RecallMyCar

1996 Buick Riviera Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1996 Buick Riviera, and owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
44
owner complaints to NHTSA
0 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
19–21
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 1996 Buick Riviera

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Fuel injection system (fuel system)

    NHTSA 96V116000 Reported 275,811 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    A backfire during engine starting can cause breakage of the upper intake manifold.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module programming. Until the campaign repair is made, the vehicle hood should be shut whenever starting the vehicle to reduce the chance of personal injury.

  2. Electrical system: control module

    NHTSA 95V204000 Reported 32,869 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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,…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the mall module.

44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Buick Riviera have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 99,275 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 8 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I smelled gas. I opened the hood, removed the engine cover & fuel was spraying from the plastic fuel line, the size of a pinhole. I contacted the dealer to order a new fuel line and was told the fuel”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 3, 2015 · Fuel/propulsion system

“Could not get first incident date entered. This is current time started in 2013. Have had repaired 5 times and needs again. When driving on freeway above 60 miles per hour and have to brake heavily it”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 2, 2014 · Steering

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Buick Riviera. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19–21 mpg
City / Highway16–17 / 25–27
FuelPremium, Regular
EPA classMidsize Cars
Engine6 cyl, 3.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Buick Riviera model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Buick Riviera model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1966 Buick Riviera10
1969 Buick Riviera01
1970 Buick Riviera20
1971 Buick Riviera20
1972 Buick Riviera30
1973 Buick Riviera11
1974 Buick Riviera10
1975 Buick Riviera30
1976 Buick Riviera10
1977 Buick Riviera20
1978 Buick Riviera10
1979 Buick Riviera20
1981 Buick Riviera10
1982 Buick Riviera11
1983 Buick Riviera11
1984 Buick Riviera10
1985 Buick Riviera12
1986 Buick Riviera12
1987 Buick Riviera15
1988 Buick Riviera01
1989 Buick Riviera29
1990 Buick Riviera416
1991 Buick Riviera18
1992 Buick Riviera212
1993 Buick Riviera15
1995 Buick Riviera1130
1996 Buick Riviera244
1997 Buick Riviera043
1998 Buick Riviera029
1999 Buick Riviera06

Checking a specific 1996 Buick Riviera

How do I know if my 1996 Buick Riviera has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1996 Buick Riviera; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Buick dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 95V204000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Buick models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.