The Buick Reatta has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1988–1990. On average a defect was admitted 5.14 years after the car was built, the slowest took 18 years. The most recalled system is Air Bags (2 campaigns). Owners also filed 41 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Buick Reatta
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Air Bags 2 Read
What's wrong. The forward sensor for the air bag may have been incorrectly constructed with part of the wiring harness to the sensor reversed
Risk. 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
Fix. Replace forward discriminating sensor as necessary
What's wrong. 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
Risk. Inflator component separation allows hot combustion gasesto escape into the passenger compartment which could result in injuries to vehicle occupants
Fix. Replace air bag modules containing potentially defective inflators
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 Read
What's wrong. 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
Risk. Vehicles would not meet the requirements of fmvss 101and 105
Fix. Replace the prom in the body computer module to prevent this condition from occurring
Power Train 1 Read
What's wrong. Transaxle shift control cable may disengage from the from the floor shift control with loss of gear indicator reference and shift selector operation
Risk. 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
Fix. Install a transaxle shift control cable retaining clip to prevent cable disengagement
Fuel System, Gasoline 1 Read
What's wrong. Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n g3727, with date codes x52911 through x60801 sequentially or x600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing manufactured from october 18, 2005, through march 21, 2006, sold for use on the vehicles listed above and on certain school buses. (to see the school bus engine sizes, click on "document search" and then "bus applications"). The connector on the fuel filter was not manufactured to honeywell's specification. As a result, the o-ring may not seat correctly on the fuel line
Risk. This condition may cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur
Fix. Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. The recall began on october 18, 2006. Owners may contact fram customer service at 1-800-890-2075 (option 1)
What's wrong. Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n g3727, with date codes x52911 through x60801 sequentially or x600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing manufactured from october 18, 2005, through march 21, 2006, sold for use on the vehicles listed above and on certain school buses. (to see the school bus engine sizes, click on "document search" and then "bus applications"). The connector on the fuel filter was not manufactured to honeywell's specification. As a result, the o-ring may not seat correctly on the fuel line
Risk. This condition may cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur
Fix. Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. The recall began on october 18, 2006. Owners may contact fram customer service at 1-800-890-2075 (option 1)
Service Brakes, Air 1 Read
What's wrong. Left front brake pipe may contact the cruise control servo bracket
Risk. Brake line could wear through causing loss of brakefluid and partial loss of braking capability; this could result in a vehiclecrash
Fix. Replace left front brake pipe assembly
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 5.14 years |
| Slowest campaign | 18 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 28.6% |
| Campaigns on record | 6 |
Which Reatta years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Air Bags | |
| 1989 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1988 | Fuel System, Gasoline |
Check your own car
A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
Go deeper
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Buick Reatta have?
6 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1988–1990. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my Reatta still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 5.14 years, and the slowest campaign came 18 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.