1991 Buick Skylark

Routine

Owners filed 38 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 2 times.

Not among the Buick Skylark years to avoid. Which Buick Skylark years to avoid →

Most common 1991 Buick Skylark problems

10 of the 38 complaints (26%) are about the engine.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration5
100
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline · engine5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine · engine3
000
Electrical System › Ignition3
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner2
104
Seats2
201
Electrical System › Ignition › Module2
000
Visibility › Rear Window Wiper/Washer › Motor1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Linkages · throttle and acceleration1
000
Unknown or Other1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline06E043000
Filed May 19, 200688,303 vehiclesHoneywell International, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls92V043000
Filed Apr 1, 199237,030 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. MOISTURE CAN ENTER THE EXPRESS-DOWN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT CAUSES WINDOW OPERATION WITHOUT OPERATOR CONTROL, AND LEAVES THE WINDOW IN THE DOWN POSITION.

Risk. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WILL FAIL FROM OVERHEATINGAND COULD RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD INSIDE THE DOOR PANEL.

Remedy. REPLACE THE WINDOW EXPRESS-DOWN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.

All 2 campaigns on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 200488,000 milesFL

PAINT PEALING OFF ROOF, LITTLE BY LITTLE

Tires
Filed Jul 14, 200370,000 milesFL

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD CAME OFF AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER LOSSED CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

SeatsCrash
Filed Jan 16, 2003132,000 milesME

VEHICLE WAS IN A LEFT REAR END COLLISION. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT RECLINED BACKWARD UPON IMPACT. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER HAVING NECK AND EYE INJURIES. THIS COULD OF CAUSED INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER ALSO, BUT THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH

Visibility › Rear Window Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Dec 5, 2002WA

WHEN PUTTING DOWN THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW, THE WINDOW AT TIMES WILL NOT COME BACK UP. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND THEY PUT ON A 4 WAY SWITCH THATS USED TO LET DOWN ALL 4 WINDOWS. THAT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED ITS THE MOTOR IN THE DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Vehicle Speed Control › Linkages
Filed Jul 13, 2001TX

WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON IT WILL ACCELERATE AND MOVE FORWARD WHETHER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED OR NOT.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *SLC

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Oct 18, 2000IL

WHILE DRIVING FOR AN EXTEND PERIOD OF TIME AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. OCCURRED 5 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan
Filed Sep 2, 2000FL

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FAN MOTOR, COOLING SYSTEM, BOTH FRONT DOOR WINDOW MOTORS, AND THE BATTERY TWICE. THIS PLUS 6 ALTERNATORS WITHIN 5 1/2 YEARS. THE COOLING SYSTEM, FAN MOTOR, AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS OCCURED AT VARYING SPEEDS-IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDE THAT THE IDLE RECALIBRATED ITSELF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING IN TRAFFIC.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jun 1, 2000WA

WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT & SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, TAPPED ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE ACCELERATED & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE & IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SKYLARK WAS DECLARED TOTALED. POSSIBLY DUE TO COMPUTER FAILURE/DEFECT. *AK *ML

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 15, 2000NY

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. NLM

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 13, 1999NJ

ON 2/28/99 I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. MY "THE DRIVERS SEAT" GAVE WAY SLAMMING ME DOWN FLAT. I WAS UNCONSCEOUS FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND PARILIZED FOR ABOUT 1/2 HOUR. I HAVE SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH MY HEAD , NECK,AND UPPER BACK AREAS. I FEEL THAT WITHOUT A DOUBT MY INJURIES WERE MUCH WORSE BECAUSE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT GIVING WAY AND SLAMMING ME DOWN FLAT. MY WIFE WHO WAS ALSO IN THE CAR, AND RECIEVED CONTUSIONS AND SOME WHIPLASH PROBLEMS. I HAVE SINCE HEARD THAT BUICK AND TWO OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS EXPERIMENTED WITH " BREAKAWAY SEATS" IN 1991. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU KNEW IF THIS WERE TRUE OR NOT OR IF YOU COULD FIND OUT. I THINK IT IS TERRIBLE IF PEOPLE WERE USED AS EXPERIMENTS WITH OUT BEING PROPERLY INFORMED ABOUT IT. *AKY

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner2 injured
Filed May 13, 1999NJ

MY WIFE AND I WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN HIT IN THE REAR BY A CAR GOING ABOUT 45 MPH. WE BOTH HAD SEAT BELTS ON. MY "THE DRIVERS SEAT " BROKE SLAMMING ME DOWN HARD. I CAME TO STAIRING UP AT THE ROOF OF THE CAR, AND WAS PARILIZED FOR ABOUT 1/2 HOUR. I HAVE HEARD THAT BUICK AND TWO OTHER CAR CO. EXPAIRMENTED WITH BREAKAWAY SEATS IN 1991. IF SO I THINK THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED AND THE SEATS REPLACED, AS I AM SURE MY INJURIES WERE MUCH WORSE THAN MY WIFES BECAUSE OF MY SEAT SLAMMING ME DOWN. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 19, 1999AL

OIL CHANGED PER MANUAL. NEVER USED FOR TOWING.

Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)
Filed Feb 7, 1999TX

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Feb 2, 1999IL

DUE TO POOR QUALITY CONTROL THE PAINT HAS CONTINUED TO PEEL OFF THE BODY. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Nov 10, 1998PA

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT OUT. THE POWER OUTAGE WAS DUE TO THE COMPUTER CHIPS IN THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WAS SELF DESTRUCTED. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A METAL SOUND. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 10, 1998PA

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 50 MPH WHEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING; DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 28, 1998MI

ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE LEAKS, AND BLACK SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch1 injured
Filed May 27, 1998CA

INTERLOCK SYSTEM IN TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed May 14, 1998PA

COMING UPON A STOP SIGN/LIGHT, VEHICLE WOULD START MAKING CLANKING NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE STOPS SUDDENLY. HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 30, 1998CA

VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS WHILE IN PARK POSITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED ,THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN THE PARK POSITION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Oct 22, 1997NY

ENGINE FAILED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 4, 1997MI

OWNER STATES THAT DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS A RECALL ON THE ENGINE GASKE, T BUT THIS RECALL WAS A SPECIAL POLICY CALL WHICH MEANS VEHICLE HAD TO BE 6 YEARS OR SO MANY MILES, AND HER VEHICLE WAS MORE THAN 6 YEARS SO THEY DID NOT HONOR RECALL. OWNER STATES THAT VEHICLE IS BLOWING OUT WHITE SMOKE AND ANTI-FREEZE LEAKS IN THE OIL. THERE IS NO RECALL LISTED ON THE SYSTEM SO SHE WILL BE FAXING IN HER PAPER WORK. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 26, 1997MI

THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH FAILED CAUSING OIL TO SPRAY OVER THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Apr 1, 1997MN

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

Structure › Body › Hood › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Feb 18, 1997AR

HOOD HYDRAULIC LIFTERS DO NOT WORK DURING COLD TEMPERATURES. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › RetractorCrash
Filed Aug 30, 1996CA

THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT DURING A REAREND COLLISION, ALSO CRUISE CONTROL LINKAGE DISCONNECTED DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND LOCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE WOULD NOT RELEASE, DRIVER HAD TO CLIMB TO OTHER SIDE TO OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR. *AK

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Aug 19, 1996FL

WHILE DRIVING, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER.*AK

SeatsCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 30, 1996NY

DURING REAR IMPACT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT FELL BACKWARDS INTO THE REAR SEAT.*AK

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights
Filed May 28, 1996OR

THE BRAKE LIGHT GOES OUT UNEXPECTANTLY AND THERE IS NO FUSE SHORTAGE.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jan 29, 1996MN

LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE BROKE AT 26,000 AND RIGHT BROKE AT 50,000. TT

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 30, 1995CA

CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE BY TURNING SWITCH OFF OR STEPPING ON BRAKE. *DSH

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Oct 25, 1995RI

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR STALLS TOOK TO DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM . TT

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Sep 15, 1995OH

ECM FUSE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING; LOST ALL VEHICLE POWER/CONTROL; HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED; NO WARNING; COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. TT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail PipeFire
Filed Aug 24, 1995FL

PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF HOUSE, OBSERVED WISP OF SMOKE, OPENED HOOD, ENGINE ENGULFED WITH FLAMES;NEST MADE BY UNKNOWN CREATURE(S) IGNITED BY HEAT/EXHAUST MANIFOLD

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jul 21, 1995AZ

IT STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC FOR NO REASON. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 3, 1995LA

WHEN KEY WAS TURNED ON IN IGNITION IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO ACCELERATE BACKWARD WHILE STILL IN THE PARK POSITION. *AK

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed May 17, 1995NC

WHENEVER TURNING POWER STEERING MAKES LOUD GRINDING NOISE, DEALER SAY'S OWNER MUST LIVE WITH IT. TT

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 27, 1995NY

THROTTLE DOES NOT DECELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR, FORCING DRIVER TO CONSTANTLY SLOW DOWN WITH BRAKES, RESULTING IN PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR. *SKD

All 38 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20001000Routine
199824300Routine
199779500Routine
199685610Routine
199585140Routine
199468241Fatalities reported
199346100Routine
199232310Routine
1991 — this page38210Routine
199019210Routine

Compare every Skylark year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 19, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.