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Buick SkylarkModel year report

1998 Buick Skylark Problems

Complaints
24filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
94,500miles, 8 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl FWD · 19 city / 30 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Buick Skylark (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1998 Buick Skylark. The part named most often is electrical system, with 5 complaints (21% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (5) and air bags (4). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 13% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 94,500 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 8 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 21 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the switch and 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Steering (1), Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “The contact owns a 1998 Buick Skylark. While parked, the vehicle was not able to start and the anti-theft warning light illuminated. The contact mentioned that it took multiple attempts to start the vehicle. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the starter failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04v036000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10837851, filed 2016-02, 138,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “Consumer began to put vehicle into park after pulling into a parking space, when it surged forward, vehicle jumped a curb, crashed through a wall, and through a couple tables before coming to a stop, 2 people were injured in the accident.”

NHTSA complaint #564800, filed 2002-03

Air bags: “I was injured when the airbag of a 1998 Buick Skylark (n body) deployed when I started the vehicle. There was no impact, in fact the vehicle was sitting in a building and not even in motion. I sustained a brain shear injury and I am still recovering. I know of two other incidents where this occurred in n body GM vehicles. General motors paid for the repair of the vehicle but has not contacted me in regard to my injuries or lost wages.(I was out of work 2 months and recently returned on a limited basis. General motors blames the deployment on moisture on the floor of the vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #10115975, filed 2005-03

Brakes: “Abs brake light illuminated and stayed on. Vehicle has to be shut down and restarted to disengage. Dealer has repaired problem once, but it seemed to have reoccurd. Consumer stated that the problem still exist.”

NHTSA complaint #8016080, filed 2002-08

Mileage when problems were reported

13% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 85,000 and 138,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–2513%25–500%50–7550%75–10013%100–15025%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (8 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 94,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

19982000420024200520112016
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1998 Buick Skylark version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Skylark FWD2.4L 4-cyl4-speed automatic193023$2,900
Skylark FWD3.1L 6-cyl4-speed automatic182721$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1998 Buick Skylark → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 21 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 21 bulletins →

Other model years of the Buick Skylark

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
19982494,5001—23—Stable
19977955,0333—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19968595,2804—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19958590,0001—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199468110,0002—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199346—1—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199232—3—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19913888,0001—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199019138,0001—23—Stable
198814—3—24—Not enough data
19868135,0141———Not enough data
19856—1—19—Not enough data
19848—3—20—Not enough data

All Buick Skylark model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Buick Skylark have?

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1998 Buick Skylark as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1998 Buick Skylark is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 5 complaints (21% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 5.

Has the 1998 Buick Skylark been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Buick Skylark get?

The EPA rates the 1998 Buick Skylark (Skylark, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 19 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Buick Skylark reported?

Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 94,500 miles and the middle half falls between 85,000 and 138,000 miles; 13% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.