Total Complaints
46 filings
BUICK SKYLARK · model year
1991 BUICK SKYLARK
46 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991BUICKSKYLARK carries 46 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 1 fire, 6 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 1991 SKYLARK is vehicle speed control with 6 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (5) and electrical system:ignition (3). 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 1991 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.
46
Complaints
7
Crashes
1
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
7 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 |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT PEALING OFF ROOF, LITTLE BY LITTLE
Mileage: 88,000
20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PAINT PEALING OFF ROOF, LITTLE BY LITTLE
Mileage: 88,000
20030714TIRES
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD CAME OFF AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER LOSSED CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Mileage: 70,000
20030116CrashSEATS
VEHICLE WAS IN A LEFT REAR END COLLISION. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT RECLINED BACKWARD UPON IMPACT. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER HAVING NECK AND EYE INJURIES. THIS COULD OF CAUSED INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER ALSO, BUT THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH
Mileage: 132,000
20021205VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WHEN PUTTING DOWN THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW, THE WINDOW AT TIMES WILL NOT COME BACK UP. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND THEY PUT ON A 4 WAY SWITCH THATS USED TO LET DOWN ALL 4 WINDOWS. THAT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED ITS THE MOTOR IN THE DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
20010713VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON IT WILL ACCELERATE AND MOVE FORWARD WHETHER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED OR NOT.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *SLC
20010713VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON IT WILL ACCELERATE AND MOVE FORWARD WHETHER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED OR NOT.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *SLC
20001018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING FOR AN EXTEND PERIOD OF TIME AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. OCCURRED 5 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
20000911ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FAN MOTOR, COOLING SYSTEM, BOTH FRONT DOOR WINDOW MOTORS, AND THE BATTERY TWICE. THIS PLUS 6 ALTERNATORS WITHIN 5 1/2 YEARS. THE COOLING SYSTEM, FAN MOTOR, AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS OCCURED AT VARYING SPEEDS-IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDE THAT THE IDLE RECALIBRATED ITSELF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING IN TRAFFIC.
20000911VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FAN MOTOR, COOLING SYSTEM, BOTH FRONT DOOR WINDOW MOTORS, AND THE BATTERY TWICE. THIS PLUS 6 ALTERNATORS WITHIN 5 1/2 YEARS. THE COOLING SYSTEM, FAN MOTOR, AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS OCCURED AT VARYING SPEEDS-IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDE THAT THE IDLE RECALIBRATED ITSELF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING IN TRAFFIC.
20000911ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FAN MOTOR, COOLING SYSTEM, BOTH FRONT DOOR WINDOW MOTORS, AND THE BATTERY TWICE. THIS PLUS 6 ALTERNATORS WITHIN 5 1/2 YEARS. THE COOLING SYSTEM, FAN MOTOR, AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS OCCURED AT VARYING SPEEDS-IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDE THAT THE IDLE RECALIBRATED ITSELF CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING IN TRAFFIC.
20000601CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT & SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, TAPPED ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE ACCELERATED & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE & IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SKYLARK WAS DECLARED TOTALED. POSSIBLY DUE TO COMPUTER FAILURE/DEFECT. *AK *ML
20000426ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. NLM
19990713CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
ON 2/28/99 I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. MY "THE DRIVERS SEAT" GAVE WAY SLAMMING ME DOWN FLAT. I WAS UNCONSCEOUS FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND PARILIZED FOR ABOUT 1/2 HOUR. I HAVE SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH MY HEAD , NECK,AND UPPER BACK AREAS. I FEEL THAT WITHOUT A DOUBT MY INJURIES WERE MUCH WORSE BECAUSE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT GIVING WAY AND SLAMMING ME DOWN FLAT. MY WIFE WHO WAS ALSO IN THE CAR, AND RECIEVED CONTUSIONS AND SOME WHIPLASH PROBLEMS. I HAVE SINCE HEARD THAT BUICK AND TWO OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS EXPERIMENTED WITH " BREAKAWAY SEATS" IN 1991. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU KNEW IF THIS WERE TRUE OR NOT OR IF YOU COULD FIND OUT. I THINK IT IS TERRIBLE IF PEOPLE WERE USED AS EXPERIMENTS WITH OUT BEING PROPERLY INFORMED ABOUT IT. *AKY
19990513SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
MY WIFE AND I WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN HIT IN THE REAR BY A CAR GOING ABOUT 45 MPH. WE BOTH HAD SEAT BELTS ON. MY "THE DRIVERS SEAT " BROKE SLAMMING ME DOWN HARD. I CAME TO STAIRING UP AT THE ROOF OF THE CAR, AND WAS PARILIZED FOR ABOUT 1/2 HOUR. I HAVE HEARD THAT BUICK AND TWO OTHER CAR CO. EXPAIRMENTED WITH BREAKAWAY SEATS IN 1991. IF SO I THINK THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED AND THE SEATS REPLACED, AS I AM SURE MY INJURIES WERE MUCH WORSE THAN MY WIFES BECAUSE OF MY SEAT SLAMMING ME DOWN. *AK
19990319ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
OIL CHANGED PER MANUAL. NEVER USED FOR TOWING.
19990207STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
19990207SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
19990202STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
DUE TO POOR QUALITY CONTROL THE PAINT HAS CONTINUED TO PEEL OFF THE BODY. *AK
19990112ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED.
Compare 1991BUICKSKYLARK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1991 BUICK SKYLARK have?▼
The 1991 BUICK SKYLARK has 46 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 1 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 BUICK SKYLARK?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 BUICK SKYLARK is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION.
Is the 1991 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.