Buick Riviera Complaints (1997)

43 consumer complaints on file.

#10441133December 23, 2011
SEAT BELTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 1997 BUICK RIVIERA THAT HAS A SECURITY LIGHT PROBLEM. I TRY TO CRANK THE CAR AND SOMETIMES IT WILL CRANK OTHER TIMES IT WONT. I AM A YOUNG MALE THAT NORMALLY TRAVELS BACK AND FORTH TO WORK BUT SOME MORNING'S ALL I CAN DO IS PRAY. IT NEVER REALLY BOTHERED ME BEFORE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I HAVE THE PATIENCE OF A SLUG. BUT TODAY I WAS PULLED OVER BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT IN MY WINDOW WAS OUT LONG STORY SHORT. I ASKED THE OFFICER IF I COULD LEAVE THE CAR RUNNING BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY PROBLEM WHILE HE CHECKED MY PAPER WORK INSURANCE REGISTRATION ETC. HE STATED FOR BOTH OF OUR MIND STATES IT WOULD BEST IF I TURNED OFF THE MOTOR. I DID AS I WAS ASKED THE OFFICER RETURNED TO THE CAR TO DELIVER MY DRIVERS LICENSE INSURANCE ETC. HE GAVE ME A WARNING TO GET THE LIGHT REPLACED THEN LEFT MEAN WHILE FOR THE NEXT HOUR AND A HALF. HE RETURNED AROUND 45 MINUTES LATER. I AM ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY I TRIED CLEANING THE KEY WITH A DRY RAG LETTING THE KEY SET IN THE IGNITION UNTIL THE LIGHT TURNED OFF. I EVEN UNPLUGGED THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY CABLE TO LET THE COMPUTER RESET ITS SELF. I WENT TO GM AND HAD A KEY MADE FOR THE CAR BECAUSE MY FIRST KEY HAD THE RUBBER TIP REMOVED. SO I FIGURED I WOULD GET A NEW KEY MADE FOR THE CAR AS WELL AS A NEW KEY PAD EVERYTHING WORKED FINE FOR A DAY OR TWO. I CALLED GM THE MANAGER ASKED ME TO COME BACK IN AND STATED THAT MAYBE THE KEY WAS UNDER CUT BECAUSE THEY HAD JUST PURCHASED A NEW KEY CUTTING MACHINE AND WERE STILL WORKING OUT THE BUGS. THE CAR STARTED FINE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I JUST DID NOT LET IT BOTHER ME FOR A WHILE. NOW IM INFORMING YOU GUYS BECAUSE MY OTHER CAR WAS TOTALED BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER WHILE IT WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I LEFT IT TO PUT AIR IN THE SPARE TIRE. I HOPE THAT WE CAN COME TO A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ITS TO LATE FOR ME OR ANYONE ELSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406811June 14, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL ON THE ENGINE DUE TO AN OIL LEAK FROM THE VALVE COVERS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V118000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280631August 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 11, 2009 MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FORM THE GROCERY STORE ONE NIGHT, AS HE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN HE SMELLED A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR, HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO SEE WERE IT WAS COMING FROM. WHEN HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR HE SEEN A CLOUD OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE, HE LIFTED UP THE HOOD IN SAW FLAMES COMING FROM PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE CAR UNDER THE HOOD, HE WENT INTO THE FACILITIES TO WERE HE PULLED OVER AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT THE FIRE WAS TO BIG TO BUT OUT, SO HE CALLED 911 IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR IS AT A TOTAL LOST. THE CAR A WEEK AGO BEFORE IT HAPPEN HAD A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR, BUT AFTER 1 TO 2 DAYS THE SMELL WENT A WAY, IT WAS CHECK FOR GAS AND OIL LEAKS BUT THERE WASN'T ANY. ME AND MY FAMILY WAS VERY TERRIFIED AND UPSET BECAUSE, THIS FIRE COULD HAVE CAUSE DEATH. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 19996 BUICK RIVERA FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. WHEN RESEARCHED THIS CAR AFTER THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS SIMILAR CASE TO MINES. I REALLY HOPE NO ONE ELSE WILL BE PUT IN MY SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278474July 27, 2009
STEERING
