1998 Buick Riviera Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Riviera years
- Fewer complaints than other years 4th of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Buick Riviera. That ranks 4th out of 6 Riviera model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (7 complaints, 24%). Complaints mention 3 crashes, 2 fires. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 29owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Buick Riviera problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 7 | 24% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 14% | 165,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 10% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 10% | 200,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 7% | 56,513 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 7% | 57,617 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 3% | 161,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Buick Riviera recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1998 Buick Riviera.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Engine compartment fires (EA02030) — opened Oct 22, 2002, closed Mar 9, 2004, led to recall 04V090000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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 doesn't appear to have been affected. While online, i noted that the 3800cc 3.8l…
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 0440 (or a variant of that, i cannot recall with 100% certainty. When i had some…
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 gasket failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vin was not…
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 diagnosed that the valve cover gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…
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. The approximate failure mileage was 300,000.
Other Buick Riviera years
← 1997 Riviera · 1999 Riviera →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Riviera | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Riviera | 6 | 0 |
| 1998 | 29 | 0 |
| 1997 Riviera | 43 | 0 |
| 1996 Riviera | 44 | 2 |
| 1995 Riviera | 130 | 1 |
See all Buick Riviera problems by year, every Buick model, or the Buick VIN decoder.
Similar Buick models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Buick Riviera?
Owners most often report steering, service brakes, hydraulic, engine problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Buick Riviera?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1998 Buick Riviera a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Riviera model years, the 1998 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.