RoadVitals

1995 Buick Skylark

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
85
Latest Dec 17, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Oct 2, 2000
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
11
6 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 85 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Buick Skylark, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and airbags categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 58 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
00V287000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

Oct 2, 2000
699,617 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.
The risk: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER BATTERY REPLACEMENT OR UNRELATED STARTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIRS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.Manufacturer number 00079View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA00007ClosedEngineering Analysis

STEERING COLUMN FIRES

Opened Mar 3, 2000
Closed Feb 7, 2001

There is no summary currently available

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMLed to recall 00V287000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 85
Airbags
Filed Dec 17, 2017

AIRBAG IS WORN OUT. HORN QUIT WORKING. THERE IS STILL NO RECALL ON THIS. MORE FAULTY DESIGN. THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO HAVE A DESIGN WHERE THE HORN WON'T WORK.

NHTSA ID
11055140
Incident
Jul 1, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 18, 2017

AIRBAG DEVELOPS A PROBLEM WHERE THE HORN IS VERY SENSITIVE AND SOMETIMES DEPLOYS ON ITS OWN. OTHER TIMES IT WON'T WORK AT ALL. A HORN GOING OFF AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES COULD CONFUSE OTHER DRIVERS AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.THE PARTICULAR PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BY GM BUT THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THEM NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11006057
Incident
Jul 16, 2017
Mileage
149,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Oct 26, 2014

MY HORN STOPPED WORKING. THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO THE HORN SWITCH. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT REPLACE THE HORN SWITCH BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY, WHICH HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. I HAD TO HAVE A BYPASS SWITCH INSTALLED ON THE DASHBOARD, WHICH IS INCONVENIENT AND AWKWARD TO USE. IN MY OPINION, THE HORN IS A MORE IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE THAN THE AIR BAG. I AM 71 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER SEEN AN AIR BAG DEPLOY, BUT MY HORN HAS PREVENTED ACCIDENTS MANY TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10650040
Incident
Jan 1, 2008
Mileage
90,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 31, 2006

THE GM N-BODY CARS FROM 1992-1995 HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WATER LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I HAD THIS FIXED FOR $350 AT A GM DEALER A FEW YEARS BACK BUT THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. WATER COMES IN THROUGH THE FIREWALL AND SOAKS THE CARPET. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS WASHED OR WHEN IT RAINS. MY CAR IS A 1995 SKYLARK, BUT THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO OTHER GM CARS FROM THESE YEARS TOO. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW. CAR MANUFACTURERS HAVE HAD OVER 100 YEARS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP WATER OUT OF A VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TOO IN ORDER TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT ME HAVING TO GO BACK TO A GM DEALER TO LOSE MORE MONEY ON A TEMPORARY FIX. IF THIS PROBLEM IS LEFT UNCHECKED, IT WILL CAUSE RUST-THROUGH IN THE FIREWALL AND FLOORBOARDS. I WOULD NOT EVEN HAVE CONSIDERED BUYING THIS CAR HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10158640
Incident
May 28, 2006
Mileage
101,400 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 24, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HORN FAILED, THE FUSE WAS INSPECTED AND HAD MELTED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE HORN SWITCH STUCK CAUSING THE HORN TO SHORT OUT AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT. THE HORN, HORN RELAY, AND WIRING HARNESS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10148440
Incident
Sep 27, 2005
Mileage
72,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 6, 2004

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING COLUMN BOLT DIS-LODGED CAUSING THE STEERING TO BE ALMOST IN-OPERABLE, THIS ALSO RESULTED IN THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS TO GO OUT AND STOP WORKING. I HAVE PAID OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TWICE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED , INCLUDING HAVING REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL AND CRUISE CONTROL ASSEMBLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE AUTOMOBILE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10090498
Incident
Sep 5, 2004
Mileage
150,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 4, 2004

CONSUMER HAD TO HOLD THE HIGH BEAM LIGHT BUTTON IN ORDER FOR THE HIGH BEAM TO WORK. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE LIGHTS, WIPERS, SIGNALS, AND THE HORN ARE ALL LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH MAY GO OUT AS WELL. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10072056
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Mileage
80,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingOther / unspecified
Filed Nov 5, 2003

IN AUG 2001 I HAD TO HAVE THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER ON THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED DUE THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS BECOMING NON OPERATIVE. IN FEB 2002 I STARTED TO HAVE RANDOM OCCURENCES OF THE HEADLIGHTS BEING NONFUNCTIONAL WHILE THE SWITCH WAS BEING OPERATED, USUALLY AFTER TURNING THE SWITCH ON AND OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. IN JUNE 2003 THE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS STARTED TO RANDOMLY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. SOMETIMES THE SIGNAL WOULD NOT COME ON AT ALL WHEN ACTIVATED, OTHER TIMES THE SIGNAL WOULD STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE TURN WOULD BE COMPLETED. IN SEPT 2003 THE LEFT SIGNAL WILL NOT OPERATE NORMALLY, WHEN THE DRIVER ACTIVATES THE SIGNAL INDICTACTING A LEFT TURN, THE SIGNAL WILL ACTIVATE, BUT IT WILL NOT BLINK, THE LIGHT JUST COMES ON AND STAYS LIKE THAT. THE DRIVER HAS TO MANUALLY MOVE THE SWITCH IN THE ON AND OFF POSISTION IN A CONTINOUS MOTION TO USE THE SIGNAL. THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS OPERATE IN A NORMAL FASHION WHEN ACTIVATED. ALL THE LAMPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE OWNER, AND THE WIRING HAS BEEN INSPECTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10045539
Incident
Nov 5, 2003
Mileage
90,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP4723F

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIP4723D

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIC4696E

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.  E version update is to add administrative details.

17NA073

EQUIPMENT

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

PIC4696D

EQUIPMENT

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.  The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.

17NA073

EQUIPMENT

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buick Skylark by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000100—
1998243052.3
1997795052.3
1996856054.4
1995Viewing851149.5
1994682156.4
1993461042.6
1992323156.9
1991382157.9
1990192152.2
1989430—
1988144264.6
1987023—
1986822—
1985613—
1984842—
1983112—
1982331—
1981123—
1980097—
1979020—
1978030—
1977030—
1975010—
1971010—
1970010—
1968010—
1967020—
1966010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.