Model year guide

1990 Buick reatta

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1990 Buick reatta is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 3 on record.

1990 Buick reatta — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1990 Buick reatta at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints29
Combined19 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1990 Buick reatta recalls 4

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:brake Fluid Low Warning: Lamp NHTSA Campaign #91V158000 · 13/09/1991

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.

Fix: REPLACE THE PROM IN THE BODY COMPUTER MODULE TO PREVENT THIS CONDITION FROM OCCURRING.

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #90E043004 · 30/10/1990

THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.

Fix: REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift NHTSA Campaign #90V164000 · 06/09/1990

TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FROM THE FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL WITH LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.

Fix: INSTALL A TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP TO PREVENT CABLE DISENGAGEMENT.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive NHTSA Campaign #90V031000 · 12/02/1990

THE FORWARD SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY CONSTRUCTED WITH PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE SENSOR REVERSED.

Fix: REPLACE FORWARD DISCRIMINATING SENSOR AS NECESSARY.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 7 Oct 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1990 Buick reatta common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Visibility
Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

1990 Buick reatta MPG & running costs

Combined19 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,550
EPA size classTwo Seaters
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$5,750 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1990 Buick reatta costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,750
Fuel only$17,750
Per mile$0.24

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1990 Buick reatta trims & engines on record

Engines
3.8L 6-cyl

1990 Buick reatta vehicles on record

1990 Buick reatta 1990 Buick reatta1G4EC33C3L8904465 1990 Buick reatta 1990 Buick reatta1G4EC13C3LB903191 1990 Buick reatta 1990 Buick reatta1G4EC33C2LB906014

Other Buick reatta model years

1991 1989

1990 Buick reatta — frequently asked questions

Does the 1990 Buick reatta have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1990 Buick reatta. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1990 Buick reatta?

Across all 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are service brakes, hydraulic, structure.

What gas mileage does the 1990 Buick reatta get?

The 1990 Buick reatta has a U.S. EPA estimate of 19 mpg combined (16 city / 25 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.