Reliability & cost of ownership
Buick Skylark Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Buick Skylark? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Buick Skylark problems by model year
15 recall entries across 4 model years and 276 owner complaints across 6 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining 2 model years — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Skylark | Not confirmed | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2000 Skylark | Not confirmed | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 1998 Skylark | 3 | 24 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1997 Skylark | 5 | 79 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1996 Skylark | 6 | 85 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1995 Skylark | 1 | 86 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Buick Skylark, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- electrical system64 complaints
- air bags47 complaints
- service brakes, hydraulic43 complaints
- engine and engine cooling36 complaints
- vehicle speed control17 complaints
- seat belts16 complaints
- exterior lighting14 complaints
- structure13 complaints