1985 Buick SKYLARK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 5 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 2 | 40.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 20.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Power Steering Fluid | 1 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Power Steering Fluid: 1; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 2 |
1995: 2; 1996: 1; 2000: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 481272 · 1995-02-13 (February 13, 1995)
HEATER FAILS TO HEAT VEHICLE PROPERLY. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717192 · 2000-01-11 (January 11, 2000)
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 S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 858870 · 2000-03-20 (March 20, 2000)
PROVIDE IN DETAIL WHAT SAFETY DEFECTS THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 858870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 973321 · 1995-10-12 (October 12, 1995)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 981284 · 1996-03-27 (March 27, 1996)
STEERING; POWER STEERING, STEERING EFFORT INCREASES DURING COLD START TEMPORARY LACK OF POWER STEERING, CAN NOT MAKE A RIGHT TURN EA87-006. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 981284 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
84V132000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Springs
Reported: 1984-10-16 (October 16, 1984)
THE THROTTLE LINKAGE MAY BIND BECAUSE DURING NORMAL OPERATION, THE THROTTLE BODY CASE MAY INTERFERE WITH THE LINKAGE. THIS INTERFERENCE COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM CLOSING EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER HAS REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLES AND IMPROVE THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE AND THROTTLE BODY CASING IF NEEDED, AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