1991 Buick Skylark Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1991 Buick Skylark, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1125.0%
- Driver assistance715.9%
- Electrical715.9%
- Interior & seats511.4%
- Brakes36.8%
- Steering36.8%
- Visibility24.5%
- Seat belts24.5%
- Body & structure24.5%
- Transmission12.3%
- Tires & wheels12.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
PAINT PEALING OFF ROOF, LITTLE BY LITTLE
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FAN MOTOR, COOLING SYSTEM, BOTH FRONT DOOR WINDOW MOTORS, AND THE BATTERY TWICE. THIS PLUS 6 ALTERNATORS WITHIN 5 1/2 YEARS. THE COOLING SYSTEM, FAN MOTOR, AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS OCCURED AT VARYING SPEEDS-IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDE THAT THE IDLE RECALIBRATED ITSELF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING IN TRAFFIC.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON IT WILL ACCELERATE AND MOVE FORWARD WHETHER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED OR NOT.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *SLC
WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT & SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, TAPPED ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE ACCELERATED & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE & IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SKYLARK WAS DECLARED TOTALED. POSSIBLY DUE TO COMPUTER FAILURE/DEFECT. *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING FOR AN EXTEND PERIOD OF TIME AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. OCCURRED 5 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FAN MOTOR, COOLING SYSTEM, BOTH FRONT DOOR WINDOW MOTORS, AND THE BATTERY TWICE. THIS PLUS 6 ALTERNATORS WITHIN 5 1/2 YEARS. THE COOLING SYSTEM, FAN MOTOR, AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS OCCURED AT VARYING SPEEDS-IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDE THAT THE IDLE RECALIBRATED ITSELF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING IN TRAFFIC.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS IN A LEFT REAR END COLLISION. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT RECLINED BACKWARD UPON IMPACT. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER HAVING NECK AND EYE INJURIES. THIS COULD OF CAUSED INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER ALSO, BUT THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH
ON 2/28/99 I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. MY "THE DRIVERS SEAT" GAVE WAY SLAMMING ME DOWN FLAT. I WAS UNCONSCEOUS FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND PARILIZED FOR ABOUT 1/2 HOUR. I HAVE SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH MY HEAD , NECK,AND UPPER BACK AREAS. I FEEL THAT WITHOUT A DOUBT MY INJURIES WERE MUCH WORSE BECAUSE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT GIVING WAY AND SLAMMING ME DOWN FLAT. MY WIFE WHO WAS ALSO IN THE CAR, AND RECIEVED CONTUSIONS AND SOME WHIPLASH PROBLEMS. I HAVE SINCE HEARD THAT BUICK AND TWO OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS EXPERIMENTED WITH " BREAKAWAY SEATS" IN 1991. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU KNEW IF THIS WERE TRUE OR NOT OR IF YOU COULD FIND OUT. I THINK IT IS TERRIBLE IF PEOPLE WERE USED AS EXPERIMENTS WITH OUT BEING PROPERLY INFORMED ABOUT IT. *AKY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
COMING UPON A STOP SIGN/LIGHT, VEHICLE WOULD START MAKING CLANKING NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE STOPS SUDDENLY. HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *AK
THE BRAKE LIGHT GOES OUT UNEXPECTANTLY AND THERE IS NO FUSE SHORTAGE.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
ECM FUSE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING; LOST ALL VEHICLE POWER/CONTROL; HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED; NO WARNING; COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN PUTTING DOWN THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW, THE WINDOW AT TIMES WILL NOT COME BACK UP. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND THEY PUT ON A 4 WAY SWITCH THATS USED TO LET DOWN ALL 4 WINDOWS. THAT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED ITS THE MOTOR IN THE DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FAN MOTOR, COOLING SYSTEM, BOTH FRONT DOOR WINDOW MOTORS, AND THE BATTERY TWICE. THIS PLUS 6 ALTERNATORS WITHIN 5 1/2 YEARS. THE COOLING SYSTEM, FAN MOTOR, AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS OCCURED AT VARYING SPEEDS-IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDE THAT THE IDLE RECALIBRATED ITSELF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING IN TRAFFIC.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT DURING A REAREND COLLISION, ALSO CRUISE CONTROL LINKAGE DISCONNECTED DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD NOT RELEASE, DRIVER HAD TO CLIMB TO OTHER SIDE TO OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DUE TO POOR QUALITY CONTROL THE PAINT HAS CONTINUED TO PEEL OFF THE BODY. *AK
HOOD HYDRAULIC LIFTERS DO NOT WORK DURING COLD TEMPERATURES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTERLOCK SYSTEM IN TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD CAME OFF AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER LOSSED CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .