The 1985 Buick Riviera has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,755,897 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
Consequence
SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4
4fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
3
3fires
Total complaints7
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Vehicle suffered disabling fire damage in the engine compartment. Cause of fire appeared to be fuel system related, carburator was still wet with fuel residue. ( ohio traffic accident report) *jg”
“Vehicle suffered disabling fire damage in the engine compartment. Cause of fire appeared to be fuel system related, carburator was still wet with fuel residue. ( ohio traffic accident report) *jg”
“Vehicle suffered disabling fire damage in the engine compartment. Cause of fire appeared to be fuel system related, carburator was still wet with fuel residue. ( ohio traffic accident report) *jg”
“Vehicle suffered disabling fire damage in the engine compartment. Cause of fire appeared to be fuel system related, carburator was still wet with fuel residue. ( ohio traffic accident report) *jg”
“Vehicle suffered disabling fire damage in the engine compartment. Cause of fire appeared to be fuel system related, carburator was still wet with fuel residue. ( ohio traffic accident report) *jg”
“Vehicle suffered disabling fire damage in the engine compartment. Cause of fire appeared to be fuel system related, carburator was still wet with fuel residue. ( ohio traffic accident report) *jg”
“While driving, fire developed and totally destroyed vehicle, possibly engine related. Ohio traffic crash report. *slc”
Defect investigations
InvestigationC89001 Opened 1989-03-06 · closed 1990-01-16
THROTTLE NON-RETURN
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationEA88036 Opened 1988-07-22 · closed 1991-08-30
REAR DISC BRAKES
SUMMARY: CORROSION IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PREVENTS AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT FOR PAD WEAR. THIS MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF REAR SERVICE BRAKE AND PARKING BRAKE. GM HAS ADDED CORROSION PROTECTION AND CHANGED SPRING RATE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. SAME BASIC DESIGN USED ON ALL MODELS IDENTIFIED.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1985 Buick Riviera as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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