BuickReatta1991Overview/buick/reatta/1991/base/

1991 Buick Reatta

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Reatta.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1991 Buick Reatta is equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring 4.0 quarts of 10W-30 API oil, achieving an EPA rating of 16/25/19 mpg. Reliability for this model year is characterized by zero recalls and just two owner complaints, both of which pertained to the service brakes. This reflects a substantial improvement over the 1990 model year, which saw a high of 29 complaints, and aligns with a trajectory that reached a model-low of one complaint by 1993.

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 economy16/25/19 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. 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 filter25121129
Spark plug19355205
Front wiper blades22155381
Thermostat24506986 alt 24506985

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 weight3386 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 25 / 19 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
1990Convertible 3.8L V69.20 sec17.00 sec165 hpFWD
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

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 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · PCV System (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 1991 Buick Reatta sits at a markedly improved point in the federal record after a problematic 1990 launch year. In 1990, the Reatta generated 29 complaints and 4 recalls with no investigations or TSBs, while 1991 saw complaints plunge to 2, recalls drop to 0, and four technical service bulletins appear. The 1993 model continues the low-complaint pattern with just 1 complaint, 0 recalls, and 1 TSB, suggesting the line stabilized after its first year. The 1991 complaints were split evenly between Service Brakes and Structure with one each, and there were no crash or fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. This places 1991 in the recovery and maturation arc of the generation, not the troubled debut year. For a used-car buyer, 1991 is the strongest year in the provided record to consider.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
4
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Service Brakes1
Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
577106A1997-02-01Power TrainCOLD START RATTLE NOISE (DIAGNOSIS/SERVICE PROCEDURE). *TW
577106A1996-12-01Power TrainCOLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW
5771061995-02-01Power TrainCOLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW

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 1991 Reatta take?

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

Does the 1991 Reatta have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Reatta get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 25 highway / 19 combined mpg.