1994 Buick Skylark Owner Complaints

ON 11/14/2012 I BOUGHT AN EXCIDE CAR BATTERY FROM NATIONAL AUTO IN BANGOR, PA. BATTERY RAN FOR ABOUT 2 MOS. THEN STARTED TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS. AFTER SITTING FOR 2 DAYS IT WOULD NOT START. HAD CAR BATTERY JUMPED 3 TIMES. BETWEEN 01/ 2013 AND 02/ 10/2013. BATTERY COMPLETELY DEAD ON 02/11/2013. WAS PUT ON SLOW CHARGE AND RAN FOR ANOTHER 2 DAYS AND DIED AGAIN. TOOK BATTERY BACK TO NATIONAL AUTO ON 02/17/2013. BEFORE TAKING IT THERE I HAD ALTERNATOR, STARTER AND WIRES CHECKED .. EVERYTHING OK.. RETURNED TO STORE. SERVICE PERSON CHECKED IT AND SAID BATTERY WAS CHARGED...TOLD HIM IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE IT WAS DEAD IN CAR AND WE JUST TOOK IT OUT. HE GAVE ME ANOTHER BATTERY. WORKED FINE UNTIL PALM SUNDAY...DEAD BATTERY...AAA CAME OUT AND JUMPED CAR...WORKED UNTIL 04/04/2013. CALLED CAR STOP ABOUT PROBLEM....GUY SENT OUT.. HE CHECKED BATTERY OUTPUT ONLY 10...NEED 12 VOLTS TO START CAR. ALSO HAD STARTER AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED AGAIN...NO PROBLEMS THERE. TOOK CAR TO SHOP NEXT DAY...NEW BATTERY INSTALLED. CALLED NATIONAL AUTO ABOUT PROBLEM....TOLD TO BRING IT BACK... I DID SO THIS MORNING 04/07/2013 AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE IT IS HOLDING A CHARGE HE CAN'T GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK...I TOLD HIM " WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO WITH 2 BATTERIES" TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK WHEN STORE MANAGER IS THERE ON TUES AM OR WED. I AM A 68 YR OLD SENIOR WOMAN...I FEEL LIKE I AM BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACK...I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTRA HUNDRED DOLLARS TO SPEND JUST TO LET BATTERY SIT IN CELLAR. I WANT MY MONEY BACK. I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS BRAND BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10507409

Incident

Apr 7, 2013

TILT STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY FAILED AND STEERING WHEEL BECAME DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE PINS CAME OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE ASSEMBLY SHOWS EXTREME WEAR WHERE THE PINS SHOULD INSERT. PINS CANNOT BE REINSTALLED. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF STEERING COLUMN DEFECTS ONLINE INCLUDING HIGHWAY SPEED LOSS OF CONTROL CRASHES. WHY HAS A RECALL NOT BEEN ISSUED. *KB

NHTSA ID

10441798

Incident

Dec 19, 2011

Mileage

54,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ENGINE HESITATED, THEN STALLED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER ASSIST STEERING, AND POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AFTER BEING RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ERVICE. PREVIOUSLY, THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER WAS REPLACED BY A SERVICE DEALER IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166235

Incident

Aug 15, 2006

Mileage

175,190 mi

I OWN A 1994 BUICK SKYLARK. IT DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK. I HAD THE HEATER CORE REPLACED ON ADVISE OF A MECHANIC THAT UNTIL RECENTLY WAS AT A GM DEALERSHIP. IT STILL LEAKED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE WATER PUMP SO I HAD THAT REPLACED. IT STILL LEAKED. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $660.00. I HAVE CONTACTED GM DEALERSHIPS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS IN REGARDS TO THE MANIFOLD GASKET AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET IS THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND THAT MANY LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THE SKYLARKS BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. APPARENTLY GM DECIDED TO USE A PLASTIC GASKET AS OPPOSED TO THE PAPER COMPOSITE GASKET AND THIS IS THE CAUSE OF SO MANY VEHICLES HAVING TO HAVE THIS GASKET REPLACED. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT GM SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT IT WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN DESIGN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151838

Incident

Jan 18, 2006

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AXLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB.....PASSENGER'S AXLE BROKE SIX MONTHS AGO, AND CURRENTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE BROKE. IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE THAT BOTH AXLES WOULD BE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10107463

Incident

Aug 10, 2004

Mileage

140,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL LOOSENED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THREE STEERING BOLTS FAILED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079632

Incident

May 17, 2004

Mileage

129,000 mi

AC HEATING - HEATER CORE WENT OUT- AC STILL NOT WORKING COMPUTER CONTROL- BUICK REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER CHIP- MY COMPLAINT WAS ERRATIC IDLING. IT FIXED PROBLEM. PAINT PEELING THIS YEAR STRUTS AND SPRINGS ON SUSPENSION ARE NOT LASTING LONG TIRES- PROBABLY MY FAULT FOR NOT ROTATING TRANSMISSION- I REPLACED IT WITH SALVAGED ONE AT 170,000- HEARD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS 4T60E TRANSMISSION. BRAKES- FRONT ONES LAST 1,000 MILES. I REPLACE ALL HARDWARE. STEERING-LISTEN TO THIS-THE PIVOT PINS ON MY TILT STEERING FELL OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ON MY LAP.CAR COULD STILL DRIVE. I EPOXIED NEW PIVOT PINS IN AND THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. ALL REPAIRS DONE BY ME, EXCEPT FOR THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING-I THOUGHT IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED IT FOR NO CHARGE. THEY DID NOT. HEARD FRIENDS TELL ME G.M CARS EAT UP ALTERNATORS AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS THREE TIMES. THANK YOU!

