Problems · NHTSA complaints

1998 Buick Skylark problems

Owners filed 34 complaints about the 1998 Buick Skylark with NHTSA between Jul 1998 and Feb 2016. The most-cited component is electrical system (6).

Complaints
34
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system6
  2. Engine and engine cooling6
  3. Vehicle speed control6
  4. Air bags4
  5. Structure3
  6. Seat belts3
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  8. Suspension2
  9. Wheels1
  10. Visibility1
  11. Steering1
  12. Fuel system, gasoline1
  13. Seats1
  14. Equipment1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19984
19992
20002
20015
20024
20031
20044
20056
20060
20070
20080
20092
20100
20112
20120
20130
20140
20151
20161

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

6 reports1 related recall
“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 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2016Electrical systemODI 10837851

Engine and engine cooling

6 reports
“WE DROVE FROM HOME TO OLATHE, KS AND BACK TO A KOHL'S AT SHAWNEE STATION ON OUR WAY HOME. WE PARKED THE BUICK AND WHEN I TRIED TO START THE BUICK IT FAILED TO START. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE BATTERY. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED TO START THE BUICK. THE BUICK STARTED BUT WHITE SMOKE COME OUT OF THE TAILPIPE AND IT BEGAN TO SHAKE TREMENDOUSLY LIKE WE WERE IN A BIG STORM. WE HAD THE BUICK TOWED TO FIRESTONE AND THEY SAID THE AIR MANIFOLD RINGS LET THE ANTI-FREEZE UP THE MOTOR AND THE SHAKING CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN SOMEWHERE ELSE. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 9, 2005Engine and engine coolingODI 10110228

Vehicle speed control

6 reports
“LACK OF ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING, INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 13, 2002Vehicle speed controlODI 8016213

Air bags

4 reports2 crashes
“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 SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2015Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10734483

Structure

3 reports
“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 UPDATED 02/03/10.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 9, 2009StructureODI 10295131

Seat belts

3 reports
“BOTH SIDE SEAT BELTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. THIS HAS CAUSED QUITE A PROBLEM WITH THE LAW REQUIRING PASSENGERS TO WEAR SEAT BELTS. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. THE STOCK RIMS OF THE VEHICLE SLOWLY CUT THE TIRES AND CAUSE AIR LEAKAGE. THIS REQUIRES THE OWNER TO REPLACE THE TIRES BEFORE THEY WOULD OTHERWISE BE NEEDED. AND ALSO CAUSES THE 'LOW TIRE' WARNING LIGHT TO REPEATEDLY LIGHT UP AND NEED RESETTING. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD AS LOW TIRES CAN CAUSE BLOW OUTS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 5, 2005Seat belts, WheelsODI 10141843
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.