Buick Riviera Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Buick Riviera car check
Is the Buick Riviera reliable? We analysed 751 real MOT tests across 115 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Buick Riviera? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Buick Riviera is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Buick Riviera.
Buick Riviera Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Buick Riviera. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Buick Riviera MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Buick Riviera to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Buick Riviera Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Buick Riviera fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Buick Riviera Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Buick Riviera owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Buick Riviera MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Buick Riviera year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 55 | 74.5% | 79,056 | 97,326 | 138,548 |
| 1990 | 57 | 80.7% | 86,204 | 89,836 | 96,799 |
| 1988 | 59 | 81.4% | 20,976 | 25,307 | 45,084 |
How Long Does a Buick Riviera Last?
Based on 115 Buick Riviera vehicles on UK roads.
Buick Riviera Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Buick Riviera MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Buick Riviera
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
81.4% MOT pass rate from 59 tests
74.5% MOT pass rate from 55 tests
The best year to buy a used Buick Riviera is 1988, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.4% across 59 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Buick Riviera Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buick Riviera THIS CAR | 81.8% | 751 | 72,377 mi | 38 yrs |
| Vauxhall Grandland Design Turbo | 87.4% | 372 | 25,128 mi | — yrs |
| Harley-davidson Flfbs Fatboy 114 1868 19 | 91.2% | 1,136 | 4,677 mi | — yrs |
| Keeway Rkf 125 E4 | 74.9% | 979 | 6,270 mi | — yrs |
| Mitsubishi Super Space Wagon | 57.6% | 859 | 115,864 mi | 38 yrs |
Compared to the Vauxhall Grandland Design Turbo (87.4% pass rate) and the Harley-davidson Flfbs Fatboy 114 1868 19 (91.2% pass rate), the Buick Riviera trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Buick Riviera you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Buick RivieraShould you buy a used Buick Riviera?
The Buick Riviera has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.8% across 751 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Buick Riviera are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (19 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (18), and exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (13). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Buick Riviera owner drives around 553 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Buick Riviera models stay on UK roads for around 38 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.