1990-1993 Buick Riviera: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1990-1993 Buick Riviera and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Quietness
- Acceleration (1991-93)
- Antilock brakes
Cons
- Fuel economy
- Rear-seat room
- Ride (Gran Touring suspension)
- Rear visibility
Vehicle Highlights
To put a spark in painfully sluggish sales, Buick added 11 inches to the long-lived Riv's length for 1989. Buick also dumped the touch-screen climate and audio controls. A driver-side airbag now was standard, but antilock braking remained an option until '91. GM's Pass-Key antitheft system was standard. Only one powertrain went into Rivieras: a 3.8-liter V6 with automatic. A Gran Touring suspension with wider tires and quicker-ratio power steering was optional. The Riviera's basic design was shared with the Cadillac Eldorado and Oldsmobile Toronado.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Buick Riviera Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 6 | |
| Fuel Economy | 4 | |
| Ride Quality | 6 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 6 | |
| Quietness | 5 | |
| Controls/Materials | 5 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 3 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 4 | |
| Total Score: | 48 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1990-1993 Buick Riviera. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1990-1993 Buick Riviera.
Year to Year Changes
1991 Buick Riviera:
Antilock braking was now standard. Also, Riv got a new grille, a more responsive 4-speed automatic transmission, five more horsepower, and a new steering gear.
1992 Buick Riviera:
Solar-control glass became standard on Rivieras. Larger rotors and calipers went into the standard antilock braking system. Otherwise, little change was evident.
1993 Buick Riviera:
Apart from bigger (16-inch) aluminum wheels and tires for the Gran Touring Package, not much was new for '93 coupes. No 1994 Rivieras went on sale, but a completely different Riv arrived for 1995.
Our road test for the 1990-1993 Buick Riviera includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1990-1993 Buick Riviera and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1990-1993 Buick Riviera is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Adding those 11 inches to the Riviera's length for 1989 did not increase interior room. All told, the quiet-running coupe was not as roomy as its exterior dimensions suggest. Sure, you do get plenty of luxury and convenience features in the plush interior; but space is adequate for only four people and their luggage. Climbing into the back also demands maneuvering around the seatbelts and squeezing through a narrow opening. Over-the-shoulder visibility is obscured by wide rear pillars, while the large, heavy doors need a lot of room to open. Acceleration from the Riv's 3.8-liter engine ranges from adequate to peppy and spirited, depending on the circumstances. The early (1990) automatic transmission didn't always respond quickly to the throttle. An improved automatic for '91 yielded passing response that was consistently prompt. The gutsy engine and improved automatic transmission combine for brisk acceleration and smooth power delivery. Fuel-economy tests of a 1990 model averaged 17 mpg: 20 mpg on suburban expressways, but less than 15 in the city. Ride and handling are competent, and the Riviera is quite agile as well, with good high-speed stability. The soft base suspension puts ride comfort over handling ability. A Gran Touring package with its wider tires and stiffer suspension improves handling and yields a more controlled feel, at some cost in ride comfort. Antilock braking produces sure, stable stops, even under slippery conditions. Instruments and controls are far more logical than in earlier Rivieras. Positioning of climate and stereo controls, high on the dash within easy reach of the driver, is another "plus." The Riviera's wide trunk has a flat floor, but isn't very deep, or shaped to hold more than a couple of large suitcases.
Value for the Money
Despite its enhanced appearance, the early '90s Riviera does nothing exceptional and doesn't stand high on our older luxury-coupe shopping list. Though far beyond earlier Rivs in acceleration, handling, and stability, this version simply doesn't offer quite as much as we'd expect for its still-lofty price.
