Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Buick Riviera, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering10
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Electrical system6
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Structure3
- Power train3
- Fuel system, other2
- Seat belts2
- Seats1
- Unknown or other1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 1997 Riviera vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 6 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Buick Riviera failed the safety check 2.84% of the time — 78% more often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 105,744 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
2 cars built in 1997 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
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 12.6 L/100 km (about 19 mpg US), CO₂ 290 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riviera # · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.9 | 9.8 | 12.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1997 Buick Riviera.
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
Service bulletins
What Buick told its dealers about the 1997 Buick Riviera: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635006 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING 4T65-E TRANSAXLE SPACER PLATE AND GASKETS FOR VARIOUS MODELS FROM 1997 THROUGH 2002. *TT |
| 634997 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING 4T65E TRANSAXLE SPACER PLATE AND GASKETS. *TT |
| 634985 | CONCERNS WITH SLIPS, HARSH UPSHIFT OR GARAGE SHIFTS, LAUNCH SHUDDERS, FLARES, ERRATIC SHIFTS AND INTERMITTENT CONCERNS, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1811 OR P0748 SET. *TT |
| 634813 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A REPEAT ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. *TT |
| 628928 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK. *TT UPDATED *EH |
| 620835 | EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION, OR AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK NEAR OR UNDER THE THROTTLE BODY AREA OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TT |
| 619370 | OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT |
| 619177 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A REPEAT ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. *TT |
| 619176 | ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION OR COOLANT LEAK (INSPECT FOR MATERIAL DEGRADATION/REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLDS) *TT UPDATED 11/02/07 *NJ |
| 618097 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SHAKE / VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR, SEAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROADS. *JB UPDATED *EH GM VOICEMAIL MESSAGE. *TT |
| 6089947 | A CONDITION WITH THE FRONT SEAT BACK AND / OR SEAT CUSHION HEAT ELEMENT IS NON-FUNCTIONING. *TT |
| 6088903 | CONDITIONS WITH FLOOR PAN CORROSION PERFORATION IN BATTERY COMPARTMENT. *TT |
| 6088811 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A POPPING TYPE NOISE HEARD IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TT |
| 608376 | THIS BULLETIN ADDRESSES CONCERNS OF STEERING VIBRATION / SHUDDER / MOAN DURING PARKING MANEUVERS ON DRY PAVEMENT. *TT |
| 603826 | EXPERIENCING SHAKE / VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR, SEAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROADS. *YC |
| 602983 | CONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC |
| 601771 | INFORMATION ON ABS AND / OR TRACTION LIGHT ON WITH CODES AND / OR ERRATIC ENGINE IDLE OR MIL ON. *YC |
| 601769 | INFORMATION ON GROWLING NOISE IN TRANSAXLE DURING FIRST FOUR MINUTES AFTER START UP. *YC |
| 601408 | CONCERNS OF NOISE/VIBRATION/GROWL FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE ON RIGHT TURNS OR HARD ACCELERATION. *YC |
| 600208 | EXPERIENCING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT BRAKES. *YC |
| 54344 | VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HARSH GARAGE SHIFT REVERSE TO DRIVE. *YC |
| 54327 | COMMENTS OF AN ENGINE OIL LEAK THAT APPEARS TO ORIGINATE TOWARD THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE; REAR OF ENGINE. *YC |
| 54204 | SUBJECT ON PARALLEL PARK ASSIST MODE AND BOTH MIRRORS ARE INOPERATIVE OR RH MIRROR MOVES UP TOO HIGH. *YC |
| 54065 | COMMENTS ON INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS (FRONT AND/OR REAR DOORS). |
| 54062 | COMMENTS ON INSUFFICIENT RANGE OF THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation