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1988 Buick Reatta

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 Reatta.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1988 Buick Reatta paired a 4-speed automatic transmission with an engine whose 4.0-quart oil capacity and 10W-30 API viscosity specification reflected Buick's mainstream powertrain engineering, returning EPA fuel economy of 17 city, 26 highway, and 20 combined mpg. The model year carries 10 owner complaints — with the service brakes, hydraulic system as the top complaint area — alongside a single recall, placing it well below the 29 complaints recorded for 1990 and closer to the single-digit territory the 1993 model would ultimately achieve. For researchers, that means the 1988 represents a relatively quiet chapter in the Reatta's reliability history, where brake hydraulics drew the most owner attention but overall complaint volume remained modest by the model's own standards.

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 Note the factory fuel filter and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 plug19354416
Front wiper blades22155381
Serpentine belt10230725 discontinued
Thermostat24506986 alt 12337860

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

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.

8.9–9.1 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
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1050017 OR EQUIVALENT

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 federal record for the Buick Reatta generation reveals a sharp downward trend in reported issues, peaking in 1990 with 29 complaints and 4 recalls before dropping significantly to just 2 complaints and zero recalls by 1991. As the 1988 target year falls before this 1990 peak, it carries a notable concentration of complaints centered on hydraulic brakes (7 reports), alongside 2 crash complaints and zero fire complaints. Placing before the generation's highest volume of federal scrutiny implies the 1988 model likely shares the systemic vulnerabilities that culminated in the 1990 spike, though the data does not specify the exact root cause of these brake failures. Because this inaugural model year lacks the improved reliability profile seen in the later 1991 and 1993 data, it is a less favorable year to purchase, and any prospective buy should be contingent on a rigorous inspection of the hydraulic braking system.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
0
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
10
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’90’91’93

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 10 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic7
Service Brakes, Air1
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 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…

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.

Vehicles taking 4.0 qtEngine oil filter 12731175Engine air filter 24577608Fuel filter 25171792Spark plug 19354416

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1988 Reatta take?

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

Does the 1988 Reatta have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 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.