Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 1995. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 1985.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Riviera | 6 | 0 |
| 1998 Riviera | 29 | 0 |
| 1997 Riviera | 43 | 0 |
| 1996 Riviera | 44 | 2 |
| 1995 RivieraMost complaints | 130 | 1 |
| 1994 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 Riviera | 5 | 1 |
| 1992 Riviera | 12 | 2 |
| 1991 Riviera | 8 | 1 |
| 1990 Riviera | 16 | 4 |
| 1989 | 9 | 2 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 Riviera | 5 | 1 |
| 1986 | 2 | 1 |
| 1985 Riviera | 2 | 1 |
| 1984 | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 |
| 1981 | 0 | 1 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Service brakes, hydraulic46
- Engine and engine cooling45
- Electrical system42
- Steering39
- Power train35
- Seat belts34
- Air bags20
- Structure17
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 14 Riviera vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 10 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 2 | 3 |
| 1997 | 7 | 6 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | 1 | 1 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 5 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 11.5–13.5 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Riviera # · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.8 | 9.1 | 12.2 |
| 1998 | Riviera # · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.1 | 9.7 | 12.7 |
| 1997 | Riviera # · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.9 | 9.8 | 12.6 |
| 1996 | Riviera · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.7 | 8.8 | 11.5 |
| 1995 | Riviera # · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 16.1 | 10.4 | 13.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
126 Riviera cars are on the New Zealand register; 87% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | 11 | 1 | 10 |
| 1972 | 16 | 2 | 13 |
| 1971 | 9 | 0 | 7 |
| 1970 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
| 1969 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1968 | 9 | 0 | 8 |
| 1967 | 13 | 2 | 11 |
| 1966 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| 1965 | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| 1964 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1963 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1958 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1957 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1956 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 1955 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 1953 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
136 Riviera cars are on Dutch roads; 96% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 30 | — |
| 1972 | 35 | — |
| 1971 | 40 | — |
| 1969 | 31 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In the United Kingdom
97 Riviera cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992 | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 | 0 | 2 |
| 1990 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | 2 |
| 1984 | 1 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | 1 |
| 1982 | 2 | — |
| 1974 | 1 | — |
| 1973 | 4 | 2 |
| 1972 | 11 | 2 |
| 1971 | 10 | 5 |
| 1970 | 2 | 1 |
| 1969 | 7 | 1 |
| 1968 | 4 | — |
| 1967 | 4 | 3 |
| 1966 | 5 | — |
| 1965 | 9 | 6 |
| 1964 | 7 | — |
| 1963 | 8 | 1 |
| 1962 | 2 | — |
| 1958 | 2 | 1 |
| 1957 | 1 | — |
| 1956 | 5 | 1 |
| 1955 | 0 | 1 |
| 1954 | 1 | — |
| 1953 | 3 | — |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recalls
15 campaigns cover the Riviera; the latest 12 are below.
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.
A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.
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 FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER CHIME REMINDER FUNCTIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES ARE ALSO AFFECTED.
THE FRONT OUTER SHOULDER BELT WEB SEW STOP CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. THE BELT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT OF THE RETRACTOR AND SOME OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FASTEN THE BELT.
THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO STEERING RACK LOWER COUPLING PINCH BOLT MAY BE MISSING.
BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT MAY NOT LIGHT WHEN IGNITION IS IN THE "ON" POSITION, THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, AND THE SHIFT SELECTOR IS IN THE PARK OR NEUTRAL GEAR RANGE.
TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FROM THE FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL WITH LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.
MISALIGNED REAR SEAT SAFETY BELT SHOULDER RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES COULD CAUSE PENDULUM INTERFERENCE, CAUSING THE BELT TO REMAIN IN LOCKED POSITION OR TO TRAVEL FREELY WITHOUT LOCKING.
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
LEFT FRONT BRAKE PIPE MAY CONTACT THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BRACKET.
ONE OR BOTH ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEATED AND COULD LOOSEN.
INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE POWER STEERING PUMP PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLY AND THE TRANSMISSION GOVERNOR/SPEED SENSOR CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE ABRASION OF THE HOSE.
NHTSA recalls