FaultScore report
Owners have filed 37 complaints about the 1990 Buick Skylark with NHTSA between 1995 and 2003. The largest single group is the electrical system.
37
Complaints
1
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
138,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
0%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 138,000 mi
Median failure at 138,000 miles
Median failure at 138,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
BRAKE CALIPER CORROSION
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Emissions
Certain vehicles may not comply with CMVSS 1103 - Exhaust Emissions. Cracks may develop in the casing of the integrated direct ignition coil. Correction: Ignition coils will be inspected and replaced if necessary.
Lights And Instruments
THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) MODULE, WHICH IS LOCATED NEAR THE BATTERY, COULD OVERHEAT AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRL MODULE, INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS WITH FUSES AND INSTALL A MODULE COVER.
Fuel System
VEHICLES MAY HAVE IMPROPERLY TORQUED CONNECTIONS OF THE FRONT FUEL FEED/RETURN HOSES TO THE FUEL PIPES AT THE BODY RAIL. A FITTING MAY LOOSEN ENOUGH TO LEAK FUEL INTO THE UNDERHOOD AREA, AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD RESULT. CORRECTION: FRONT FUEL FEED/RETURN HOSE FITTINGS WILL BE PROPERLY TORQUED.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
SEAT BELTS
CAR RAN OFF THE ROAD AND THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO HIT HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #801128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DURING MORNING STARTUP VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO HOLE IN THE VACUUM LINE. TT
NHTSA complaint #963955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1990 BUICK SKYLARK (QUAD 4 ENGINE)-CHRONIC STALLING DUE TO FAULTY LOCKUP TORQUE CONVERTER.COIL HOUSING WAS REPLACED 3X IN SIX YEARS .ALLDATA LISTS TECH. SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THESE PROBLEMS.LETTERS TO GM AND BUICK FIELD ZONE OFFICE SEEKING RESTITUTION RECEIVED NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER.
NHTSA complaint #10036945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
1990 BUICK SKYLARK (QUAD 4 ENGINE)-CHRONIC STALLING DUE TO FAULTY LOCKUP TORQUE CONVERTER.COIL HOUSING WAS REPLACED 3X IN SIX YEARS .ALLDATA LISTS TECH. SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THESE PROBLEMS.LETTERS TO GM AND BUICK FIELD ZONE OFFICE SEEKING RESTITUTION RECEIVED NO RESPONSE WHATSOEVER.
NHTSA complaint #10036945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD JOLTING BANG WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR WHETHER IT IS IN DRIVE,REVERSE OR PARK. DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF CAR WHEN IN DRIVE GEAR. ALSO HAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE HOSE, WHICH DURING MORNING CAR WARM-UP, CAR STARTED SMOKING, WHICH CAME FROM UNDER CAR FROM THE VAC. LINE(FUEL LINE). HAD THE LINE REPAIRED BUT TRANNY IS STILL A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10005389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING RACK AND PINION AS WELL AS GEAR BOX. SEVERE GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL,EVEN AT A SLIGHT TURN. BEEN REPAIRED BUT IT IS STILL DOING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10005387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
STEERING RACK AND PINION AS WELL AS GEAR BOX. SEVERE GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL,EVEN AT A SLIGHT TURN. BEEN REPAIRED BUT IT IS STILL DOING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10005387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD JOLTING BANG WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR WHETHER IT IS IN DRIVE,REVERSE OR PARK. DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF CAR WHEN IN DRIVE GEAR. ALSO HAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE HOSE, WHICH DURING MORNING CAR WARM-UP, CAR STARTED SMOKING, WHICH CAME FROM UNDER CAR FROM THE VAC. LINE(FUEL LINE). HAD THE LINE REPAIRED BUT TRANNY IS STILL A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10005389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD JOLTING BANG WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR WHETHER IT IS IN DRIVE,REVERSE OR PARK. DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF CAR WHEN IN DRIVE GEAR. ALSO HAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE HOSE, WHICH DURING MORNING CAR WARM-UP, CAR STARTED SMOKING, WHICH CAME FROM UNDER CAR FROM THE VAC. LINE(FUEL LINE). HAD THE LINE REPAIRED BUT TRANNY IS STILL A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10005389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD JOLTING BANG WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR WHETHER IT IS IN DRIVE,REVERSE OR PARK. DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF CAR WHEN IN DRIVE GEAR. ALSO HAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE HOSE, WHICH DURING MORNING CAR WARM-UP, CAR STARTED SMOKING, WHICH CAME FROM UNDER CAR FROM THE VAC. LINE(FUEL LINE). HAD THE LINE REPAIRED BUT TRANNY IS STILL A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10005389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
MAIN REAR BUMPER SUPPORT HAS RUSTED AWAY - IT'S GONE. GM CLAIMS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED, THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THE CAR ONLY HAS APPROX 103,000 MILES ON IT AND THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE! ALL I WANT IS A RECALL FOR THEM TO REPLACE THIS BUMPER SO I CAN SELL IT WITH A CLEAR CONCIENCE!
NHTSA complaint #745189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING INTERMITTENTLY, MOSTLY AT 50 MPH. ALSO ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN INTERMITTENTLY. *AK. DEALER REPLACED CRANK SENOR ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #884075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING INTERMITTENTLY, MOSTLY AT 50 MPH. ALSO ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN INTERMITTENTLY. *AK. DEALER REPLACED CRANK SENOR ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #884075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ALTERNATOR FOUR TIMES. A MECHANIC WAS TELLING HIM "ALTERNATOR WAS BUILT TOO FRAGILE FOR AMOUNT OF AMPAGE." PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #881842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER. CONTACTED DEALER . STEERING MECHANISM HAS RUSTED AND LOOSENED FROM THE FIREWALLS.
NHTSA complaint #865601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
STEERING WHEEL HORN FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #543699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
FRONT BEARING WHEEL FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #543699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #543699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAN MOTOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #543699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
PAINT CHIPPING ON VEHICLE CAUSING EXTENSIVE RUST.
NHTSA complaint #604217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ELECTRIC MODULE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
REPLACED STRUTS SHOCK ABSORBERS.
NHTSA complaint #535030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
REPLACED HEAD GASKET/VALVE COVER GASKET.
NHTSA complaint #535030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
REPLACED STARTER.
NHTSA complaint #535030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
REPLACED ALTERNATOR TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #535030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
REPLACED REAR MAIN SEAL.
NHTSA complaint #535030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
EXTERIOR BODY PAINT IS PEELING OFF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #514468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.