1999 Buick Riviera problems
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. It was a ground-up design on a new GM E platform debuting for the 1963 model year and was also Buick's first unique Riviera model.
Unlike its subsequent GM E platform stablemates, the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado, the Riviera was initially a front engine/rear-wheel drive platform, switching to front-wheel drive starting with the 1979 model year.
While the early models stayed close to their original form, eight subsequent generations varied substantially in size and styling. A total of 1,127,261 Rivieras were produced.
The Riviera name was resurrected for two concept cars that were displayed at auto shows in 2007 and in 2013.
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Common 1999 Buick Riviera problems
Based on the complaints from owners of the 1999 Buick Riviera, several common problems have been reported:
- Alarm System Malfunction: Complaints include the alarm system going off unexpectedly and doors locking without cause. In some cases, the transmitter needed replacement to address this issue.
- Hesitation on Acceleration: Owners have experienced hesitation during acceleration at speeds between 35-40 mph. Despite complaints, some dealers have reported this as normal behavior.
- Gas Pedal Descending: A serious safety concern was reported where the gas pedal descended to the floor while driving at 70 mph with cruise control engaged, causing the vehicle to surge to 120 mph. This issue led to a dangerous situation where the driver had difficulty braking, resulting in brake pad damage.
- Mechanical Failures: Various mechanical failures have been reported, including a malfunctioning driver's side power seat incline, a faulty blend box or actuator, non-functional cruise control, a locked-up AC compressor, and an oil leak from the front valve cover. These issues can impact the comfort and safety of the vehicle.
These problems highlight a range of issues that owners of the 1999 Buick Riviera have faced, from safety concerns like gas pedal malfunctions to comfort-related issues such as power seat and AC problems. Addressing these issues promptly is crucial to ensure the safety and reliability of the vehicle.
What is the gas mileage on a 1999 Buick Riviera?
Fuel & MPG
296.0/462.5 mi. 18.5 gal.
What year was the last Buick Riviera made?
1994
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 can a Buick Riviera go?
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) |
Why won't my Buick Riviera start?
The most common reasons a Buick Riviera won't start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
What is the gas mileage on a 1999 Buick Riviera?
Fuel & MPG
296.0/462.5 mi. 18.5 gal.
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.
What is the top speed of a Riviera car?
| Buick Riviera 7.5 Performance | |
|---|---|
| Top Speed : | 125 Mph / 201 km/h |
| Acceleration 0 to 60 mph (0 to 96 Km/h) : | 9.10 s |
| Acceleration 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) : | - s |
Why won't my Buick Riviera start?
The most common reasons a Buick Riviera won't start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
1999 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:
- Tires problems
- Steering problems
- Electrical system problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Engine problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1999 Buick Riviera vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1999 Buick Riviera complaints
The NHTSA has received 6 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1999 Buick Riviera.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-09-04
- VIN: 1G4GD221XX4
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
- Summary: WELL FOR STARTERS THE CAR HAS 131,000 MILES ON IT AND CLEAN INTERIOR. BUT....THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEAT INCLINE DOESN'T WORK, THE BLEND BOX OR AN ACTUATOR IS BAD, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK, AND THE AC COMPRESSOR IS LOCKED UP. BUT.... THE WORST PART IS THE OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE FRONT VALVE COVER. IT IS SPILLING OUT ON MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND SMOKES BADLY. I JUST READ GM HAS A RECALL ON ALL THE L67 3.8L SUPERCHARGED MOTORS IN GRAND PRIX AND REGALS AMONGST OTHER MODELS WITH THE 3.8L BUT NOT THE RIVIERAS. CAN THE RIV GET SOME LOVE TOO. I LIKE THE CAR BUT ALL THESE PROBLEMS AND A HIGHWAY SHUDDER AT 65-73.....👎👎😢😢👎👎👎😩😩😩😩😩
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2008-05-14
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING OUR 1999 BUICK RIVERA, I NOTICED WHAT FELT LIKE AN OUT OF ROUND TIRE. AS SOON AS I ARRIVED HOME, I CHECKED OUT THE TIRE. IT WAS LOCATED AT PSR. I FOUND EVIDENCE OF TREAD SEPARATION IN THE FORM OF A BULGE IN THE TREAD. I ALSO EXAMINED THE DSR TIRE AND FOUND THE SAME THING. *TR
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2008-05-14
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING OUR 1999 BUICK RIVERA, I NOTICED WHAT FELT LIKE AN OUT OF ROUND TIRE. AS SOON AS I ARRIVED HOME, I CHECKED OUT THE TIRE. IT WAS LOCATED AT PSR. I FOUND EVIDENCE OF TREAD SEPARATION IN THE FORM OF A BULGE IN THE TREAD. I ALSO EXAMINED THE DSR TIRE AND FOUND THE SAME THING. *TR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-10-18