NHTSA ID

10070104

Incident

Mar 15, 2003

Mileage

110,000 mi

AT 70,514 MILES THE TILT WHEEL PIVOT PINS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WERE LOOSE AND REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. NOW AT 75,000 MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10032033

Incident

Nov 15, 2002

Mileage

70,514 mi

THE PINS THAT HOLDS AND ALLOWS THE STEERING WHEEL TO TILT HAVE COME OUT OF THEIR HOLES ON TWO OCCASIONS MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER

NHTSA ID

10036739

Incident

Jun 14, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029728

Incident

Jul 12, 2003

THE SEAT BELT ON MY 1994 BUICK SKYLARK DOES NOT SEEM TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF LOCK-UP. I AM CONCERNED AS TO THE OPERATION OF THE SENSING DEVICE ON THIS SYSTEM. CAN I HAVE IT CHECKED FOR OPERATION BEFORE I HAVE AN ACCIDENT? *JB

NHTSA ID

10010480

Incident

Mar 14, 2003

Mileage

1 mi

WHILE SITTING IN CAR WITH ENGINE RUNNING PASSENGER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK SWITCH, YELLOWISH IN COLOR. CONSUMER EXITED VEHICLE, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF DOOR. THEY STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012554

Incident

Jun 22, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, TEMPERATURE GAUGE ROSE IMMEDIATELY. AFTER THAT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO 2 MECHANICS. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO HEAD GASKET. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8011289

CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED AT #2 PLUG, RESULTING IN POWER LOSS, WATER INTRODUCTION IN CRANKCASE, COSTLY REPAIR AND , EVENTUALLY, FAILURE OF ROD BEARINGS.*AK

NHTSA ID

762512

Incident

Dec 1, 2000

THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH WIRES SHORTING OUT, LIGHTS COMING ON, HORN NOT WORKING, ETC. *YH

NHTSA ID

564639

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HOOD FLEW OPEN AND STRUCK WINDSHIELD, MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8004841

Incident

Feb 24, 2002

STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK AND NO AJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE, ALSO STEERING WHEEL IS EXTREMELY LOOSE WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. *AK CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, DEALER FOUND TILT WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE, FOUND PIN LOOSE IN SHAFT, NOTCHED SHAFT TO HOLD PIN, FACTORY HAD NOTCHED SHAFT 3 TIMES, DEALER NOTCHED SHAFT APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES AND COLUMN WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, MULTI-FUNCTION TURN SIGNAL FAILED AND LEVER WAS INOPERATIVE. *YD

NHTSA ID

8002099

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

CONSUMER HAD A FRONT IMPACT CRASH AT 35 MPH, AND DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUFFERED KNEE AND BACK INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

8001249

Incident

Oct 18, 2001

WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS TURNING INTO A CURVE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING AND STEERING COLUMN DROPPED DOWN TO FLOOR. PINS FELL OUT FROM STEERING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

891302

Incident

Jun 24, 2001

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN VEHICLE HESITATES OR COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

889055

TILT MECHANISM ON STEERING COLUMN CAME APART INTERNALLY. ABLE TO USE STEERING, BUT PROBLEM MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF STEERING WAS AFFECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

888909

Incident

Feb 3, 2001

CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO A RECALL 00 V 287000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00079. DEALER CONTACTED CONCERNING RECALL PROBLEM. CONSUMER NOTED THAT VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TRACKING NOISE UPON STARTING. ALSO, VEHICLE CUT OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

886468

Incident

Apr 20, 2001

THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-287 CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY STALL WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS ONLY GIVEN A PARTIAL REFUND. NLM

NHTSA ID

560707

Incident

Feb 3, 1994

AIR CONDITIONER JUST STOPPED WORKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT FIXED. A COUPLE DAYS LATER HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, AND PUT REFRIGERANT ON AIR CONDITIONER. BUT, PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. DEALER HAD FOUND A LEAK TO BE FIXED, BUT CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PLASTIC TUBING IS WHAT IS CAUSING PROBLEM AND WANTS IT REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

882490

Incident

Mar 8, 2001

ENGINE HAS SEIZED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT ENGINE SEIZURE WAS CAUSED BY NO OIL IN ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

881864

Incident

Feb 12, 2001