Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-50
1st engine - piston failure.
2nd engine - From factory with wrist-pin missing! Imminent failure!
Is that enough? Yup!
Bad fit and finish.
Bought the car used and was talked into an extended warrant by the dealer, thank God. First engine went, then a week later second engine went! My crap Pontiac 600 was more reliable than this! Soon the car was sold.
Other points - seats too wide, needed a V8.
So you had bad luck with one Riviera, big deal, it could happen to any car, ANY car. You can't blame the car for it, blame the mechanics that worked on it. If the second engine blew a week later, I would rethink who does my mechanical work. How is any of that the fault of the manufacturer or the car's?
I have 95, it is an awesome car. It is natural to think that if your car falls apart, that all Riviera's are bad, but don't think that since you are having a bad car problem that the Riviera's are bad cars.
Likewise, just because your car is good, don't think that the manufacturer is good. The major (if not the whole) point of this web site is to gather statistical data based on which consumers can make decisions. Anything could happen to any car, that's true. When many owners submit reports of the same problem, however, we must give it a serious thought. If you have a good car, wite a good review. If you have a bad car, you write a bad review. Either way, your review is one point in the dataset, and is in no way the authoritative judgment. To me a bad review is at least as valuable as a good one. Quality of service, and skill level of dealer mechanics are important part of ownership of newer cars also.
1. If the wrist pin was missing as you say, the piston would not be attached to the connecting rod, but would be loose in the cylinder. This engine would never even start let alone leave the factory.
2. You say the fit and finish was poor. I have spent seven years in the auto body business and I can tell you that the fit and finish on any Buick is excellent, especially the higher priced models.
3. You say the seat was too wide. What could that mean? Did they hang out of the car when the doors were open?
I don't believe you ever had a Buick Riviera.
I bought a 1995 Riviera last year and I love it. It had 50,000 miles when I got it and now has 67,500. I have had more compliments on how good it looks. I did have to replace the rear shocks @ $123 each because they both were leaking and while I was at it I put in new struts which I found were shot when I removed them. Proper maintenance is the key to keeping any car going. I love the car, it rides like a dream, get great gas milage for its size, has plenty of power for a V-6 and was very cheap for what I got (paid $11,700). I will have the car for a long time!
I have a 1995 Buick Riviera. I love the car. I have one minor problem though. Anyone know where I can find the electrical diagram for it? I have a short somewhere that effects the wipers, horn and traction control. If someone can help me that would be great. Thanks.
I love my Rivieras! However, things are starting to go wrong - it is turning 90K soon. Anyway, anyone know where I can get some help locating a Climate Control problem? Fuses - good, could it be a relay? The blower motor burned out? Help!!!
I have a 1995 Buick Riviera I absolutely love the car. I got it with 45,000 miles now it has 61,000. I have done burnouts with it and raced it at the track it runs 15.95 stock. But when I changed the transmission fluid the transmission is slipping real bad. But overall the car is awesome.
I purchased a '95 Riviera new June 28, 1994. I have 123,614 miles on the car now and have had no major repairs. Fuel use from purchase to date is 5,642 gals or 21.9 MPG. I had 3 minor problems with the car that the dealership was not able to fix. I wrote to Buick on each of these items and never received a response. I fixed one of the items myself, the other two I just lived with. By the way, I have driven GM products for 39 years, but I just purchased my wife a new import.
The first item was the door sill trim plate, the rear end of which was not supported and broke repeatedly. After the dealership replaced it 3 times, I shaped a wooden block to support it, it has been fine since.
The second problem is the fuel gage. It reads high until it gets below 1/4 tank, then goes to the warning light in approximately 40 miles. When the red light come on, I have 3 miles to find fuel. At 1/4 tank I have 2 gallons, not the 5 gallons the owners manual says I should have.
The power steering is the final problem. Often when the engine is at idle, the power assist is not there. So when parking, I can either man handle the steering wheel or keep the engine rpm up and ride the brake.
I have a '95 Buick Riviera, which I purchased in March of 2000. I bought it with 51,000 miles. It now has a little over 74,000. I love this car. I've had some work done; power steering pump and reservoir replaced, new master cylinder, occasional brake pads and an engine belt.
Lately, I've noticed that once I turn the engine over, my gages light up, then grow dim and the car struggles to continue running before recovering. Yesterday, I noticed severe front-end shuddering when I accelerate quickly to overdrive at low and high speeds. My local guy performed diagnostic tests and suspects that it might be the supercharger. He doesn't want to touch it and insists that I take it to the dealer. I'm going to do so in the morning. I can just imagine what this is going to cost me, but I'm still a huge Riv' fan.
I cannot believe all the good reviews that this review bank/data set contains on 95 Rivieras; it, s like reading about a completely different vehicle. Both myself and my brother own them, 95 & 98 (super) respectively. They both have low miles and are pampered as well.
The good looks and handling notwithstanding, they have both suffered continual and random electrical shorts ranging from window, lock and horn failures to life-threatening engine stalls. These cars have turned the joy of auto ownership into a complete and utter nightmare. It appears that once these cars hit about 3 years or so, the cars pick up a neurological disorder.
I bought a 95 Riviera in March of 2002 with 105,000 miles on it. It now has 120,000. The rear shocks I believe, have a leak, which makes the air motor go on ALL the time... even when the car is off. I have had to replace the radiator, and the brakes. Other than that.. everyone loves it. I only paid $5500 for the thing.
It's not a bad car for back-seat activities too.
My 95 Riviera started shaking when I execrate. Any ideas? No engine lights are coming on, and it seems to be driving fine (except for the shaking). It's not the tires, because it shakes while it's in park.
Dawn.
I have had a continual problem with my 95 riviera and I need some assistance. I have taken it to three mechanics and left without any answers. the car continues to overheat even after taking out the thermostat. the radiator has been flushed and rodded out and the check engine light continues to come on when the car reaches about 180 degrees. the car cools down when I get on a straightaway. the water is circulating through the radiator, but not really as quickly as it should. could it be the water pump (even though I have been told that is not the problem).
I have had my Riv for 5 years now. I just put in a new engine and had to have the transmission overhauled and last year I had the supercharger rebuilt. A lot of money for this car, but still love it $6000 later.