U.S. public vehicle records

1994 Buick SKYLARK: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

46 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

110,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 46 complaints (10.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	12	26.1%
Braking behavior	8	17.4%
Electrical and battery issues	4	8.7%
Transmission and shifting	2	4.3%
Engine operation	2	4.3%

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.

Steering

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Steering:Column

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System:Starter Assembly

Engine And Engine Cooling

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Steering	5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	4
Steering:Column	4
Air Bags:Frontal	3
Electrical System:Starter Assembly	3
Engine And Engine Cooling	3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	3
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner	3

Steering: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Steering:Column: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 39 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.

1995

1996

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2011

2013

1995: 7; 1996: 6; 2000: 4; 2001: 12; 2002: 6; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2011: 1; 2013: 1

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10010480 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)

THE SEAT BELT ON MY 1994 BUICK SKYLARK DOES NOT SEEM TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF LOCK-UP. I AM CONCERNED AS TO THE OPERATION OF THE SENSING DEVICE ON THIS SYSTEM. CAN I HAVE IT CHECKED FOR OPERATION BEFORE I HAVE AN ACCIDENT? *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010480 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10029728 · 2003-07-21 (July 21, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029728 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10032033 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)

AT 70,514 MILES THE TILT WHEEL PIVOT PINS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WERE LOOSE AND REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. NOW AT 75,000 MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 70,514 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032033 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10036739 · 2003-08-28 (August 28, 2003)

THE PINS THAT HOLDS AND ALLOWS THE STEERING WHEEL TO TILT HAVE COME OUT OF THEIR HOLES ON TWO OCCASIONS MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036739 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10070104 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

AC HEATING - HEATER CORE WENT OUT- AC STILL NOT WORKING COMPUTER CONTROL- BUICK REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER CHIP- MY COMPLAINT WAS ERRATIC IDLING. IT FIXED PROBLEM. PAINT PEELING THIS YEAR STRUTS AND SPRINGS ON SUSPENSION ARE NOT LASTING LONG TIRES- PROBABLY MY FAULT FOR NOT ROTATING TRANSMISSION- I REPLACED IT WITH SALVAGED ONE AT 170,000- HEARD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS 4T60E TRANSMISSION. BRAKES- FRONT ONES LAST 1,000 MILES. I REPLACE ALL HARDWARE. STEERING-LISTEN TO THIS-THE PIVOT PINS ON MY TILT STEERING FELL OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS …

Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070104 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10079632 · 2004-06-22 (June 22, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL LOOSENED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THREE STEERING BOLTS FAILED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 129,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10107463 · 2005-01-18 (January 18, 2005)

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AXLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB.....PASSENGER'S AXLE BROKE SIX MONTHS AGO, AND CURRENTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE BROKE. IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE THAT BOTH AXLES WOULD BE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107463 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10151838 · 2006-03-05 (March 5, 2006)

I OWN A 1994 BUICK SKYLARK. IT DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK. I HAD THE HEATER CORE REPLACED ON ADVISE OF A MECHANIC THAT UNTIL RECENTLY WAS AT A GM DEALERSHIP. IT STILL LEAKED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE WATER PUMP SO I HAD THAT REPLACED. IT STILL LEAKED. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $660.00. I HAVE CONTACTED GM DEALERSHIPS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS IN REGARDS TO THE MANIFOLD GASKET AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET IS THAT IT IS A …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10151838 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

00V287000 · Electrical System:Starter Assembly

Reported: 2000-10-02 (October 2, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.

Consequence: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER BATTERY REPLACEMENT OR UNRELATED STARTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIRS.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

94V122000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Reported: 1994-07-01 (July 1, 1994)

THESE VEHICLES WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH WELDS IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT PAN ASSEMBLY THAT ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO FUEL TANK LEAKAGE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION. THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL RIVETS ADJACENT TO THE LOCATIONS WHERE THE SUSPECT WELDS ARE LOCATED.

NHTSA campaign record ↗