RecallMyCar

1997 Buick Riviera Recalls, Complaints & Specs

No safety recalls list the 1997 Buick Riviera, and owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

0
safety recalls
43
owner complaints to NHTSA
3 / 5
complaints citing a crash / fire
19–20
MPG combined (EPA)

No safety recalls on record

NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1997 Buick Riviera. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.

43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Buick Riviera have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 105,077 miles. Complaints peaked in 2002 with 6 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I have a 1997 buick riviera that has a security light problem. I try to crank the car and sometimes it will crank other times it wont. I am a young male that normally travels back and forth to work bu”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 23, 2011 · Seat belts

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick riviera. The contact stated the vehicle was parked when he noticed there was a puddle of oil on the engine due to an oil leak from the valve covers. The contact refer”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 14, 2011 · Engine and engine cooling

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Buick Riviera. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19–20 mpg
City / Highway16–17 / 24–26
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 1997 Buick Riviera

How do I know if my 1997 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.

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.

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.