STEERING COLUMN/WHEEL STARTED A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM, (WOULDN'T LOCK INTO PLACE AFTER ADJUSTING POSITION). WITHIN ABOUT A MONTH OR SO IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. IT WOULD NOT STAY IN A FIXED POSITION AT ALL. IN SEPTEMBER 2006 WE TOOK IT IN TO BE REPAIRED. THEY HAD TO FIND AND REBUILD ANOTHER STEERING COLUMN. IT COST US ALMOST $1000 DOLLARS, PLUS THE COST OF A RENTAL FOR ABOUT TEN (10) DAYS. THE BIGGEST REASON I'M WRITING THIS NOW IS BECAUSE, IT HAS BROKEN AGAIN. (IT IS THE SAME EXACT THING AS BEFORE). I AM WANTING TO KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANYBODY ELSE OR IS IT AN ISOLATED THING ?. ALSO, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS BREAKING (THE HEADS SHEARING OFF) ?. IF NOT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED ITEMS THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL VEHICLES I'VE EVER OWNED. THANK YOU FOR ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN GIVE ME. KELLY GARDNER *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252095December 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS MORNING I TRIED TO START THE CAR TO GET MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, I TURN THE KEY BUT THE ENGINE DIDN'T START, IMMEDIATELY A BIG LOUD EXPLOSION (THE CAR NEVER STARTED), THEN SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, I GOT OUT TO OPEN THE HOOD AND FIRE WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE RIGHT NEXT DASHBOARD NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE.....THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME TO GET THE FIRE OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249436November 20, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMALL FLAMES ERUPTING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SMOKE IMMEDIATELY APPEARED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, FOLLOWED BY FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221447March 17, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE - 1997 BUICK RIVERIA 3.8 L SUPERCHARGED ENGINE -- OIL LEAK FROM FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET -- RECALL JUST RELEASED FOR 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND GRAND PRIX BUT LEFT THE RIVERIA OUT OF THE RECALL LIST FOR THE EXACT SAME ENGINE --- I REPLACED THE GASKET MYSELF (VERY EXPENSIVE GASKET) - 11/05 -- AND FEEL THAT GM SHOULD AT LEAST REIMBURSE ME FOR THE GASKET ---. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221494March 17, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
GM HAS RECALLED 1997-2002 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX AND BUICK REGALS WIT THE 3.8 LITER SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINES FOR OIL LEAKING AND BURNING ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING SOME 267 KNOWN FIRES. I HAVE A 1997 BUICK RIVIERA 3.8 LITER SUPERCHARGED ENGINE WHICH HAS BEGUN DOING THE SAME THING RECENTLY. I HAVE NOT SEEN THE RIVIERA INCLUDED IN ANY WEB SEARCH BUT I AM SURE GM IS TRYING TO GET BY WITHOUT REPAIRING AS MANY 3.8 SUPERCHARGED AS POSSIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193186May 22, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1997 BUICK RIVERA. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ONTO THE TURNPIKE UPON STOPPING AT THE TOLL PLAZA HE NOTICED SMOKE AND SMELLED PLASTIC BURNING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. *MC OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187580April 11, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
POWER STEERING RACK FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10132259August 10, 2005
STRUCTURE:BODY
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK RIVIERA. THE PAINT IS BEGINNING TO PEEL OFF FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. SHE CONTACTED GM , AND THEY CHECKED FOR OPEN RECALLS, AND THEY WANTED HER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125281June 14, 2005
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN SECURITY LIGHT IS ON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT 2-3 MINUTES, SOMETIMES LONGER, AND THE VEHICLE WILL START.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103404January 24, 2005
WHEELS
WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL COMPLETELY DISENGAGED. *JB *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105736January 4, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1997 BUICK RIVERA ... DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY-HOLE WORN INTO HIGH PRESSURE FREON DISCHARGE HOSE-FREON SPRAYED THROUGHOUT ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONTO DRIVE BELTS-BELT BROKE AND WRAPPED AROUND HARMONIC BALANCER - BROKE TEETH AND CRANK SENSOR- ENGINE DIED IMMEDIATELY-LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKING, ETC., DEAD CAR HARD TO CONTROL - TOWED TO GM DEALER - DEALER REPLACED ALL PARTS ($900.00) - GM MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGER ALL AGREED TO BUICK DESIGN FLAW - STEEL MANIFOLD FOR FREON HOSES IS FORMED IN SUCH A WAY TO CAUSE FREON HOSES TO RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER AND EVENTUALLY WEAR A HOLE INTO FREON HOSE. - I KEPT PART - CALLED DEALER TO COMPLAIN- THEY REFERRED ME TO BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE- THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS NO RECALLS NOR SERVICE BULLETINS HAD BEEN ISSUED ON THE MATTER - I ASKED FOR INFORMATION AS TO HOW MANY OF THESE INCIDENTS HAD OCCURRED - OR HOW MANY OF THIS FREON MANIFOLD REPLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN SOLD - OR IF THERE HAD BEEN A REDESIGN TO CORRECT THIS PART - THEY WOULD FURNISH ME WITH NONE OF THIS REQUESTED INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102781December 12, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY
WE HAVE A '97 RIVIERA WITH PAINT PROBLEMS...IF THE PAINT BECOMES CHIPPED OR SCRATCHED, TEMPERATURE CHANGES CAUSE THE PAINT TO SHRINK AND EXPAND (MORESO WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLDER) AND UNLESS I BREAK THE SHEETS OF PEELING PAINT OFF, IT KEEPS SPREADING. THIS EXPOSES THE GRAY METAL SEALER. I'D BE GLAD TO SEND YOU A SAMPLE OF THE PAINT (CHAMPAINGE PEARL) WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092730November 30, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
THE SENDING UNIT FAILED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME AT 44,000 MILES, SECOND TIME AT 67,000 MILES, AND THIRD TIME AT 80,000 MILES. THE UNIT WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH GAS WAS ACTUALLY IN THE VEHICLE. *AK THE SENDING UNIT HAD BARE AND MELTED COMPONENTS. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093047September 22, 2004
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
JACK FOR MY 1997 BUICK RIVIERA COLLAPSED WHEN I TRIED TO CHANGE TIRE. FORTUNATELY, I HAD NOT REMOVED THE FLAT TIRE YET AND WAS NOT INJURED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD EVER USED THE JACK SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I STILL HAVE THE DEFECTIVE JACK. I ALSO OWN A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA AND ITS JACK IS MUCH STURDIER AND HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM. I SHOWED THE BROKEN JACK TO MY AUTO MECHANIC. HE SAID THE JACK WAS UNSAFE AND NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE CAR. HE SAID THE JACK WAS TOO SMALL AND LIGHTWEIGHT FOR THE BUICK RIVIERA. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF I HAD BEEN UNDER THE CAR OR ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE FLAT TIRE WHEN THE JACK COLLAPSED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068989January 15, 2004
STRUCTURE
PAINT IS PEELING IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS RANGING FROM THE FRONT HOOD TO THE BACK SIDES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054192January 15, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042940October 15, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
1997 BUICK RIVIERA WITH 3800 ENGINE HAS A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT DEGRADES AND LEAKS COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSES HYDROLOCK, THEREBY RENDERING THE VEHICLE USELESS. THIS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME AND LEAVE YOU STRANDED AND IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE TYPE. GM ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM IN JULY OF 2001 (TSB 01-06-01-007A) AND THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE INDICATED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN AND ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE FOLKS AT GM AND I AM HAVING NO SATISFACTION WITH THEM WHATSOEVER. THEY CLAIM THAT THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO SERVICE RECORD ON FILE WITH A DEALER PLAY A BIG PART IN HOW THEY LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A LARGER PROBLEM THAN GM WOULD WANT TO ADMIT TO, SEE WEBSITE WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM. I FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM AND IF ENOUGH PEOPLE TAKE THEIR COMPLAINTS TO TH NHTSA THEN MAYBE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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