Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1990 Buick Riviera, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Air bags3
- Exterior lighting3
- Electrical system2
- Power train2
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Structure1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1990 Buick Riviera failed the safety check 1.54% of the time — 33% more often than the average 1990 passenger car (1.16%). Median odometer at inspection: 67,893 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
0 cars built in 1990 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1990 Buick Riviera.
| 1995101 16 Jun 1995 | Seats And Restraints ON CERTAIN TORONADO TROFEO'S THE FRONT OUTER SHOULDER BELT WEB SEW STOP MAY BECOME STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. THIS COULD MAKE THE BELT DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT OF THE… |
| 1991130 20 Sept 1991 | Lights And Instruments VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S.105- HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS AND C.M.V.S.S.101- CONTROL LOCATION AND IDENTIFICATION. THE BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT D… |
| 1990186 30 Nov 1990 | Seats And Restraints IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT REQUIRING DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG, THE INFLATOR MODULE COULD SEPARATE AND THE AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE AS INTEND… |
| 1990142 12 Sept 1990 | Powertrain THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FLOOR CONTROL ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT OPERATION. THIS COULD … |
| 1990025 9 Feb 1990 | Seats And Restraints A MISALIGNED REAR SEAT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY RESULT IN PENDULUM INTERFERENCE CAUSING THE BELT TO REMAIN IN THE LOCKED POSITION OR TO TRAVEL FREEL… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
NHTSA investigations
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation