FaultScore

Buick Skylark acceleration problems

41 of the 753 complaints filed about the Buick Skylark are about the throttle and cruise control — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1991.

41

Complaints

5%

Share of all complaints

12

Crashes

0

Fires

Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year

1981 Skylark 1 2.4%
1988 Skylark 3 7.3%
1990 Skylark 1 2.4%
1991 Skylark 8 19.5%
1992 Skylark 4 9.8%
1993 Skylark 4 9.8%
1994 Skylark 2 4.9%
1995 Skylark 5 12.2%
1996 Skylark 1 2.4%
1997 Skylark 6 14.6%

Median failure at 123,000 miles

1998 Skylark 6 14.6%

What owners said

1997 Buick Skylark at 123,000 miles Oakwood Village, OH Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK SKYLARK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. HE THEN APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, BUT DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TWO FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY IN ORDER TO STOP THE WHEELS FROM SPINNING AFTER THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE, WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. A MECHANIC FROM THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE CABLE THAT OPERATES THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED BACKWARDS AND JAMMED THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 123,000. UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA complaint #10205314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Buick Skylark Houston, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

LACK OF ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING, INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8016213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Buick Skylark Cottage Grove, OR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL AND ENGINE REVVED, AND TOOK OFF IN TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA complaint #8015429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Buick Skylark Wheat Ridge, CO 2 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER BEGAN TO PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WHEN IT SURGED FORWARD, VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB, CRASHED THROUGH A WALL, AND THROUGH A COUPLE TABLES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #564800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Buick Skylark Wheat Ridge, CO 2 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER BEGAN TO PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WHEN IT SURGED FORWARD, VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB, CRASHED THROUGH A WALL, AND THROUGH A COUPLE TABLES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #564800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Buick Skylark Palmdale, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING SLOWLY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH NO WARNING. NO ONE WAS HURT.

NHTSA complaint #8004089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Buick Skylark Melborne, FL Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION.*AK CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WORNG WITH THE BRAKES, HOWEVER THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TWICE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #899079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Buick Skylark Victoria, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

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

NHTSA complaint #892764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Buick Skylark Victoria, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

NHTSA complaint #892764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1990 Buick Skylark Mastic, NY

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.

1998 Buick Skylark ST Ignace, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING VEHICLE ROARS UP HIGH LIKE IT WANTS TO GET AWAY. WHEN TRAVELING UPWARDS THE VEHICLE WILL SPEED UP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL HESITATE.

NHTSA complaint #870536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Buick Skylark Mukilteo, WA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

NHTSA complaint #862900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Buick Skylark Cuyahoga Falls, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. THE 1998 BUICK SKYLARK IS NOT LISTED IN THIS PROGRAM TO REQUEST RECALL INFORMATION. NOTE: DISREGARD ENGINE REMARKS (SEE THROTTLE CONTROL HEADING).

NHTSA complaint #712873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Buick Skylark Norwalk, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

RIGHT REAR BRAKES BECAME STUCK, LOCKED. INSTEAD, DRIVER PRESSED ON GAS PEDAL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LUNGE FOWARD.

NHTSA complaint #849936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Buick Skylark Worcester, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND IS UNRESPONSIVE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HAPPENS AT IDLE AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND MAIN COMPUTER MODULES IN DEC. 1998 TO CORRECT SAME PROBLEM. *MJS

NHTSA complaint #705600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Buick Skylark Stamford, CT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH THE CABLE ACCELERATOR SNAPPED, CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #826961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Buick Skylark Colorado Springs, CO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY CAR HAS KILLED ON ME SEVERAL TIMES SINCE ITS PURCHASE IN MAY WITH MANY OF THEM COMING AT LOW TO ACCELERATING SPEEDS AND CROSSING IN TRAFFIC. I'VE ALSO HAD SEVERAL ACCELARATION STICKINGS WITH THE GAS PEDAL, THIS DISTURBS ME VERY MUCH BECAUSE IT BECOMES HARDER TO STOP THE CAR. I'VE GOTTEN NO RESPONSE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS EVER DONE THIS EACH TIME IT IS SENT TO BE LOOKED AT (THREE OCCASSIONS) AND ACCORDING TO THEIR PAPERWORK THEY NEVER TEST DROVE THE CAR, SEEING THAT THE MILEAGE WAS THE SAME AS WHEN I DROPPED THE CAR OFF. THEY'VE ALREADY SAID THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS TO BE REPLACED BUT I'M WORRIED THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THAT AND OTHER PROBLEMS. I'D APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME IN DEALING WITH THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. SINCERELY, JAMES ALEXANDER

NHTSA complaint #700869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Buick Skylark Higginsvil, MO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED IT WILL THROTTLE VERY LOW AS IF IT IS GOING TO DIE. WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATES IT THROTTLES VERY HIGH.

NHTSA complaint #541611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Buick Skylark Seat Pleasant, MD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

WHILE DRIVING THE THROTTLE STICKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #825379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Buick Skylark Deer Park, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGS

ACCELERATOR SPRING LOCATED WITHIN PEDAL IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO RETURN ACCELERATION. PEDAL, THEREFORE ,CAUSES VEHICLE TO RUN FORWARD , SUDDEN ACCELERATION.

NHTSA complaint #823114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Buick Skylark problems