AND THE "CRADLE" BE REPLACED (OR IF POSSIBLE? "WELDED" ?). WE JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER, WHO DID LOTS OF "MAINTANENCE" AND "REPAIRS" AND LOTS OF MONEY $$$ ON THE 1989 BUICK RIVIERA. WE LOVE RIVIERA'S ! THIS "SEEMED" LIKE IT WAS IN "GOOD SHAPE" UNTIL THE "STEERING" WASN'T QUITE RIGHT, DRIFTING ON HIGHWAY (WITH OR WITHOUT ICY CONDITIONS) ! THEN, IT WAS DISCOVERED WHILE "ON THE LIFT" AT MIDWEST MARATHON IN PARMA WE HAVE PUT ALOT OF MONEY IN IT, TOO ! WE DO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR CARS, AND LIKE OLDER MODELS RATHER THAN THE NEWER MODELS -- SO WE BOUGHT THIS WITH THE PLAN TO KEEP IT AWHILE ! WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION AND HELP IN NOTIFYING GM/BUICK ABOUT THIS "ENGINE CRADLE" PROBLEM? ANY RECALLS ? WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR US !! WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OURSELVES ! THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE WE BELIEVE FOR THIS COSTLY REPAIR !! PLEASE, EMAIL US : [email protected] OR WRITE OR CALL US ! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722281May 4, 2000
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
RECALL ? VERY UNSAFE !! BOTH FRONT "HYDRAULIC" (RUSTY, AND NOT WORKING)SEAT MECHANISMS (THAT LOOK LIKE 2 BLACK SHAPED "PISTONS") THAT ENGAGE WITH EACH END OF THE BOTTOM REAR PART OF THE TWO FRONT SEATS TO "WORK" SEATING POSITIONS BACK AND FORTH DOES NOT "ENGAGE" THE SEATS -- SO THAT THE BACK PART OF THE SEATS WHERE YOUR BACK RESTS UP AGAINST DOES ACTUALLY "LUNGE" FORWARD AT "STOPS" SO EVEN THOUGH YOU OR YOUR PASSENGER WEARS A "SAFETY BELT" -- NEITHER ONE OF YOU ARE TRULY "RESTRAINED" !! MEANING, IT WOULD NOT STOP YOU FROM GOING FORWARD INTO THE FRONT DASHBOARD OR WORSE YET -- THE WINDSHIELD !! VERY "UNSAFE" !! THE ELECTRICAL MECHANISM MOVES THE SEAT, BUT THE "PERMANENCE OF THE SEAT, THE "HYDRAULIC" MECHANISM'S ABILITY TO ATTACH/ENGAGE WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT" IS BROKEN ! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#861395May 4, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
PREMATURE WEAR/WARPING OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. OWNER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. DEALER SAID THAT ROTORS WERE COMING THIN FROM THE FACTORY. BUICK REFUSED TO REFUND COST OF REPLACEMENT. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#861006April 26, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
PASSENGER LAP AND SHOULDER RESTRANTS ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER REPLACED BOTH BACK SEAT LAP BELT AND RESTRAINTS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721629April 18, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858660March 16, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISES UNDER THE HOOD. ALSO, WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE THE RPMS WOULD MOVE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT. DEALER SAID VEHICLE NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION.. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#718798February 15, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT HAS FAILED ALONG TRUNK, TOP OF REAR WINDOW, AND OTHER SPOTS ON CAR. IS BLOTCHY AREAS DOWN TO BARE METAL. NO CONTACT WITH ANY CHEMICAL OR ABRASIVE. NO SAFETY ISSUE LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#718312February 4, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
RIGHT AND LEFT REAR SEAT BELT LOCKED/RETRACTOR FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551670January 31, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND WOULD STICK ON THE DELAY MODE, MUTLTI-FUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED IN ORDER TO CORRECT STICKING PROBLEM. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#855168January 20, 2000
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD STEERING WAS GETTING HARDER TO TURN/ TO MANEUVER VEHICLE. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#716066December 15, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AT 35,000 MILES IN APRIL 1999. I DID NOT TAKE INTO DEALER UNTIL DECEMBER 1999 BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. SO, INSTEAD OF TAKING TO DEALER AND FOR POTENTIAL MAJOR EXPENSE OF CORRECTING TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM I CHOSE TO LIVE WITHOUT TRACTION CONTROL. IN DECEMBER 1999 I TOOK IT IN TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF LOOKING AT THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON. WAS INFORMED ABS SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND REPLACED VALVE KIT. COST WAS $870.76!!! VEHICLE ALSO MADE A POPPING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. WAS ADVISED THAT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE AND THEY REPLACED SAME DATE. TOTAL COST $378.25. DID NOT SOLVE POPPING NOISE ON RIGHT TURNS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715651December 5, 1999
STEERING:COLUMN
THE TILT STEERING MECHANISM IS LOOSE. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 2" OF PLAY IN THE TILT WHILE IN THE LOCK POSITION FOR DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER SEEMS TO THINK THERE IS A LOOSE BOLT/BOLTS IN THE STEERINY COLUMN THAT CONNECTS THE TILT WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#715035November 19, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL, BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THE BRAKE MODULE JUST DID THE SAME THING IT DID LAST YEAR AND WE JUST HAD THE OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. FOR THIS EXPENISVE A CAR, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP CONSTANTLY AND IS UNRELIABLE. WE HAVE NEVER IN THE LAST NINE CARS HAD ANY OF THEM BE IN THE SHOP LIKE THIS. THIS IS REGRETFULLY OUR FIRST AND LAST BUICK AT THIS RATE. THE CAR IS LOVELY, BUT CAN'T BE TRUSTED ON OVER A TWO HOUR TRIP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714376November 5, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER STOPPING AT AN UNCONTROLLED INTERSECTION, MY FRONT BUMPER WAS INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE SO I BACKED UP ABOUT TWO FEET IN CASE A CAR WAS COMING FROM MY LEFT THAT I MIGHT NOT SEE. I SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY SO I COULD PROCEED ACROSS THE LANES AND COMPLETE MY LEFT TURN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW TO ENGAGE COMPLETELY INTO DRIVE AND LURCHED FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT LET ME ACCELERATE INTO MY LEFT TURN. I WAS ALMOST BROADSIDED ON MY RIGHT AS THIS TRANSMISSION NEEDED A LONG PAUSE BEFORE ENGAGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I HAVE HAD THIS TRANSMISSION OPENED UP AND REPAIRED BY MY BUICK DEALER TWICE IN TWO YEARS. BUICK HAS PUBLISHED MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS DEALING WITH HARSH SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND ALSO HARSH SHIFTING IN GENERAL. I TOOK THE CAR AGAIN INTO DON SNELL BUICK ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 AND ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION OR SEE IF ANOTHER SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED. AFTER TWO DAYS IN WHICH I HAD SOME NORMAL 30000 MILE SERV ICE DONE, THE SERVICE FOREMAN POLITELY TOLD ME THAT THIS PAUSE CAN'T BE FIXED AND I HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. THE PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO BE IN THE RIVIERA MODEL NOT OTHER BUICKS. IN THIS DAY OF FASTER AND FASTER COMPUTERS, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS TRANSMISSION MUST PAUSE FOR A FEW SECONDS TO ENGAGE IN DRIVE FROM REVERSE. HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAS THIS CAUSED OR WILL CAUSE IN THE FUTURE? I GUESS SINCE THE RIVIERA IS NO LONGER MADE , THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE WILL FADE AWAY IN BUICK'S EYES. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN NUDGE BUICK INTO ISSUING A FIX FOR THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#852109October 28, 1999
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR PASSENGER LAP SEAT BELT AND SHOULDER RESTRANTS ARE INOPERABLE.DEALE NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714011October 28, 1999
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
BOTH REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FAILED, BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT, UNSAFE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, AS THE OCCUPANTS ARE NOT SECURED TO THE SEATING AREA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#852053October 27, 1999
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES THE VEHICLE DOESN'T STOP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#548919October 7, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES CONTINUALLY FAILING, SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS HOWEVER CONTINUES TO FAIL, ALMOST RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#850145October 6, 1999
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE LEANING BACK IN SEAT THE SEATBACK OF THE SEAT BROKE IN HALF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#849674October 1, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MECHANICAL FAILURE WHICH MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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