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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Buick Skylark1992–1998

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🚗 SEDAN
Buick Skylark
1992–1998
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
0.0/yr · seg. median 0.0
Limited data — provisional
Safety
Low
0 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
4
Recalls
39
Complaints
—
Best Yr
5
Injuries
Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
7
Years Analyzed
4
Total Recalls
39
Total Complaints
5
Reported Injuries
1
Reported Deaths

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 2 past investigations into the Skylark became recalls.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 11, 2026.

Buick Skylark — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
199800——
82
39
67
Excellent
199710——
57
39
51
Good
199600——
82
39
67
Excellent
199503——
57
39
51
Good
199401331
57
39
51
Avoid
19930122—
57
39
51
Avoid
1992311——
57
39
51
Avoid

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Known Buick Skylark Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Skylark compares — best year within each era shown.

Pre-2013

Older Skylark models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution
1996 · 671998 · 671992 · 511993 · 511994 · 511995 · 511997 · 51

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Skylark to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every Skylark model year.

Which Skylark years have the most problems?+

See the year-by-year problem table for a complete breakdown.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Skylark problems?+

The most frequently reported Buick Skylark issues involve: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Buick Skylark.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar sedan vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every Skylark year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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