Most common 1995 Buick Riviera problems
Share of the 130 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Riviera complaints by model year
Best Riviera years: 1999, 1998. Years to avoid: 1995. Compare all years →
1995 Buick Riviera recalls (1)
Seat belts › Front › Webbing
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The rear shoulder belt(s) do not retract. A retainer could separate from a rear seat shoulder belt retractor which results in the retractor return spring becoming disengaged.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect both rear shoulder belt retractors for correct function and install a spring cover retaining strap to each retractor. If a retractor does not function correctly, it will be replaced.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1995 Buick Riviera:
Rear seat belt retractor
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 soften, warp and deflect the plastic spring cover allowing the return spring to disengage through and jam…
Rear seat belt retractor
In its letter dated February 25, 2000 to NHTSA, general motors stated that it will conduct a safety recall of 85,253 model year 1995 Buick riviera and Oldsmobile aurora vehicles for the defect in the outboard rear seat belt retractor assemblies.
What 1995 Buick Riviera owners say
Engine & cooling all 26 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Buick Riviera. While driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The traction control warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle later failed to start. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000. Updated 7/1/15
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Buick Riviera. The contact stated while driving, the engine stalled. The vehicle was restarted however, the failure recurred seven times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing however, the mechanic was unable to detect a failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,678. The consumer stated on several occasions, he experienced sudden loss of power while in traffic. On each occasion, there was a loss power brakes. In April 2013, there were four instances where the vehicle turned off and the brakes and power steering failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. A year later, the same issue occurred again. The dealer was unable to find a problem.
Seat belts all 21 →
Vehicle is experiencing problems with the driver side seat belt. The seat belt will not support the driver. Owner has contacted the dealer, but the problem still exist. On 5/32004 consumer was hit on the driver's side by a 18 wheeler. They replaced the seat belt with a new one and the same problem still occurred. The consumer believes the design of this GM belt is defective because it does not provide protection during side impact accidents. The consumer believes all Buick Riviera's need to be recalled and replaced with belts that will work and give protection .
The rear seat belts failed to retract as well as the right side. The rear seats were rarely used. This failure was due to the defect described in recall 00V057000 rear shoulder belts but the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall.
Transmission & drivetrain
The car was shut off and parked with keys out. The car began to roll with no occupant and eventually hit a truck. The keys will come out of the ignition in any gear causing the car to roll if not completely in park, a very dangerous situation. The manufacturer was contacted and they say it is a maintenance issue. In addition the car seems to be loosing 2nd gear, car vibrates and makes noises at lower speeds.
While driving, began to smell odor of fuel in the cabin. Pulled to side of road, opened hood to witness fuel supply line to rear fuel injector rail leaking on to top of engine. Fuel continued to leak onto engine even after I shut off the car.
1995 Buick Riviera engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1995 Buick Riviera a good car?
Based on 130 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1995 Riviera rates avoid: 4.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Riviera at the same age. It is one of the Riviera years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1995 Buick Riviera?
The engine & cooling — 26 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the seat belts (21) and transmission & drivetrain (18).
How many recalls does the 1995 Buick Riviera have?
There is 1 recall for the 1995 Buick Riviera, the most recent from February 28, 2000 (webbing). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Riviera?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1999 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995. See the full Buick Riviera years comparison.
At what mileage do 1995 Buick Riviera problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 23% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.