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1998 Buick Skylark

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
24Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1998 Buick Skylark

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 24 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 5 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 5 reports
  • Air Bags: 4 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 3 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
85
199585
199679
199724
19981
2000
Compare all Skylark years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Air Bags
4Engine And Engine Cooling
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
All reported categories
Seat Belts
2Structure
2Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1Steering
1Suspension
1Visibility
1

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: 8 of 24 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

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…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #738570

Recall campaigns

1

04V036000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Jan 27, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.