- Crash: 1
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, GAS PEDAL DESCENDED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE TO 120 MPH. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY WHICH BURNED THE BRAKE PADS. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE AT 120 MPH FOR HALF A MILE BEFORE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. *AK
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-09-22
- VIN: 1G4GD2214X4
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: I NEEDED TO REPLACED THE INLET AND OUTLET HOSES FOR THE STEERING OF MY 1999 BUICK RIVIERIA. I HAD IT IN THE SHOP TO TAKE CARE OF TRAK OFF LIGHT AND THE MECHANIC ADVISE ME TO HAVE IT DONE BECAUSE THEY HAD A BULLENTIN REFERRING ABOUT IT
STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-03-15
- VIN: 1G4GD2213X4
- Components: STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT
- Summary: CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD START TO SHAKE. TS DEALER CLAIMED THIS WAS NORMAL. ALARM SYSTEM GOES OFF AND LOCKED DOORS. TRANSMITTER REPLACED. HESITATION ON ACCELERATION AT 35-40 MPH. DEALER REPORTED NORMAL. RUBBING NOISE WHEN BACKING UP. NO PROBLEM FOUND. *TT
Negative 1999 Buick Riviera car reviews
Positive 1999 Buick Riviera car reviews
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Hey there! I hope you're doing well. I just wanted to share my experience with my car. I bought it with 83000 miles on it and had it for about 2.5 years. During that time, I replaced the tensioner and idler pulleys with the belts and also replaced the water pump. Unfortunately, at 105000 miles, the torque converter went bad on it. I was pretty bummed that it only made it that far, since my last Buick (1994 Park Avenue Ultra) made it to 170000. Despite that, I have to say that the ride was great - lots of power! However, the suspension was starting to go bad (it creaked when I would go over bumps). Overall, it was a great car and I'm glad I had the chance to own it. Let me know if you have any questions!
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The 1998 Riviera has been an excellent car in all categories, except for the unfortunate paint job. Despite this issue, I have been thoroughly impressed with the vehicle's performance, even after being in two minor accidents. With just regular maintenance and a replacement of the rack and pinion steering, the car has held up remarkably well. It's a shame that GMC did not stand behind the factory paint issue, but I remain confident in the overall quality of the car.
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I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying your new car! It sounds like it's really easy to handle and gets great gas mileage. It's great that your wife loves it too, especially with the sloping hood that she finds appealing. It's always nice to have a car with a good history, and it's great to hear that you're so happy with it that you're even considering buying another one. Thank you for sharing your positive experience with us!
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What can I say? This car was designed perfectly. It really excels on the highway. Although, the fuel economy is a bit of a bummer.
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I completely agree with the owner who asked, 'How could they stop selling this car?' Maybe it's because not enough people know about it, or perhaps GM didn't market it properly. Personally, I've always been a fan of two-door cars, and this is actually my third Riviera. If anything were to happen to this car, I would be absolutely devastated!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1999 Buick Riviera problems:
1999 Buick Riviera Problems and Complaints - 13 Issues
Top 1999 Buick Riviera Problems · Stalling Due to Mass Air Flow or Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure · Intake Manifold Gasket May Leak Engine Oil.
Buick Riviera 1997: Q&A on Supercharger & Common Problems
Aug 17, 2011 ... I have a 1997 Buick Riviera w/supercharger with 107000 miles that has developed a transmission problem. It's - Answered by a verified Buick ...
Reliability of 1995-1999 Supercharged Riviera's? : r/Buick
Jun 8, 2023 ... Since the engine is notoriously reliable, the body is the weakest link imo. Fwiw, the fuel tank for the 96 is NOT the same tank in the 97 if you ...
1995-1999 Buick Riviera opinions needed! | V8buick.com
Mar 6, 2010 ... batcar Well-Known Member. That 3800 is an awesome engine, we put over 80,000 miles on a Bonneville, only issues was ...
Problems with my 1997 Buick Riviera | 3800Pro Forums
Sep 3, 2023 ... Swapped the coil packs with known working ones with no luck. Tested the fuel pressure and it all looked good. Swapped the PCM from the parts car ...
Other years of Buick Riviera
Are you having problems with your 1999 Buick Riviera?
Ryleigh King 2024-10-09
This car has great pick up and is perfect for freeway driving, although it may have a little trouble with handling. The exterior design is decent, but it is a bit too long.