19 of the
95 complaints about the 1994 Buick Skylark are about the
engine — 20% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
142,595 miles.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ENGINE HESITATED, THEN STALLED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER ASSIST STEERING, AND POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AFTER BEING RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ERVICE. PREVIOUSLY, THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER WAS REPLACED BY A SERVICE DEALER IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK UPDATED 12/01/06.
NHTSA complaint #10166235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Racine, WI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I OWN A 1994 BUICK SKYLARK. IT DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK. I HAD THE HEATER CORE REPLACED ON ADVISE OF A MECHANIC THAT UNTIL RECENTLY WAS AT A GM DEALERSHIP. IT STILL LEAKED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE WATER PUMP SO I HAD THAT REPLACED. IT STILL LEAKED. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $660.00. I HAVE CONTACTED GM DEALERSHIPS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS IN REGARDS TO THE MANIFOLD GASKET AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET IS THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND THAT MANY LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THE SKYLARKS BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. APPARENTLY GM DECIDED TO USE A PLASTIC GASKET AS OPPOSED TO THE PAPER COMPOSITE GASKET AND THIS IS THE CAUSE OF SO MANY VEHICLES HAVING TO HAVE THIS GASKET REPLACED. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT GM SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT IT WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN DESIGN.
NHTSA complaint #10151838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesST. Ann,, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AC HEATING - HEATER CORE WENT OUT- AC STILL NOT WORKING COMPUTER CONTROL- BUICK REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER CHIP- MY COMPLAINT WAS ERRATIC IDLING. IT FIXED PROBLEM. PAINT PEELING THIS YEAR STRUTS AND SPRINGS ON SUSPENSION ARE NOT LASTING LONG TIRES- PROBABLY MY FAULT FOR NOT ROTATING TRANSMISSION- I REPLACED IT WITH SALVAGED ONE AT 170,000- HEARD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS 4T60E TRANSMISSION. BRAKES- FRONT ONES LAST 1,000 MILES. I REPLACE ALL HARDWARE. STEERING-LISTEN TO THIS-THE PIVOT PINS ON MY TILT STEERING FELL OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ON MY LAP.CAR COULD STILL DRIVE. I EPOXIED NEW PIVOT PINS IN AND THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. ALL REPAIRS DONE BY ME, EXCEPT FOR THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING-I THOUGHT IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED IT FOR NO CHARGE. THEY DID NOT. HEARD FRIENDS TELL ME G.M CARS EAT UP ALTERNATORS AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS THREE TIMES. THANK YOU!
NHTSA complaint #10070104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10029728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Washington, WI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, TEMPERATURE GAUGE ROSE IMMEDIATELY. AFTER THAT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO 2 MECHANICS. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO HEAD GASKET. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #8011289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Washington, WI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, TEMPERATURE GAUGE ROSE IMMEDIATELY. AFTER THAT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO 2 MECHANICS. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO HEAD GASKET. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #8011289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Battle Ground, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED AT #2 PLUG, RESULTING IN POWER LOSS, WATER INTRODUCTION IN CRANKCASE, COSTLY REPAIR AND , EVENTUALLY, FAILURE OF ROD BEARINGS.
NHTSA complaint #762512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ooltewaj, TN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN VEHICLE HESITATES OR COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #889055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Steamwood, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO A RECALL 00 V 287000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00079. DEALER CONTACTED CONCERNING RECALL PROBLEM. CONSUMER NOTED THAT VEHICLE WAS MAKING A TRACKING NOISE UPON STARTING. ALSO, VEHICLE CUT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #886468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oxford, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE HAS SEIZED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT ENGINE SEIZURE WAS CAUSED BY NO OIL IN ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #881864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Concord, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
LOCAL DEALER SAYS HEAD CYLINDER CRACKED, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. BUICK CONTACTED. REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE DEFECT. SAME PROBLEM AS ODI ID 711886 1993 SKYLARKS RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM
NHTSA complaint #715619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Florence, AL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT I HAVE A CRACKED HEAD IN THE CYLINDER. THE CAR HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR, IT HAS NEVER OVERHEATED. WE HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES EIGHT TIMES. COULD THERE BE APOSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE SINCE THE CAR HAS NEVER OVERHEATED. THE MECHANIC THOUGHT I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH A CRACKED HEAD. THIS CAR WAS A DEMO MODEL FROM THE DEALERSHIP
NHTSA complaint #711886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS FREQUENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #508783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elkmont, AL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #709486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THE RPM'S ARE UNSTABLE CAUSING THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO COME ON.
NHTSA complaint #512034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR STALL AT WHICH TIME THE LAMP ON THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE LIGHTS UP INDICATING TO SERVICE ENGINE, AND RPM SHOWS UNSTABLE.
NHTSA complaint #512034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jordan, UN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED CAUSE DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS.
NHTSA complaint #533299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
N. Diton, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE CAN'T ACCELERATE PAST 40. CAR STARTS TO BUCK IF TRYING TO EXCEED 40 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #810740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Morro BAY, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #479519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.