Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Buick Riviera, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering7
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Engine4
- Power train3
- Tires3
- Electrical system3
- Seats3
- Vehicle speed control2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Equipment1
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 1998 Buick Riviera failed the safety check 2.58% of the time — 51% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 121,963 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 12.7 L/100 km (about 19 mpg US), CO₂ 292 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riviera # · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.1 | 9.7 | 12.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1998 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 1998 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 |
| 619177 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A REPEAT ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. *TT |
| 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 |
| 6088866 | EXPERIENCING CLUNK, RATTLE OR METAL TO METAL NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. *TT |
| 6088815 | EXPERIENCING CLUNK, RATTHE OR METAL TO METAL NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. *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 |
| 603833 | EXPERIENCING A RATTLE NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. *YC |
| 603828 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THE RADIO CLOCK GAINS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME. *YC |
| 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 |
| 602750 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON RADIO CLOCK GAINS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME. *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 |
| 54204 | SUBJECT ON PARALLEL PARK ASSIST MODE AND BOTH MIRRORS ARE INOPERATIVE OR RH MIRROR MOVES UP TOO HIGH. *YC |
| 10248444 | Vehicle Recalls |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation