Buick Skylark Problems by Year
NHTSA has 274 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file for the Buick Skylark, across 5 model years (1995–2000). The 1996 model year has the most complaints (85). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Buick Skylark years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No Skylark model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1996 Skylark: 85 complaints, 4 recalls
- 1995 Skylark: 85 complaints, 1 recall
- 1997 Skylark: 79 complaints, 3 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Buick Skylark problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 65 | 5 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 48 | 4 | 5 |
| Air Bags | 46 | 4 | 14 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 38 | 4 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 17 | 4 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 | 4 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| Power Train | 13 | 3 | 2 |
| Structure | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| Equipment | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Buick Skylark model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Skylark | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1998 Skylark | 24 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1997 Skylark | 79 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | More complaints than other years |
| 1996 Skylark | 85 | 4 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 1995 Skylark | 85 | 1 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
More from Buick: all Buick models · Buick VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Buick Skylark years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 1996 (85), 1995 (85), 1997 (79). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Buick Skylark?
Electrical System, with 65 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the Buick Skylark have?
8 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.