- The problem
- The front left upper control arm nuts may not have been securely tightened. The nuts may loosen and come off and with continued driving the control arm front bolt may work its way out of position or become displaced.
Vehicle safety record
1981 Buick Riviera Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1981 Buick Riviera have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in June 1981 for the upper arm.
NHTSA data checked
AFar fewer problems than a typical Riviera year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1981 Buick Riviera recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1981 Buick Riviera yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Buick Riviera: every year compared
All Riviera years1981 Buick Riviera vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 Buick Riviera | 0 | 1 | A | |
| 1981 Buick Century | 1 | 3 | A | Compare |
| 1981 Buick Skylark | 1 | 2 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1981 Buick Riviera
Does the 1981 Buick Riviera have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1981 Buick Riviera: upper arm (June 1981). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1981 Buick Riviera had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1981 Buick Riviera a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 84 out of 100 (grade A: far fewer problems than a typical Buick Riviera year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Buick Riviera years have the most complaints?
1995 (130), 1996 (44), 1997 (43). See every Buick Riviera year compared.
What should I do if my 1981 Buick Riviera has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data