1990 Buick Regal: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1990 Buick Regal: 8 recalls, 77 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.
Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #90V054000 · 1990 · 673,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Front shoulder belt guide loop attachment fastener May pull through door mounted anchor plate.
Why it matters: Seat belt May not sustain loads required by fmvss 210, and in a vehicle accident, the seat belt May not properly restrain a passenger, resulting in increased risk of greater injury to an occupant.
The fix: Replace front shoulder belt guide loop attachment nuts and install new guide cover.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #90V112000 · 1990 · 51,834 vehicles
What's wrong: Owners manuals did not fully explain how front shoulder belt comfort feature works.
Why it matters: Cars would not comply with fmvss 208, and incorrect use of safety restraints could lead to personal injury to occupants if an accidentshould occur.
The fix: Insert sticker that provides missing information in owners manuals.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #90V185000 · 1990 · 476,422 vehicles
What's wrong: Brake stoplamps May not illuminate or, in some cases, stoplamps will not stay illuminated all the time when brakes are applied due to a faulty stoplamp switch. Also in vehicles equipped with cruise control, a faulty stoplamp switch can result in resumption of the cruise control function upon release of the brake pedal.
Why it matters: A trailing vehicle May not recognize a braking actionin time to respond appropriately. Also, cruise control will reengage uponrelease of the brake pedal and resume the set speed. In either case, it couldresult in a crash without prior warning.
The fix: Install an improved design stoplamp switch.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #91V005000 · 1991 · 412,792 vehicles
What's wrong: Front shoulder safety belt webbing May separate at front belt upper guide loops on either side of the front seat.
Why it matters: Webbing separation could occur without prior warning andincrease the risk of injury to belted front outboard occupants in a high energycrash.
The fix: Install a controlled rotation bracket on driver and passenger side front seat belt guide loops.
Wheels Vehicle recall #94V041000 · 1995 · 198,163 vehicles
What's wrong: Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.
Why it matters: If wheel separation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, loss of steering and brake control of the vehicle occurs, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the manufacturing codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.
Wheels Vehicle recall #95V115000 · 1995 · 22,361 vehicles
What's wrong: Cracks develop in the wheel mounting surface. If these cracks become severe enough, the wheel will completely separate from the vehicle.
Why it matters: If wheel separation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, loss of steering and brake control of the vehicle occurs, and a vehicle crash could result without prior warning.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the manufacturing date codes stamped on each wheel of the vehicle and if a wheel falls within the specified date code range, the dealer will replace that wheel assembly.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #97V058000 · 1997 · 676,535 vehicles
What's wrong: The rear cradle bolts pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainer. If both bolts pull through, the rear cradle would not longer be supported at these mounting locations and the steering intermediate shaft can separate from the steering gear.
Why it matters: If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a vehicle crash could result.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rear cradle bolts and retainers.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #00V189000 · 2000 · 713,435 vehicles
What's wrong: A condition where one or both front engine cradle bolts can pull through the retainers due to corrosion of the retainers.
Why it matters: If both bolts pull through, the front of the cradle would no longer be supported at the mounting locations and the steering intermediate shaft could separate from the steering gear.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front and rear frame/cradle bolts and retainers.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Fuel system Equipment recall #06E043000 · 2006 · 88,303 vehicles
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…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. The recall began on October 18, 2006.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 11 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (hydraulic) (42): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (16), brake failure / soft pedal (11), noise or vibration (2).
- Suspension (6): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Engine & cooling (6): the most common themes are fire / smoke (2).
- Body & structure (6): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (2).
The 1990 Buick Regal has 77 owner complaints, ranking #17 of 29 Regal model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 103). Complaints peaked in 1995 (25 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 125,538 miles. Neighboring years: 1991 (200 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 27 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 26 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1990 Buick Regal.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 1990 Buick Regal have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 1990 Buick Regal, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1990 Buick Regal problems?
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (hydraulic) (42), suspension (6), engine & cooling (6).
What gas mileage does the 1990 Buick Regal get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (3.1 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 1990 Buick Regal repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.