Wrench.Pro

1990 Buick Regal Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 1990 Buick Regal has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Cradle bolt failure and loss of steering.” Buick uses the GM Oil Life System: an algorithm tracks engine revolutions and temperature, then lights the change-oil message — typically every 7,500 miles in mixed driving, capped at 12 months, using dexos-approved oil. Current Encore GX and Envista run 1.2/1.3L turbo three-cylinders where oil quality matters more than volume drivers expect (the sump is small and turbo-heated). Front-drive models pair to a CVT with a published fluid interval — it is not a lifetime part.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1990 Buick Regal.

Reported to NHTSA

Cradle bolt failure and loss of steering

STRUCTURE

8 NHTSA complaints · 1999-06 → 2004-09

“THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS BROKE AND THE CRADLE SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING LINKAGE COUPLERS TO SEPARATE AND FALL OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF CORROSIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10081463
“CONSUMERS SON WAS IN OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY ALL STEERING WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE FRAME HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CHASSIS AND HAD DROPPED, DISENGAGING THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE CAUSE WAS THE CRADLE BOLTS HAD PULLED THROUGH THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #568433
“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20MPH FRAME ON VEHICLE BROKE. IT HAPPENED WHERE THE CRADLE BOLTS ARE LOCATED. THE ENGINE DROPPED & BROKE THE STEERING SHAFT. NO STEERING CONTROL. THE CRACKS HAD OCCURRED IN THE FRAME. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #841413

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Corroded or seized rear disc brake calipers

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

9 NHTSA complaints · 1995-02 → 2001-08

“ABS BRAKE FAILURE, CORROSION OF DISC CALIPERS ON THE REAR, CAUSING BRAKE LOCKUP AND EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKES, REPLACEMENT OF DISC PADS AND ROTORS. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #802299
“REAR CALIPER SLEEVES AND RETAINERS CORRODED/JAMMED; CAUSE BRAKES TO NOT WORK PROPERLY; CALIPER SLEEVES/RETAINERS REPLACED. TT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #971730
“CORRODED REAR DISC BRAKES, CALIPERS ARE CORRODED. TT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #972689

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake pedal going to the floor

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

6 NHTSA complaints · 1995-06 → 2002-07

“WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT 20 MPH BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ,AND VEHICLE CONTINUE ON BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8013481
“WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR . OWNER HAS TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. BRAKES ARE COMPLETELY GONE AGAIN. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #843419
“EA94-041 ACTIVE, BRAKE FAILURE, PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLIED, IN FOR REPAIR REPLACEMENT SLID KIT AND DISC PADS AND ROTORS, AND MASTER CYL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #975849

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Wheel cracking and wheels separating from vehicle

WHEELS

3 NHTSA complaints · 1996-12 → 2004-02

“RIGHT FRONT WHEEL VIBRATED. DRIVER PULLED OVER, PULLED OFF LUGS, AND NOTICED THE RIM WAS CRACKED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. RECALL 94V041000 WAS ISSUED ON THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10057704
“LEFT REAR WHEEL FELL OFF OF VEHICLE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE COLLISION. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #547434
“WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED STEEL WHEEL HUB FAILURE, WHEN 2 OUT OF 4 WHEELS HAVE FALLEN OFF DUE TO WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE CRACKS DEVELOPED IN METAL, LOSS CONTROL WENT INTO DITCH WHEN WHEEL FOLDED UNDER CAR. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #806357

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Seat belt retractor and lap belt failures

SEAT BELTS

3 NHTSA complaints · 1995-08 → 1998-09

“PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT LAB BELT FAILED DURING AN ACCIDENT, DAUGHTER WAS THROWN OUT OF VEHICLE AND KILLED, THREE OTHER PASSENGER'S WERE INJURED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #540783
“SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. *SD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #488077
“THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT NO LONGER RETRACTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #969999

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change when the Oil Life System calls it — typically around 7,500 miles, never beyond 12 months. dexos1 0W-20 on modern engines. Small-displacement turbos (Encore GX, Envista): don't stretch the indicator.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles with the oil change — GM pairs the two in its schedule.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and lines at every service. Older Centurys: check rear drum adjustment and parking-brake cables, which seize with age.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

CVT Fluid (Encore GX / Envista FWD)

Every 45,000 mi

FWD Encore GX and Envista use a CVT: GM schedules fluid replacement around 45,000 miles under severe service — which includes most city commuting. AWD Encore GX uses a 9-speed automatic instead (see transmission fluid).

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Conventional automatics (Century's 4T65-E, Regal's Aisin, AWD Encore GX's 9-speed): GM lists 45,000 miles severe / longer normal. Older Buicks respond well to a simple drain-and-fill — avoid pressure flushes on high-mile units.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Small-turbo three-cylinders (Encore GX, Envista): roughly every 60,000 miles — check the manual. Older 3.1/3.8 V6s: iridium plugs last to 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM schedules replacement around 45,000 miles; inspect at every oil change in dusty regions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles; replace on cracking or glazing rather than mileage alone.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace roughly every 22,500 miles per GM's schedule — behind the glovebox on modern Buicks.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (Dex-Cool)

Every 150,000 mi

Dex-Cool is rated 5 years / 150,000 miles. On older 3.1/3.8 V6s, intake-gasket seepage was the classic failure — check coolant level and condition at every oil change on a Century.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Stop-start-equipped Encore GX/Envista use AGM batteries — replace like-for-like, not with a cheaper flooded battery.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

121 crashes 1990–2024

How the 121 occupant deaths break down

90

driver deaths

31

passenger deaths

121

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1990 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

7

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 1990 Buick Regal reflects Buick's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →