BUICK SKYHAWK · model year

1989 BUICK SKYHAWK

3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989BUICKSKYHAWK carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 SKYHAWK is power train:clutch assembly:pedal/hand lever(motorcycle) with 1 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock (1) and structure (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1989 SKYHAWK. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

3 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK1
STRUCTURE1

Recent Complaints

20040625STRUCTURE

WHEN IT RAINS VEHICLE WOULD LEAK, CAUSING SEVERE WATER DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. *AK

19980603LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK

WHEN HIITING A BUMP THE HATCHBACK COMES OPEN. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

19970102POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

CLUTCH DISC ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *AK

Compare 1989BUICKSKYHAWK to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 BUICK SKYHAWK have?
The 1989 BUICK SKYHAWK has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 BUICK SKYHAWK?
The most-complained component for the 1989 BUICK SKYHAWK is POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK and STRUCTURE.
Is the 1989 BUICK SKYHAWK safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.