Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1990 Buick Reatta. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:LAMP LIGHT:BRAKE WARNING
- Summary
- BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT MAY NOT LIGHT WHEN IGNITION IS IN THE "ON" POSITION, THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, AND THE SHIFT SELECTOR IS IN THE PARK OR NEUTRAL GEAR RANGE.
- Consequence
- VEHICLES WOULD NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 101AND 105.
- Remedy
- REPLACE THE PROM IN THE BODY COMPUTER MODULE TO PREVENT THIS CONDITION FROM OCCURRING.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC:LEVER AND LINKA
- Summary
- TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FROM THE FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL WITH LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.
- Consequence
- DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL GEARPOSITION THE TRANSAXLE IS IN, WHICH COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENTAND AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
- Remedy
- INSTALL A TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP TO PREVENT CABLE DISENGAGEMENT.
INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:AIR BAG IMPACT
- Summary
- THE FORWARD SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY CONSTRUCTED WITH PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE SENSOR REVERSED.
- Consequence
- THE REVERSAL OF THE WIRES COULD CAUSE DELAY IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF THE OF INJURY TO AN UNBELTED DRIVER IN AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- REPLACE FORWARD DISCRIMINATING SENSOR AS NECESSARY.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (29)
29 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 29 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 24 | 82.8% |
| Structure | 2 | 6.9% |
| Air bags | 1 | 3.4% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3.4% |
| Visibility | 1 | 3.4% |
How 1990 compares with other Reatta years
Best and worst Reatta years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 10 | 0 |
| 1989 | 10 | 1 |
| 1990 | 29 | 3 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 19 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,550
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 468 g/mi
- EPA class
- Two Seaters
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 19 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 / 25 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1990 Reatta for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1990 Buick Reatta FAQ
How many recalls does the 1990 Buick Reatta have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 91V158000 (brake), 90V164000 (power train), 90V031000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1990 Buick Reatta problems?
Owners filed 29 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (24), Structure (2), Air bags (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1990 Buick Reatta get?
EPA rates the 3.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 16 city, 25 highway and 19 combined mpg.
How does the 1990 Reatta compare with other years?
Among the 1988–1993 Buick Reatta model years at least five years old, the 1993 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1990 the most (29). The 1990 drew 29. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.