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 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Buick Riviera, and it carries no recalls. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 6 | 17% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 11% |
| Tires | 4 | 11% |
| Engine | 3 | 8% |
| Seats | 3 | 8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 6% |
| Power train | 2 | 6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
IT STARTED OUT AS A SMALL OIL LEAK, BUT I RECENTLY NOTICED THE LEAK HAS EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY. IT'S DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT THE LEAK, BUT AN OIL PAN UNDER THE CAR SHOWS SIGNIFICANT PUDDLING OF OIL. A SEALER/CONDITIONER
NHTSA complaint: Engine
ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, WHEN FUELING MY VEHICLE, I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEFT REAR WHEEL, INLINE WITH THE FUEL FILLER DOOR. I HAD NOTED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUBSEQUENTLY CAME ON AND CODE 04
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED ENGINE OIL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE STOPPED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL DRIPPING NEAR THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. T
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I STARTED MY CAR, 98 BUICK RIVIERA, AND TURNED THE SEAT HEATER ON. I CAME BACK 5 MINUTES LATER AND STARTED DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK. ABOUT 4 MINUTES AFTER I LEFT MY HOUSE I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING
NHTSA complaint: Seats
STEERING WHEEL HAS DEVELOPED A VERY SIGNIFICANT "WOBBLE" WHICH EXISTS REGARDLESS OF WHAT TILT POSITION IT IS IN. THE WOBBLE IS DIAGONAL, FROM NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST IN DIRECTION, AND THE APPARENT PIVOT POINT OF THE WOBB
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK RIVIERA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET. HE DROVE ON THE SHOULDER AND HAD TO PLAC
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 65 | good |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 6 of them (17%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) 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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 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.