Despite its enhanced appearance, the early '90s Riviera does nothing exceptional and doesn't stand high on our older luxury-coupe shopping list. Though far beyond earlier Rivs in acceleration, handling, and stability, this version simply doesn't offer quite as much as we'd expect for its still-lofty price.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Buick Riviera Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 6 | |
| Fuel Economy | 4 | |
| Ride Quality | 6 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 6 | |
| Quietness | 5 | |
| Controls/Materials | 5 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 3 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 4 | |
| Value within Class | 4 | |
| Total Score: | 48 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Buick Riviera includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Buick Riviera .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Automatic transmission:
4T60E transmissions may drop out of drive while cruising, shift erratically, or have no second, third, or fourth gear, because of a bad ground connection for the shift solenoids. (1991-93)
Automatic transmission:
Model 440-T4 or 700-R4 automatic transmissions may shift late or not upshift at all. The problem is a stuck throttle valve inside the transmission. (1990-93)
Coolant leak:
Coolant loss via plastic intake manifold is corrected by installing upgraded manifold and gaskets plus new PCV kit. (199
Engine knock:
Bearing knock was common on many 3.3- and 3.8-liter engines due to too much clearance on the number one main bearing. (1992-93)
Engine noise:
An intermittent rattling noise at start up is often caused by automatic-transmission pump starvation or cavitation, or a sticking pressure-regulator valve. (1991-93)
Engine stalling:
Cars with 3800 engines may stall when decelerating or be hard to start due to a faulty idle air control, which must be replaced. (1990)
Oil consumption:
Oil leaks may be due to a defect in the oil pan and gasket, and the display may report a false low oil level due to a defective oil-level sensor and/or deformed oil pan. (1990)
Oil consumption:
The oil-pressure gauge may display an intermittent high reading due to a faulty oil-pressure sensor. (1990)
Oil consumption:
Models with the 3.8-liter engine are prone to excessive oil consumption often accompanied by spark knock during normal driving conditions due to failure of the valve-stem seals. (1993)
Transaxle leak:
The right front axle seal at the automatic transaxle is prone to leak and GM issued a revised seal to correct the problem. (1992-93)
Water leak:
A leak in the left fender well and firewall area causes water to collect on the left front floor. (1990)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $465 |
| Alternator | $265 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $985 |
| Brakes | $230 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $870 |
| Exhaust System | $430 |
| Radiator | $410 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $1,300 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $225 |
Our price chart for this generation Buick Riviera details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 1993 | |||
| Riviera | $1,800-2,300 | $1,200-1,600 | $300 |
| 1992 | |||
| Riviera | $1,500-2,000 | $1,000-1,300 | $200-300 |
| 1991 | |||
| Riviera | $1,300-1,700 | $800-1,100 | $200 |
| 1990 | |||
| Riviera | $1,100-1,500 | $700-900 | $100-200 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Buick Riviera include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 2-door coupe | |
| Wheelbase, in. | 108.0 | |
| Overall Length, in. | 198.2 | |
| Overall Width, in. | 73.1 | |
| Overall Height, in. | 52.9 | |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3504 | |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 14.4 | |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 18.8 | |
| Seating Capacity | 5 | |
| Front Head Room, in. | 37.8 | |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.7 | |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 37.8 | |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 35.6 | |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
Rated at 165 horsepower, the 3.8-liter V6 of the early '90s had sequential fuel injection and drove a 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission. The engine gained five horsepower for '91.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| ohv V6 | 3.8 / 231 | 165-170 | 210-220 | 4-speed automatic: 19/28 | 4-speed automatic: 17 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: USA
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Buick Riviera include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 1990-1993 Buick Riviera directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
1990:
Brake indicator light may not operate when ignition is "on," parking brake is applied, and gear selector is in "Park" or "Neutral."
1990:
Cable may disengage from transaxle's floor-shift control so driver might be unable to determine which gear is engaged, possibly resulting in unexpected vehicle movement.
1990:
Misaligned rear seatbelt shoulder retractor assemblies could cause pendulum interference, causing belt to remain in locked position or to travel freely without locking, increasing likelihood of injury in panic stop or accident.
1990-93:
Front outer shoulder belt web can become stuck in its retractor.
1992:
Intermediate shaft to steering rack lower coupling pinch bolt may be missing on some cars.
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