Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Apr 7, 2013
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
19%
of 68 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Buick Skylark submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming electrical
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Electrical
Filed Apr 7, 2013
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
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 22, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported
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
BrakesElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004
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
Electrical
Filed Mar 8, 2002
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
Electrical
Filed Apr 9, 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
Electrical
Filed Feb 12, 2001
WHEN COLD LEATHER CONTRACTS AROUND STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING HORN TO GO OFF. OWNER HAD TO DISCONNECT FUSE TO HORN ASSEMBLY. MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ID
880364
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2001
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V287000/ ENGINE STRARTER IN DECEMBER, AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO WAIT UNTIL FEBRUARY TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AGAIN, BUT DEALER CLAIMED THERE WERE STILL NO PARTS AVAILABLE, AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE POSSIBLY UNTIL MARCH. RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT BEING DONE IN TIMELY MANNER . CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
880224
Electrical
Filed Feb 5, 2001
THE STARTER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-287, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
NHTSA ID
559410
Incident
Aug 14, 2000
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Oct 3, 2000
WHILE DRIVING HORN WILL GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. HAD TO TAKE FUSE OUT IN ORDER FOR THE HORN TO STOP. DEALER SAID THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE HORN AND AIRBAG SYSTEM IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
872112
Incident
Sep 25, 2000
Electrical
Filed Sep 22, 1999
Fire reported
IE99096, THE VEHICLE HAD A NO START CONDITION, AND WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AS RESULT, IT STARTED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGES. THIS BEGAN AFTER THIRD ATTEMPT TO CRANK VEHICLE. WITHIN SEVERAL MINUTES VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. *AK
NHTSA ID
848388
Incident
Aug 28, 1999
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+1 more
Filed Aug 2, 1999
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ID
709486
Incident
Jul 21, 1999
Electrical
Filed Apr 18, 1999
Fire reported
FIRE CAUSED BY A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (WIREHARNESS) IN STEERING COLUMN & IGNITION SYSTEM, MELTED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, DASH AREA, DRIVERS SEAT, INTERIOR ROOF, AND DASH. I WANT MY CAR REPLACED. I LOVED THAT CARE AND I WILL NEVER GET FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHAT THE CAR WAS REALLY WORTH TO ME. LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO HAVE THIS CAR REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THANKS, SHARYN R. SCHNAAK. *AK
NHTSA ID
705737
Incident
Apr 14, 1999
Electrical
Filed Aug 19, 1998
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING AND/OR THE LIGHTS, THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE KEY BECOME EXTREMELY HOT. THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ID
826942
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own