Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Buick Riviera, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 20 | 14% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 16 | 11% |
| Steering | 12 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 7% |
| Power train | 10 | 7% |
| Structure | 8 | 5% |
| Air bags | 7 | 5% |
| Visibility | 7 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 6 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT T
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
FOUL SMELL THEN PARKED AND WENT INSIDE MALL CAME BACK CAR HAD BEEN ON FIRE. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TES
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING AT DIFFERENT TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN 1999. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLS AND I LOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL. EXPERIENCING LONG CRANKS BEFORE ENGINE WILL START. HOWEVER
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
THE INFO ABOVE IS APPROX. YOUR RECALL OF GM CARS WITH RE: TO IGNITION PROBLEMS MAY NOT BE BROAD ENOUGH. I TRADED IN MY 95 RIVIERA IN APRIL OF 2007 AFTER PLOWING $1500 INTO AND STILL NO SATISFACTORY REPAIR ON WHY IT W
NHTSA complaint: Engine
WHILE DRIVING, BEGAN TO SMELL ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CABIN. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, OPENED HOOD TO WITNESS FUEL SUPPLY LINE TO REAR FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAKING ON TO TOP OF ENGINE. FUEL CONTINUED TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE EVEN AFT
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING. THE DE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 Buick Riviera. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE REAR SHOULDER BELT(S) DO NOT RETRACT. A RETAINER COULD SEPARATE FROM A REAR SEAT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR WHICH RESULTS IN THE RETRACTOR RETURN SPRING BECOMING DISENGAGED.
Risk: IN A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT MAY RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES IF THERE IS EXCESSIVE SLACK IN THE SHOULDER BELT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH REAR SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS FOR CORRECT FUNCTION AND INSTALL A SPRING COVER RETAINING STRAP TO EACH RETRACTOR. IF A RETRACTOR DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY, IT WILL BE REPLA
| Reliability raw | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 59 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 148 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 20 of them (14%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.