Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Buick Riviera, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering2
- Tires2
- Vehicle speed control1
- Engine1
- Electrical system1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Equipment1
- Unknown or other1
- Engine and engine cooling1
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 1999 Buick Riviera failed the safety check 1.35% of the time — 23% less often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 85,451 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 12.2 L/100 km (about 19 mpg US), CO₂ 281 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riviera # · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.8 | 9.1 | 12.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1999 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 1999 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 |
| 629375 | SUBJECT REGARDING WHINE NOISE IN PARK OR NEUTRAL, SERVICE ENGINE SOON OR SERVICE VEHICLE SOON LAMP ILLUMINATION. *TT |
| 628928 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK. *TT UPDATED *EH |
| 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 |
| 618099 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A GENERATOR NOISE (WHINE / HUM / MOAN / VIBRATION) IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AT IDLE, SLOW SPEEDS, DECELERATING OR PARKING MANEUVERS. *JB |
| 618097 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SHAKE / VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR, SEAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROADS. *JB UPDATED *EH GM VOICEMAIL MESSAGE. *TT |
| 611290 | SOME OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH A HYDRA-MATIC 4T65-E TRANSAXLE MAY COMMENT ON HARSH UPSHIFTS OR HARSH GARAGE SHIFTS, SOFT SHIFTS, SHUDDERS ON HARD ACCELERATION, OR SHIFTS ERRATIC. *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 |
| 6088892 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT A SQUEAK, SQUAWK OR CREAK NOISE FROM FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLY. *TT |
| 6088866 | EXPERIENCING CLUNK, RATTLE 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 |
| 603826 | EXPERIENCING SHAKE / VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR, SEAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROADS. *YC |
| 603082 | NOISE AND/OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED ACCELERATION OR BRAKE TORQUING. *TT |
| 602983 | CONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC |
| 10248444 | Vehicle Recalls |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
| 10232287 | This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy. |
| 10208027 | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update. |
| 10190934 | Underbody Component Corrosion The following information may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers. Some customers may comment that one or more of their vehicle's underbody components are showing some form of corrosion. This corrosion may be red in appearance (rust) if the component is steel, forged iron or cast iron. This corrosion may also be grey or white in color if the component is constructed of an aluminum alloy. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation