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 not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000. Updated 04/07/16*lj
Buick Riviera fire or smoke problems
10 of the 293 owner complaints about the Buick Riviera describe fire, smoke or burning smell, most of them for the 1997 model year.
- owner complaints
- 10
- worst model year
- 1997
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 19981
- 19975
- 19961
- 19952
- 19921
Often reported together
What owners say
Foul smell then parked and went inside mall came back car had been on fire.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 buick riviera. While driving approximately 45 MPH the engine started hesitating. He pulled over to the side of the road, and noticed an engine compartment fire. The fire department extinguished the flames. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage center. The vehicle was completely destroyed . The cause of failure has not been determined at this time. Although he experienced an identical failure, he vehicle identification number was excluded from recall campaign id number 96v116000 (fuel system, gasoline:fuel) . The failure and current mileages were 140,000.
On the night of august 11, 2009 my car caught on fire. My husband was driving home form the grocery store one night, as he was driving down the street when he smelled a burning smell coming from the car, he immediately pulled over to see were it was coming from. When he got out of the car he seen a cloud of smoke coming from the bottom of the vehicle, he lifted up the hood in saw flames coming from passengers side of the car under the hood, he went into the facilities to were he pulled over and got a fire extinguisher, but the fire was to big to but out, so he called 911 immediately. The car is at a total lost. The car a week ago before it happen had a very strong gasoline smell coming from the car, but after 1 to 2 days the smell went a way, it was check for gas and oil leaks but there wasn't any. Me and my family was very terrified and upset because, this fire could have cause death. There was a recall on the 19996 buick rivera for the fuel injection system. When researched this car after the incident. There was similar case to mines. I really hope no one else will be put in my situation.
This morning I tried to start the car to get my kids to school, I turn the key but the engine didn't start, immediately a big loud explosion (the car never started), then smoke came out from under the hood, I got out to open the hood and fire was coming out of the engine right next dashboard near the driver side.....the fire department had to come to get the fire out.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick riviera. The contact noticed small flames erupting from underneath the vehicle. Smoke immediately appeared from the front end of the vehicle, followed by flames under the hood. The failure occurred without warning. The fire department was called to the scene and a report was filed. There were no personal injuries or property damage. The vehicle was completely destroyed. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The insurance company and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The mileages were unknown.
1997 buick rivera. Consumer was driving onto the turnpike upon stopping at the toll plaza he noticed smoke and smelled plastic burning. Consumer pulled over and the vehicle burst into flames. *mc ohio traffic crash report.
Electrical seat control box caught on fire and left smoke in vehicle.
While driving smoke came out of the ignition. The dealer has been notified.
Electrical door caught on fire which could have caused injuries. Cause unknown. *ak
Related recalls
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module
- What is wrong
- These vehicles were assembled with a malfunction alarm, lighting and locking (mall) module that can contain a damaged capacitor. If the capacitor is damaged, the "key in the ignition" warning chime and the driver seat belt unbuckled warning chime and indicator lamp may not work. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 114, "theft protection" and fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection." in addition, other chime reminder functions, interior lighting controls, and power door locking features are also affected.
- Risk
- Consequence of non-compliance; the driver may not be aware that the key was left in the ignition or that the safety belt was not buckled.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the mall module.
Recall number 95V204000 · Recall details
Questions about the Buick Riviera fire or smoke
Which Buick Riviera years have fire, smoke or burning smell problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1997 (5 complaints), 1995 (2 complaints) and 1992 (1 complaints).
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