Buick Reatta Reliability
56 NHTSA complaints (1988–1993). Complaint rate: 982.5 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 1990 Buick Reatta. The 1991 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Buick Reatta Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 34 | 11.8% |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 3 | 33.3% |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 3 | 0.0% |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 2 | 0.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 2 | 0.0% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | — | 12 | 3 | — | View 1988View→ |
| 1989 | — | 11 | 1 | — | View 1989View→ |
| 1990AVOID | — | 30 | 3 | — | View 1990View→ |
| 1991GOOD | — | 2 | 0 | — | View 1991View→ |
See also: Buick Reattaaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
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