BuickReatta1989Overview/buick/reatta/1989/base/

1989 Buick Reatta

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1989 Reatta.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1989 Buick Reatta is a two‑seat, mid‑engine roadster built on Buick’s proprietary platform and equipped with an automatic four‑speed transmission that relies on a 4.0‑quart oil capacity and 10W‑30 API‑grade viscosity, delivering EPA fuel‑economy figures of 17 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and a combined 20 mpg. Its modest powertrain is complemented by a relatively low total of eleven owner complaints for the year, with the most frequent issue arising in the service‑brake and hydraulic systems and two factory recalls recorded. When placed against the broader 1990‑1993 complaint timeline—where the peak year saw 29 complaints and the low point only one—the 1989 model occupies a middle ground, indicating a generally acceptable reliability record for researchers examining early‑generation Reatta durability.

Model year199119891988

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/26/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175
Engine air filter24577608
Fuel filter25171792 discontinued
Spark plug19355205
Front wiper blades22155381
Serpentine belt10230725 discontinued
Thermostat24506986 alt 12337860

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length183.5 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height51.2 in
Wheelbase98.4 in
Curb weight3375 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 60.2 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 26 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Reatta of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.9–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.90 sec — 1988 Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1988Coupe 3.8L V68.90 sec16.80 sec165 hpFWD
1988Coupe 3.8L V69.00 sec17.10 sec165 hpFWD
1988Coupe 3.8L V69.10 sec16.70 sec165 hpFWD
1990Convertible 3.8L V69.20 sec17.00 sec165 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1989 Buick Reatta's federal record highlights a concentration of complaints in the service brakes, hydraulic system (7 reports), with minor mentions of exterior lighting, visibility, and tires. Across the generation, the 1990 model year stands out with a sharp spike of 29 complaints and 4 recalls, followed by a dramatic decline to just 2 complaints and no recalls for 1991, and a single complaint by 1993. This trend suggests that the 1990 model year was the most problematic, and while the 1989 model year's total complaint volume isn't specified, its brake-related issues align with the early generation's challenges. The data does not indicate any fire complaints for the 1989 model, and only one crash complaint is recorded. Given the steep improvement in later years, a 1989 Reatta may be a reasonable purchase if the hydraulic brake system is carefully inspected, but a 1991 or later example would likely present fewer reported concerns.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
11
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 11 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic7
Exterior Lighting2
Visibility1
Tires1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

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… Remedy: 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…

89V056000Service Brakes, Air:AntilockReported 05/04/1989

LEFT FRONT BRAKE PIPE MAY CONTACT THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BRACKET. Remedy: REPLACE LEFT FRONT BRAKE PIPE ASSEMBLY.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Reatta. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1989 Reatta take?

4.0 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1989 Reatta have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Reatta get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 26 highway / 20 combined mpg.