1993 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 1993 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
- Brakes1020.8%
- Engine612.5%
- Transmission510.4%
- Steering48.3%
- Driver assistance48.3%
- Seat belts48.3%
- Electrical48.3%
- Visibility24.2%
- Interior & seats24.2%
- Suspension24.2%
- Exterior lighting12.1%
- Fuel system12.1%
- Airbags12.1%
- Body & structure12.1%
- Powertrain (other)12.1%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE NOT STOP BRAKES LOCKS UP AND VEHICLE SHIMMIED. HAD REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH BRAKE ROTORS WARPING, HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, TIRES ALSO RELACED DUE TO CUPPING(FROM WARPED ROTORS) AND PADS REPLACED ONCE. AW
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM
THE SENSOR THAT CONTROLS TEMPERATURE MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND MAY CAUSE A MAJOR OVERHAT.*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
VEHICLE STALLED ON THE ROAD DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. YH
TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. REVERSE WENT OUT IN IT. COSTING ABOUT $600. THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE PAINT PEELS OFF THE CAR. THE FRONT AND THE HOOD ARE THE MOST AFFECTED BY THE PAINT.
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
WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH "FELT WHEEL GIVE A LITTLE." STEERING WHEEL MECHANISM BROKE. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES OCCURRED. *AK DEALER FOUND TILT HOUSING LOCK PIN WAS MISSING RETAINER AND IT WAS LOOSE, DEALER DISASSEMBLED COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND TRIM, REPAIRED TILT ASSEMBLY. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH STEERING WHEEL DROPPED INTO DRIVER'S LAP WHEN SHE MADE A LEFT. NO INJURIES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING SLOWLY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH NO WARNING. NO ONE WAS HURT. *AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURIES. *SKD
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
HEADRESTS FAIL TO STAY IN POSITION, SAFETY HAZARD; MOUNT FAILS TO LOCK POSITION OF HEADRESTS
WIRING FOR THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR IS UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT,AND IS NOT PROTECTED OR ROUTED CORRECTLY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE WIRING BECOMING CUT OR TRAPPED WITHIN THE SEAT TRACKS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TURNING THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION, VEHICLE HESTIAGES TO TURN OVER, AND CONSUMER HAS TOO TURN KEYS SEVERAL TIMES, WHICH RESULT IN KEYS GETTING HOT. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION. MR
CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 02-070-001 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK CONSUMER ADDS WITH VEHICLE IN PARK AND KEY REMOVED FROM IGNITION, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO RUN CAUSING THE ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK, HOSE TO POP OFF AND ALL SENSORS AND FAN MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *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
WINDSHIELD DISTORTION CAUSES POOR VISABILITY. DEALER STATES NORMAL CONDITION FOR SKYLARKS. TT
WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCE VISUAL DISTORTION DRIVER'S SIDE,OF YELLOW LINE ROAD, DUE TO CURVE IN WINDSHIELD, DEALER HAS REPLACED GLASS TWICE, PROBLEM PERSISTS.
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
1993 BUICK SKYLARK DEFECTED DRIVER SEAT RECLINER ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION OF THIS PROBLEM. USE ODI # 813444 AS A REFERENCE. *KB
THE VEHICLE'S DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED BACKWARDS AFTER BEING REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING ABOUT 40+MPH. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. THEN, SHOCKS EXITED FROM AUTO THROUGH HOOD. NO INJURIES.*AK
WHEN GOING OVER 55MPH THE CAR SHAKES SO BADLY THAT IT THROWS THE DRIVER ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE ABS BRAKES FAILED,RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. REVERSE WENT OUT IN IT. COSTING ABOUT $600. THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE PAINT PEELS OFF THE CAR. THE FRONT AND THE HOOD ARE THE MOST AFFECTED BY THE PAINT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, AND FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. BUT CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF ON THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET OR THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING AT ALL.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT AN IMPACT OF 40-45 MPH, AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *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
DOOR LOCKS ON DRIVER'S SIDE CAN AUTOMATICALLY LOCK FROM DRIVERS SIDE, BUTTON DOES NOT OPERATE AT ALL, WILL HAVE TO JIGGLE LOCK TO WORK. DEALER CONTACTED, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED. NO ONE WAS HURT.*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 .