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1988 Buick ReattaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 10 owner complaints about the 1988 Buick Reatta, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints102 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage120kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 30, 2004. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1988 Buick Reatta has problems

10 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic72
Engine and engine cooling10
Seat belts10
Service brakes, air10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

1988 Buick Reatta recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

1988 vs. every other Reatta year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Reatta median. How we score

'88'89'90'91'93
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What Reatta owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

FAILURE OF ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY 1988 REATTA HARDTOP COUPE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND ABS SYSTEM. *AK
Complaint 10081246 · Jul 17, 2004 · 120,000 miles
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, HOWEVER BRAKES FAILED AND CONSUMER HIT TRUCK IN FRONT OF HIM, VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AFTER ACCIDENT AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MAIN BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT WORK, THE ABS PUMP RAN 30 SECONDS AND THEN SHUT OFF, BRAKE PEDAL REMAIN FROZEN AT ALL TIMES. *SLC
Complaint 875742 · Nov 30, 2000
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, WHILE TRAVELING ON A 4 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY, A TRUCK TOWING A DITCH WITCH ON A TRAILER PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, AND WHEN I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WAS HARD AS A ROCK, NO STOPPPING POWER AT ALL, I FRANTICALLY TRIED TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE TO…
Complaint 736580 · Nov 19, 2000

Own a 1988 Reatta?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.