BuickRiviera1991Overview/buick/riviera/1991/base/

1991 Buick Riviera

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Riviera.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1991 Buick Riviera utilizes an Automatic 4-spd transmission and achieves EPA fuel economy ratings of 16/24/19 mpg, with an engine oil requirement of 4.0 qt in 10W-30 API viscosity. In the context of the 1990-1999 model complaint history, this year stands out with only 12 total owner complaints, a figure far removed from the generation's peak of 148 issues in 1995. Although one recall was issued and Service Brakes, Hydraulic emerged as the top complaint area, the vehicle occupies a favorable position in the decade's reliability timeline by staying close to the lowest recorded complaint count of 6 in 1999.

Model year199919981997199619951993199219911989

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731175. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175
Engine air filter24577608
Fuel filter25121129
Spark plug19355205
Front wiper blades22155381
Thermostat24505924 alt 24506985

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length198.4 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height53.5 in
Wheelbase107.9 in
Curb weight3419 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Riviera of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.1–14.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.10 sec — 1996 Supercharged Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1989Coupe 3.8L V69.90 sec17.40 sec165 hpFWD
1995Supercharged Coupe 3.8L Supercharger V67.20 sec15.60 sec225 hpFWD
1986T-Type Coupe 3.8L V811.30 sec18.23 sec165 hpFWD
1996Supercharged Coupe 3.8L Supercharger V67.10 sec15.40 sec225 hpFWD
1983Convertible 4.1L V614.80 sec19.70 sec125 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · PCV System (inspect)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1991 Buick Riviera shows a notable decline in federal complaints (12) compared to its 1990 predecessor (17) and a slight dip below the 1992 model year (15), positioning it as a relatively stable midpoint in the early generation. Recalls dropped sharply from five in 1990 to just one in 1991, with no investigations opened, suggesting fewer systemic issues than the prior year. However, the introduction of four technical service bulletins (TSBs) in 1991—up from zero in 1990—hints at emerging, though likely addressable, concerns, particularly in hydraulic brakes and vehicle speed control. The absence of fire-related complaints and only three crash-related reports further distinguish this year as less problematic than later models, which saw dramatic spikes in complaints (e.g., 148 in 1995). While the data doesn’t specify root causes, the 1991 Riviera’s balance of low recalls, moderate complaints, and proactive TSBs implies better-than-average reliability for its generation. **Takeaway: This is one of the stronger years to buy in the early 1990s Riviera lineup.**

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
4
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
12
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 12 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Vehicle Speed Control2
Service Brakes, Air,Seat Belts1
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Power Train1
Seat Belts1
Air Bags1
Air Bags,Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V110000Seat Belts:Front:WebbingReported 31/05/1995

THE FRONT OUTER SHOULDER BELT WEB SEW STOP CAN BECOME STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. THE BELT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO PULL OUT OF THE RETRACTOR AND SOME OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FASTEN THE BELT. Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A WEBBING STOP BUTTON IF THE CUSTOMER REQUESTS REPAIR.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
577106A1997-02-01Power TrainCOLD START RATTLE NOISE (DIAGNOSIS/SERVICE PROCEDURE). *TW
577106A1996-12-01Power TrainCOLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW
5771061995-02-01Power TrainCOLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Riviera. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1991 Riviera take?

4.0 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Riviera have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Riviera get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.