Total Complaints
12 filings
BUICK REATTA · model year
1988 BUICK REATTA
12 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988BUICKREATTA carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 REATTA is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 7 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (1) and engine and engine cooling:engine (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1988 REATTA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
12
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 7 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050103SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE VEHICLES ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE BACKING UP. *BF *SC *JB
20040717SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FAILURE OF ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY 1988 REATTA HARDTOP COUPE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND ABS SYSTEM. *AK
Mileage: 120,000
20030908SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS COMPONENTS ARE PRONE TO FAILURE. I'VE RECENTLY REPLACED MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE ABS SYSTEM (EBCM COMPUTER, REAR BRAKE CALIPERS, RIGHT REAR WHEEL HUB AND WHEEL SENSOR). THE CONDITION CAUSED WAS ABS STOPS AT EVERY STOP AND ALSO WARPED THE REAR ROTORS. THIS BRAKE SYSTEM, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WAS ONLY USED A SHORT TIME, NOW I KNOW WHY!*AK
Mileage: 114,000
20001130CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
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
20001130CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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
20001127CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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 KEEP ME FROM HITTING THE TRUCK THAT HAD PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. 1988 - 1990 REATTAS'S NEED TO BE RECALLED. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS TYPE OF SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE WILL LEAD TO A FATALITY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE!*AK
20000905SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY DAUGHTER HAS A 1988 REATTA. SHE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES TO TURN INTO WENDY'S WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE CAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL COULD ONLY BE DEPRESSED ABOUT 1". IT FELT AS IF YOU WERE STANDING ON A BRICK. THE CAR DID NOT OFFER TO STOP. SHE WAS COMING UP ON THE BACK END OF A TRUCK - SHE APPLIED THE E-BRAKE - NOTHING. SHE FINALLY GOT THE CAR STOPPED BY THROWING IT UP INTO PARK. WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR TO TAKE IT TO THE BUICK SHOP THE YELLOW ABS LIGHT WAS ON AND THE RED BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. ALSO THE DIAGNOSTIC SCREEN SHOWED THE OUTLINE OF THE CAR AND THE 4 BRAKE LOCATIONS INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR (VERY SLOWLY) TO THE SERVICE DEPT BUT ABOUT HALF WAY THERE BOTH BRAKE INDICATORS ON THE DASH BOARD WENT OUT AND THE BRAKES BEGAN TO WORK NORMALLY. THE BUICK PLACE HAS HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT HAPPENED? I AM TERRIFIED TO LET MY DAUGHTER DRIVE IT AGAIN WITHOUT FINDING SOME EXPLAINATIO
20000725SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
OWNER'S WIFE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE (PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE) WITH NO WARNING. INCIDENT OCCURRED ON PA TURNPIKE AT APPROX. 60 MPH. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST DOWN TO STOP ON SHOULDER. SERVICE STATION DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS FAILED MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY (IN SOME WAY RELATED TO ABS SYSTEM). *AK
20000725SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
OWNER'S WIFE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE (PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE) WITH NO WARNING. INCIDENT OCCURRED ON PA TURNPIKE AT APPROX. 60 MPH. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST DOWN TO STOP ON SHOULDER. SERVICE STATION DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS FAILED MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY (IN SOME WAY RELATED TO ABS SYSTEM). *AK
20000305SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE GERMAN TEVES ABS SYSTEM INSTALLED ON REATTAS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FAILURES. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PAY $1000 TO FIX IT AND FIX IT RIGHT, BUT I HAVE SEEN OTHERS SPEND UPWARDS OF $2000 TO NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I LOVE THIS COLLECTABLE CAR, BUT I FEAR DRIVING IT BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL BRAKE FAILURE - AND I CERTAINLY WOULD NEVER SELL IT WITH THE KNOWN DEFECT. THERE ARE NOT (AND NEVER WERE) MANY OF THESE ON THE ROAD, BUT THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE WHO DO DRIVE THEM IS SEVERELY AT RISK. PLEASE HELP!! *AK
19990615ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CRADLE RUSTED. NLM
19950525SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BUCKLES INOPERATIVE, MALE WON'T GO INTO FEMALE PORTION. TT
Compare 1988BUICKREATTA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 BUICK REATTA have?▼
The 1988 BUICK REATTA has 12 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 BUICK REATTA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 BUICK REATTA is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1988 BUICK REATTA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.