Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
24
Latest Feb 23, 2016
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.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Sep 9, 1998
What this page shows
Our database holds 24 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Buick Skylark. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–24 of 24
Electrical
Filed Feb 23, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK SKYLARK. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO START AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
NHTSA ID
10837851
Incident
Apr 16, 2015
Mileage
138,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 16, 2015
Crash reported2 injuries reported
TL* THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN A 1998 BUICK SKYLARK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE EYES AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
NHTSA ID
10734483
Incident
Mar 24, 2015
Mileage
96,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 15, 2011
MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, LEAKING COOLANT INTO ENGINE OIL. *TR
NHTSA ID
10440082
Incident
Nov 20, 2011
Mileage
185,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 5, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK SKYLARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO CRASH OCCURRED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER, NOR THE DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000.
NHTSA ID
10410566
Incident
Jul 1, 2011
Mileage
193,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 9, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK SKYLARK. WHEN IT RAINED, WATER FLOODED THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT AND PEDALS. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL AFTER IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46000. UPDATED 1/28/10 *CN UPDATED 02/03/10.
NHTSA ID
10295131
Incident
Sep 15, 2009
Mileage
46,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 16, 2005
DT: CONTACT STATED THAT ON 7-11-05 HAD A NEW ALTERNATOR PUT IN. IT FAILED ON 8-13-05., AND IT WAS REPLACED ON 8-14-05. IT IS NOT SHOWING UP ON THE TESTER AS CONSISTENT. IT WAS ARCHING AND DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE ALTERNATOR WAS #8225-7. THEY WILL REPLACE IT IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME; BUT THAT DID NOT HELP THE CALL NOW BECAUSE CAR DIED THE FREEWAY. A MECHANIC TOLD HER THEY WERE PUTTING BAD REGULATORS IN THESE ALTERNATORS. THIS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES;: CAR QUEST, AND BBB INDUSTRIES; 5640 COMMERCE EAST, MOBILE, AL 36619. PALLADIUM; BOX 2710 RONOAKE, VA 24001. *AK
NHTSA ID
10133015
Incident
Aug 16, 2005
Airbags
Filed Mar 28, 2005
1 injury reported
I WAS INJURED WHEN THE AIRBAG OF A 1998 BUICK SKYLARK (N BODY) DEPLOYED WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, IN FACT THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN A BUILDING AND NOT EVEN IN MOTION. I SUSTAINED A BRAIN SHEAR INJURY AND I AM STILL RECOVERING. I KNOW OF TWO OTHER INCIDENTS WHERE THIS OCCURRED IN N BODY GM VEHICLES. GENERAL MOTORS PAID FOR THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE BUT HAS NOT CONTACTED ME IN REGARD TO MY INJURIES OR LOST WAGES.(I WAS OUT OF WORK 2 MONTHS AND RECENTLY RETURNED ON A LIMITED BASIS. GENERAL MOTORS BLAMES THE DEPLOYMENT ON MOISTURE ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. I LIVE IN WESTERN NEW YORK WHERE WITH OUR WEATHER IT IS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO HAVE MOISTURE ON THE FLOOR. ONE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED A DEPLOYMENT IS ALSO INJURED. PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS MATTER AS THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IS VERY GREAT. THANKS MIKE HALL PS I HAVE THE PARTS FROM THE DEPLOYMENT THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN. *JB
NHTSA ID
10115975
Incident
Dec 28, 2004
Electrical
Filed Mar 9, 2004
SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE DRIVER HAS TO HOLD THE KEY IN THE CRANK POSITION UNTIL THE VEHICLE WILL START. THERE IS A DELAY IN STARTING. *AK
NHTSA ID
10061668
Mileage
93,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 8, 2004
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 040025000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER CHARGED CONSUMER FOR REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH .*AK
NHTSA ID
10061614
Incident
Mar 5, 2004
Mileage
85,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 8, 2004
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. WHEN TURNING THE KEY VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *AK
NHTSA ID
10061611
Mileage
82,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 13, 2002
POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILED TO GO UP. DEALER NOTIFIED ,AND THEY INFORMED THAT REGULTOR MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
8016214
Incident
Jul 1, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 13, 2002
LACK OF ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING, INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
8016213
Incident
Aug 7, 2002
Brakes
Filed Aug 13, 2002
ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. VEHICLE HAS TO BE SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED TO DISENGAGE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED PROBLEM ONCE, BUT IT SEEMED TO HAVE REOCCURD. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YH
NHTSA ID
8016080
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 21, 2002
2 injuries reported
CONSUMER BEGAN TO PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WHEN IT SURGED FORWARD, VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB, CRASHED THROUGH A WALL, AND THROUGH A COUPLE TABLES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC
NHTSA ID
564800
Steering
Filed Sep 27, 2001
CONSUMER WAS INSIDE OF A GARAGE AND WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH, AND STEERING WHEEL COLUMN FELL IN HER LAP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ID
896971
Engine
Filed May 14, 2001
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. WHEN ENGINE IS WARM AND HAS BEEN RUNNING, IT IS MORE LIKELY TO SHUT OFF. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
NHTSA ID
888115
Incident
Apr 1, 2001
Suspension
Filed Feb 22, 2001
FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHING IS COMING LOOSE AT ONLY 28,972 MILES WHICH COULD CAUSE OTHER RELATED PROBELMS. DEALER CLAIMS THEY ARE AWARE OF DEFECT. *AK *SLC
NHTSA ID
881140
Incident
Feb 20, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Jan 1, 2001
SHIELD ON THE GAS LINE WAS NOT SECURE A HOLE THE SIZE OF A PENCIL WAS WORN INTO THE TUBING GASOLINE SPILLED ONTO THE MANIFOLD AND SPRAYED INTO THE ENGINE. IT WAS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND COLD WEATHER IT DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE OR EXPLODE...I HAVE THE PIECE THAT WAS REMOVED....ALL THE GAS LINES SHOULD BE CHECKED TO BE SURE THE SHIELD IS HELD IN PLACE....I AM NOT A FATALITY BUT COULD HAVE BEEN. THIS IS SERIOUS...WHO ELSE CAN I CONTACT? AN. *AK
NHTSA ID
738570
Incident
Dec 28, 2000
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 14, 2000
WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING VEHICLE ROARS UP HIGH LIKE IT WANTS TO GET AWAY. WHEN TRAVELING UPWARDS THE VEHICLE WILL SPEED UP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL HESITATE. *AK
NHTSA ID
870536
Incident
Apr 1, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 12, 2000
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BROKE/COLLAPSED TO THE RECLINING/RESTING POSITION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PARTS HAVE YET TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
863400
Body & structureDriver assistanceEngine+2 more
Filed Oct 6, 1999
PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. THE 1998 BUICK SKYLARK IS NOT LISTED IN THIS PROGRAM TO REQUEST RECALL INFORMATION. NOTE: DISREGARD ENGINE REMARKS (SEE THROTTLE CONTROL HEADING).
NHTSA ID
712873
Incident
Oct 5, 1999
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Oct 5, 1999
RIGHT REAR BRAKES BECAME STUCK, LOCKED. INSTEAD, DRIVER PRESSED ON GAS PEDAL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LUNGE FOWARD. *AK
NHTSA ID
849936
Airbags
Filed Oct 2, 1998
Crash reported3 injuries reported
DURING COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS CAUSED INJURY TO PASSENGERS.
NHTSA ID
541600
Incident
Aug 27, 1998
BrakesSeat belts
Filed Sep 9, 1998
DESIGN OF FRONT BRAKE PADS CAUSED THEM TO WEAR PREMATURELY.
NHTSA ID
539752
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.