IllustrationTHE 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
1994 Buick Skylark
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Skylark years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 7 of 68 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
68 reportsWHILE SITTING IN CAR WITH ENGINE RUNNING PASSENGER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK SWITCH, YELLOWISH IN COLOR. CONSUMER EXITED VEHICLE, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF DOOR. THEY STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMAT…
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WHILE SITTING IN CAR WITH ENGINE RUNNING PASSENGER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK SWITCH, YELLOWISH IN COLOR. CONSUMER EXITED VEHICLE, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF DOOR. THEY STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, TEMPERATURE GAUGE ROSE IMMEDIATELY. AFTER THAT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO 2 MECHANICS. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO HEAD GASKET. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED AT #2 PLUG, RESULTING IN POWER LOSS, WATER INTRODUCTION IN CRANKCASE, COSTLY REPAIR AND , EVENTUALLY, FAILURE OF ROD BEARINGS.*AK
THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH WIRES SHORTING OUT, LIGHTS COMING ON, HORN NOT WORKING, ETC. *YH
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HOOD FLEW OPEN AND STRUCK WINDSHIELD, MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK AND NO AJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE, ALSO STEERING WHEEL IS EXTREMELY LOOSE WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. *AK CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, DEALER FOUND TILT WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE, FOUND PIN LOOSE IN SHAFT, NOTCHED SHAFT TO HOLD PIN, FACTORY HAD NOTCHED SHAFT 3 TIMES, DEALER NOTCHED SHAFT APPROXIMA…
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STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK AND NO AJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE, ALSO STEERING WHEEL IS EXTREMELY LOOSE WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. *AK CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, DEALER FOUND TILT WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE, FOUND PIN LOOSE IN SHAFT, NOTCHED SHAFT TO HOLD PIN, FACTORY HAD NOTCHED SHAFT 3 TIMES, DEALER NOTCHED SHAFT APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES AND COLUMN WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, MULTI-FUNCTION TURN SIGNAL FAILED AND LEVER WAS INOPERATIVE. *YD
CONSUMER HAD A FRONT IMPACT CRASH AT 35 MPH, AND DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUFFERED KNEE AND BACK INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK *SLC
WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS TURNING INTO A CURVE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING AND STEERING COLUMN DROPPED DOWN TO FLOOR. PINS FELL OUT FROM STEERING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN VEHICLE HESITATES OR COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.*AK
Official recalls
200V287000 · Electrical System:starter Assembly
Oct 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 & remedy
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.
94V122000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jul 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA00007 · Steering Column Fires
Opened Mar 3, 2000 · Closed Feb 7, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available