1988 Buick REATTA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
117,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 9 complaints (77.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 88.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Abs Warning Light | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1; Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Abs Warning Light: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
1995: 1; 2000: 5; 2003: 1; 2004: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10037413 · 2003-09-08 (September 8, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081246 · 2004-07-17 (July 17, 2004)
FAILURE OF ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY 1988 REATTA HARDTOP COUPE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND ABS SYSTEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103946 · 2004-11-30 (November 30, 2004)
THE VEHICLES ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE BACKING UP. *BF *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10103946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719711 · 2000-03-05 (March 5, 2000)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 725194 · 2000-07-10 (July 10, 2000)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 725194 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728629 · 2000-08-21 (August 21, 2000)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 736580 · 2000-11-19 (November 19, 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 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 875742 · 2000-11-30 (November 30, 2000)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 875742 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.