What breaks most · 1990 to 2000 model years
Buick Skylark problems by year
Owners have filed 477 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Buick Skylark across model years 1990 to 2000. Three years stand out: 1995 for electrical system complaints, 1996 for air bags complaints and 1997 for brakes (hydraulic) complaints. The quietest years are 1990, 1992 and 1991.
- Years to check closely: 1995, 1996, 1997
- Fewest complaints: 1990, 1992, 1991
- Complaints on file
- 4771990 to 2000, all trims
- Worst year
- 199585 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 4712 fires · 47 injuries · 1 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 90kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 25Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 1 | 2 | Electrical system (7) | |
| 38 | 5 | 2 | Engine and cooling (11) | |
| 32 | 4 | 3 | Brakes (hydraulic) (7) | |
| 46 | 5 | 1 | Brakes (hydraulic) (10) | |
| 68 | 8 | 2 | Engine and cooling (17) | |
| 85 | 7 | 1 | Electrical system (31) | |
| 85 | 7 | 6 | Air bags (18) | |
| 79 | 8 | 5 | Brakes (hydraulic) (15) | |
| 24 | 2 | 3 | Speed control and throttle (5) | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Electrical system (1) |
What fails on the 1995 Buick Skylark
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 36% |
31 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 1995 Buick Skylark |
| Brakes (hydraulic)Brake pads, rotors and calipers | 20% |
17 | 3 | Shop brakes (hydraulic) parts for the 1995 Buick Skylark |
| Air bags | 14% |
12 | 4 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Engine and coolingRadiators, thermostats and cooling | 12% |
10 | 0 | Shop engine and cooling parts for the 1995 Buick Skylark |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 12% |
10 | 0 | Shop exterior lighting parts for the 1995 Buick Skylark |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 6% |
5 | 1 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 1995 Buick Skylark |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 5% |
4 | 0 | Shop powertrain and transmission parts for the 1995 Buick Skylark |
| Seat belts | 4% |
3 | 1 | Check recalls for seat belts on NHTSA.gov |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
Dt*: the contact stated the horn failed, the fuse was inspected and had melted. The dealership determined the horn switch stuck causing the horn to short out and the wiring harness to melt. The horn, horn relay, and wiring harness were replaced.
-
Engine runs 30-40mph with foot off gas, due to coolant leaking in engine into oil. Put coolant (dex cool) in car, paid for a window regulator on passenger side, soon light heater ducts, think cylinder shift light clicker, low coolant, engine noise, we were told car was normal.
-
Brakes are defective when applied, and pedal goes all the way down to the floor. The dealership is aware of problem.*ak consumer no longer owns vehicle because noone could fix the defect. *slc
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Buick Skylark years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 1995, 1996, 1997 carry the most filings on the Buick Skylark. The 1995 alone has 85 complaints, led by electrical system.
What is the most common Buick Skylark problem?
On the 1995 model year, the most-reported component is electrical system with 31 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Buick Skylark problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Buick Skylark complaints that include mileage is about 90,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.