1987 Buick Riviera problems

Common 1987 Buick Riviera problems

The 1987 Buick Riviera, despite being a flagship model, had several common problems that tarnished its reputation among car owners. Some of these issues include:

• Identical design: The 1987 Buick Riviera looked nearly identical to the smaller and cheaper 1986 Buick Somerset Regal, despite being larger in size. This design similarity led to confusion among consumers and negatively impacted the Riviera's perceived value.

• Poor fuel efficiency: The 3.8-liter V-6 engine in the 1987 Buick Riviera was notorious for poor fuel efficiency, which was a significant drawback for buyers seeking a luxury car with decent mileage.

• Uncomfortable seats: The seats in the 1987 Buick Riviera were set low and not especially comfortable, which was a common complaint among drivers and passengers.

• Jarring ride: The Riviera T-Type package, which was marketed as an improved handling and performance option, suffered from a jarring ride that was not refined and compromised ride quality.

• Faulty Graphic Control Center (GCC): The GCC in the 1987 Buick Riviera made simple operations complex and was criticized for distracting, hard-to-activate "virtual" buttons and complicated menus. This system was a precursor to modern electronic ergonomics that are often inferior to traditional buttons.

• Poor value: The 1987 Buick Riviera T-Type had a base price of $22,221 ($47,651 adjusted), which was not considered good value for buyers seeking style, performance, handling, and comfort. Many other cars at similar prices offered better options in these areas, contributing to the Riviera's poor sales performance.

• Electrical issues: Some 1987 Buick Riviera owners reported electrical problems, such as the dash panel display randomly blacking out, the GCC display going to the radio screen, and the instrument panel controls displaying error messages. These issues were often related to the Body Control Module (BCM), which could cause the car to experience data faults and memory resets.

• Non-functioning radio: Another common electrical issue in the 1987 Buick Riviera was a non-functioning radio. This problem could be due to a faulty receiver, which would require replacement.

• Inability to set date and time: The 1987 Buick Riviera's clock and date settings would often revert to their default values after the car was turned off. This issue could be related to the car's electrical system or the BCM.

These common problems with the 1987 Buick Riviera negatively impacted the car's reputation and sales performance, contributing to GM's overall decline in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Is a Buick Riviera a classic?

The Buick Riviera is a personal luxury car that was marketed by Buick from 1963 to 1999, with the exception of the 1994 model year. As General Motors' first entry into the personal luxury car market segment, the Riviera was highly praised by automotive journalists upon its high-profile debut.

What engine did the Buick Riviera have?

Engines and Transmissions

For 1963, the Riviera was offered only with a 401 CID Nailhead V8 engine with standard dual exhaust. It produced 325 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. The 401 engine was coupled with a three-speed Twin Turbine Dynaflow automatic transmission and could reach 60 MPH in 8.5 seconds.

Is the Riviera a muscle car?

With its European-influenced styling, however, as far as muscle cars go, its beauty ultimately overpowered its beast. The Buick Riviera may not go down in history as a highly regarded muscle car—but it will be highly regarded, period.

How fast is a Buick Riviera?

Performance

30 - 70 mph	8.7 s
0 - 90 mph	18.8 s
0 - 100 mph	24.5 s
1/4 mile	16.5 s @ 79.5 mph
Top speed	190 kph (118 mph)

Is Buick Riviera a luxury car?

The Buick Riviera is a personal luxury car that was marketed by Buick from 1963 to 1999, with the exception of the 1994 model year.

How fast is a Buick Riviera?

Performance

30 - 70 mph	8.7 s
0 - 90 mph	18.8 s
0 - 100 mph	24.5 s
1/4 mile	16.5 s @ 79.5 mph
Top speed	190 kph (118 mph)

Was the Buick Riviera front-wheel drive?

Unlike its subsequent GM E platform stablemates, the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado, the Riviera was initially a standard front engine/rear-wheel drive platform, only becoming front wheel drive starting in 1979 as part of a sweeping move in that direction by the American automobile industry.

What engine is in a 1985 Buick Riviera?

Through most of the model run (1980-85), Buick also offered the infamous 5.7-liter Oldsmobile diesel V-8. Essentially a gasoline V-8, marginally adapted for high-compression diesel duty, these engines make the Riviera dangerously slow.

1987 Buick Riviera car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Buick Riviera problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

• Engine and engine cooling problems
• Electrical system problems
• Steering problems
• Service brakes problems
• Hydraulic problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Buick Riviera vehicle components and the number of complaints received.