BUICK SKYLARK · model year

1998 BUICK SKYLARK

34 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998BUICKSKYLARK carries 34 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 10 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 1998 SKYLARK is vehicle speed control with 5 filings, followed by air bags (4) and seat belts:front:anchorage (2). 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 1998 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.

34
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

34 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
AIR BAGS4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID1
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL1
SEATS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM1

Recent Complaints

20160223ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK SKYLARK. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO START AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

Mileage: 138,000

20160223ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK SKYLARK. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO START AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

Mileage: 138,000

20150716CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN A 1998 BUICK SKYLARK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE EYES AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Mileage: 96,000

20111215ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, LEAKING COOLANT INTO ENGINE OIL. *TR

Mileage: 185,000

20110705AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK SKYLARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO CRASH OCCURRED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER, NOR THE DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000.

Mileage: 193,000

20091209STRUCTURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK SKYLARK. WHEN IT RAINED, WATER FLOODED THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT AND PEDALS. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL AFTER IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46000. UPDATED 1/28/10 *CN UPDATED 02/03/10.

Mileage: 46,000

20050816ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

DT: CONTACT STATED THAT ON 7-11-05 HAD A NEW ALTERNATOR PUT IN. IT FAILED ON 8-13-05., AND IT WAS REPLACED ON 8-14-05. IT IS NOT SHOWING UP ON THE TESTER AS CONSISTENT. IT WAS ARCHING AND DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE ALTERNATOR WAS #8225-7. THEY WILL REPLACE IT IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME; BUT THAT DID NOT HELP THE CALL NOW BECAUSE CAR DIED THE FREEWAY. A MECHANIC TOLD HER THEY WERE PUTTING BAD REGULATORS IN THESE ALTERNATORS. THIS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES;: CAR QUEST, AND BBB INDUSTRIES; 5640 COMMERCE EAST, MOBILE, AL 36619. PALLADIUM; BOX 2710 RONOAKE, VA 24001. *AK

20050328AIR BAGS

I WAS INJURED WHEN THE AIRBAG OF A 1998 BUICK SKYLARK (N BODY) DEPLOYED WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, IN FACT THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN A BUILDING AND NOT EVEN IN MOTION. I SUSTAINED A BRAIN SHEAR INJURY AND I AM STILL RECOVERING. I KNOW OF TWO OTHER INCIDENTS WHERE THIS OCCURRED IN N BODY GM VEHICLES. GENERAL MOTORS PAID FOR THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE BUT HAS NOT CONTACTED ME IN REGARD TO MY INJURIES OR LOST WAGES.(I WAS OUT OF WORK 2 MONTHS AND RECENTLY RETURNED ON A LIMITED BASIS. GENERAL MOTORS BLAMES THE DEPLOYMENT ON MOISTURE ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. I LIVE IN WESTERN NEW YORK WHERE WITH OUR WEATHER IT IS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO HAVE MOISTURE ON THE FLOOR. ONE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED A DEPLOYMENT IS ALSO INJURED. PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS MATTER AS THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IS VERY GREAT. THANKS MIKE HALL PS I HAVE THE PARTS FROM THE DEPLOYMENT THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN. *JB

20040309ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

SOMETIMES WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE DRIVER HAS TO HOLD THE KEY IN THE CRANK POSITION UNTIL THE VEHICLE WILL START. THERE IS A DELAY IN STARTING. *AK

Mileage: 93,000

20040308ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. WHEN TURNING THE KEY VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *AK

Mileage: 82,000

20040308ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 040025000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER CHARGED CONSUMER FOR REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH .*AK

Mileage: 85,000

20020813SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. VEHICLE HAS TO BE SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED TO DISENGAGE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED PROBLEM ONCE, BUT IT SEEMED TO HAVE REOCCURD. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YH

20020813VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

LACK OF ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING, INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20020813VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILED TO GO UP. DEALER NOTIFIED ,AND THEY INFORMED THAT REGULTOR MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20020514VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER BEGAN TO PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WHEN IT SURGED FORWARD, VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB, CRASHED THROUGH A WALL, AND THROUGH A COUPLE TABLES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

20020426VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER BEGAN TO PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, WHEN IT SURGED FORWARD, VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB, CRASHED THROUGH A WALL, AND THROUGH A COUPLE TABLES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

20010927STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

CONSUMER WAS INSIDE OF A GARAGE AND WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH, AND STEERING WHEEL COLUMN FELL IN HER LAP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

20010514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. WHEN ENGINE IS WARM AND HAS BEEN RUNNING, IT IS MORE LIKELY TO SHUT OFF. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

20010222SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHING IS COMING LOOSE AT ONLY 28,972 MILES WHICH COULD CAUSE OTHER RELATED PROBELMS. DEALER CLAIMS THEY ARE AWARE OF DEFECT. *AK *SLC

20010117FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

SHIELD ON THE GAS LINE WAS NOT SECURE A HOLE THE SIZE OF A PENCIL WAS WORN INTO THE TUBING GASOLINE SPILLED ONTO THE MANIFOLD AND SPRAYED INTO THE ENGINE. IT WAS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND COLD WEATHER IT DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE OR EXPLODE...I HAVE THE PIECE THAT WAS REMOVED....ALL THE GAS LINES SHOULD BE CHECKED TO BE SURE THE SHIELD IS HELD IN PLACE....I AM NOT A FATALITY BUT COULD HAVE BEEN. THIS IS SERIOUS...WHO ELSE CAN I CONTACT? AN. *AK

Compare 1998BUICKSKYLARK to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 BUICK SKYLARK have?
The 1998 BUICK SKYLARK has 34 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 BUICK SKYLARK?
The most-complained component for the 1998 BUICK SKYLARK is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE.
Is the 1998 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.