1998 Buick Skylark Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Skylark years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 4th of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Buick Skylark. That ranks 4th out of 5 Skylark model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (5 complaints, 21%), typically at around 89,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 8 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 24owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Buick Skylark problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 | 21% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 21% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 17% | 144,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 13% | 185,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 8% | 46,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Buick Skylark recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
Risk: If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed. The fire could spread to the interior of the car, which could injure occupants or cause damage to adjoining structures.
Fix: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the ignition switch. Owner notification will begin on march 1, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, buick at 1-866-608-8080, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537. Customers can also check their vehicle online by going to www.mygmlink.com and entering the vehicle's identification number.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
Manifold gasket failed, leaking coolant into engine oil. *tr
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.
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…
Other Buick Skylark years
← 1997 Skylark · 2000 Skylark →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Skylark | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 24 | 1 |
| 1997 Skylark | 79 | 3 |
| 1996 Skylark | 85 | 4 |
| 1995 Skylark | 85 | 1 |
See all Buick Skylark problems by year, every Buick model, or the Buick VIN decoder.
Similar Buick models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Buick Skylark?
Owners most often report electrical system, vehicle speed control, air bags problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Buick Skylark?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Buick Skylark a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Skylark model years, the 1998 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.