Total Complaints
11 filings
BUICK SKYLARK · model year
1985 BUICK SKYLARK
11 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985BUICKSKYLARK carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 3 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 1985 SKYLARK is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 3 filings, followed by steering:rack and pinion (2) and visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system (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 1985 SKYLARK. 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.
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20000320UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PROVIDE IN DETAIL WHAT SAFETY DEFECTS THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
20000111FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
HI! I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS APPLICABLE IF I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY...CAR JUST DIED, NO PROBLEM WITH RESTARTING, JUST LIKE NO FUEL GOING TO MOTOR, AFTER COOLING DOWN FOR A WHILE , IT WAS "OKAY"MECHANIC COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I FINALLY HAD TO GO TO GET A CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, IN NOV./1999 AND NOW IN JANUARY OF 2000, I NEED A NEW CONVERTOR, AGAIN. THE REPAIRMAN SAID IT WAS RUNNING TOO RICH, CAUSING THE INSIDE OF THE CONVERTOR TO MELT, AND THEN BREAK INSIDE. A NEW ONE IN 2 MONTHS??? PLEASE EXCUSE THIS PLEA IF I AM NOT SUPPOSE TO BE WRITING AS THE SECOND OWNER. THE FIRST OWNER WAS A LITTLE OLD LADY, AND THOSE ARE ORIGINAL MILES. I GOT THE CAR AT 16,500 MILES. YOU WOULD THINK IT WAS A GOOD THING TO HAVE SO FEW MILES...APPARENTLY NOT. HELP??!! THANKS IN ADVANCE. CAMIE GLEGHORN. *AK
20000111ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
HI! I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS APPLICABLE IF I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY...CAR JUST DIED, NO PROBLEM WITH RESTARTING, JUST LIKE NO FUEL GOING TO MOTOR, AFTER COOLING DOWN FOR A WHILE , IT WAS "OKAY"MECHANIC COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I FINALLY HAD TO GO TO GET A CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, IN NOV./1999 AND NOW IN JANUARY OF 2000, I NEED A NEW CONVERTOR, AGAIN. THE REPAIRMAN SAID IT WAS RUNNING TOO RICH, CAUSING THE INSIDE OF THE CONVERTOR TO MELT, AND THEN BREAK INSIDE. A NEW ONE IN 2 MONTHS??? PLEASE EXCUSE THIS PLEA IF I AM NOT SUPPOSE TO BE WRITING AS THE SECOND OWNER. THE FIRST OWNER WAS A LITTLE OLD LADY, AND THOSE ARE ORIGINAL MILES. I GOT THE CAR AT 16,500 MILES. YOU WOULD THINK IT WAS A GOOD THING TO HAVE SO FEW MILES...APPARENTLY NOT. HELP??!! THANKS IN ADVANCE. CAMIE GLEGHORN. *AK
19991129FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) NLM
19991129FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) NLM
19991129FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) NLM
19960327STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING; POWER STEERING, STEERING EFFORT INCREASES DURING COLD START TEMPORARY LACK OF POWER STEERING, CAN NOT MAKE A RIGHT TURN EA87-006. *AK
19960327STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING; POWER STEERING, STEERING EFFORT INCREASES DURING COLD START TEMPORARY LACK OF POWER STEERING, CAN NOT MAKE A RIGHT TURN EA87-006. *AK
19951012STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
POWER STEERING FLUID IS NOT GETTING TO THE BRACKET. TT CONSUMER STATES STEERING BRACKET IS GOING OUT, POWER STEERING FLUID DOES NOT REACH BEARING, THIS IS WHAT CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT BUICK DEALERS CONSUMER STATES WHAT IS DANGEROUS ABOUT THIS, IS WHEN YOU WANT TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT IT STICKS AND VEHICLE WANT STO CONTINUE TO GO STRAIGH. ALSO CONSUMER HAS A FUEL LEAK THE FUMES ARE COMING INSIDE VEHICLE VERY STRONG ODOR HAVE TO KEEP THE WINDOWS DOWN.*JB
19951012FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
POWER STEERING FLUID IS NOT GETTING TO THE BRACKET. TT CONSUMER STATES STEERING BRACKET IS GOING OUT, POWER STEERING FLUID DOES NOT REACH BEARING, THIS IS WHAT CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT BUICK DEALERS CONSUMER STATES WHAT IS DANGEROUS ABOUT THIS, IS WHEN YOU WANT TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT IT STICKS AND VEHICLE WANT STO CONTINUE TO GO STRAIGH. ALSO CONSUMER HAS A FUEL LEAK THE FUMES ARE COMING INSIDE VEHICLE VERY STRONG ODOR HAVE TO KEEP THE WINDOWS DOWN.*JB
19950427VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HEATER FAILS TO HEAT VEHICLE PROPERLY. *SKD
Compare 1985BUICKSKYLARK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 BUICK SKYLARK have?▼
The 1985 BUICK SKYLARK has 11 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 BUICK SKYLARK?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 BUICK SKYLARK is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:RACK AND PINION and VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM.
Is the 1985 BUICK SKYLARK 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.