RecallMyCar

1980 Buick Skylark Recalls, Complaints & Specs

9 safety recalls list the 1980 Buick Skylark. Check your own VIN below.

9
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

9 safety recalls for the 1980 Buick Skylark

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Foundation components (service brakes)

    NHTSA 83V018000 Reported 239,799 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Under certain conditions, vehicles may experience premature rear wheel skid during braking. Rear wheel skidding is most likely to occur on a wet or slick surface.

    Remedy: Depending on the transmission type and the brake components that have been installed, dealers will inspect and replace or repair, as necessary, certain front brake components, and the parking brake cables. The rear…

  2. Differential proportional valve (service brakes)

    NHTSA 81V095000 Reported 47,371 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Under certain conditions, the rear brakes could lock up without prior warning during high deceleration braking. The problem may be caused by defective proportioner valves in the braking system.

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect the brake system proportioner valves and if necessary install new valves.

  3. Flasher unit (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 79V234000 Reported 236 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The turn signal flasher unit installed on the involved vehicles fails to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment". This incorrect unit causes the flash rate to be too fast or renders inoperative the feature which causes the turn signal indicator light(s) in the…

    Remedy: Dealer will install the correct flasher unit without charge to owner.

  4. Rack and pinion (steering)

    NHTSA 79V221000 Reported 161,225 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The steering gear mounting plate on the involved vehicles may develop fatigue cracks at high mileage which would allow the steering gear attachment to become loose. If this condition exists, the driver may notice considerable "free play" in the steering wheel.

    Remedy: The dealer will install an improved type of steering gear mounting bracket without charge to owner.

  5. Cooling unit and lines (power train)

    NHTSA 79V220000 Reported 224,892 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The automatic cooler line hoses on some of the suspect vehicles may contain material voids, which combined with a high thermal expansion at elevated temperatures, could result in hose failure and transmission fluid leakage.

    Remedy: The dealer will replace the cooler line hoses using hoses with kevlar braided reinforcement.

  6. Coil springs (suspension)

    NHTSA 79V098000 Reported 23,725 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The front suspension coil spring may have a larger than desired inside diameter of the lower coil where it rests on the spring seat. This could allow the spring to be forced over the lower spring seat due to suspension forces.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and replace incorrect front suspension coil springs without charge.

  7. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 79V090000 Reported 4,382 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    There is a potential for interference between the clutch control cable and brake pipe in the master cylinder. This can result in rubbing contact when the clutch pedal is operated. Also, the brake pipe clearance to the transmission case may be inadequate. If this condition exists, it could eventually result in a failure in the brake…

    Remedy: The clutch cable routing will be revised to prevent contact with the master cylinder, without charge.

  8. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 79V091000 Reported 4,626 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Fuel hoses may be incorrectly positioned and contact the right front drive axle boot during vehicle operation. After a period of time, the rotating boot could wear a hole in the fuel hose, resulting in fule leakage.

    Remedy: If proper clearance is not present, the metal fuel pipe will be reformed upwards to correct the problem, without charge to owner.

  9. Seats

    NHTSA 79V073000 Reported 35 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Vehicles do not comply to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 207, "anchorage of seats". The lock bar in the front seat adjuster assemblies may not engage properly and the ability of the seat adjuster to maintain the seat in a latched position during an accident may be reduced.

    Remedy: Both front seat adjuster assemblies will be replaced at no charge to owner.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1980 Buick Skylark. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.

Compare Buick Skylark model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Buick Skylark model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1966 Buick Skylark10
1967 Buick Skylark20
1968 Buick Skylark10
1970 Buick Skylark10
1971 Buick Skylark10
1975 Buick Skylark10
1977 Buick Skylark20
1978 Buick Skylark20
1979 Buick Skylark10
1980 Buick Skylark90
1981 Buick Skylark21
1982 Buick Skylark33
1983 Buick Skylark11
1984 Buick Skylark38
1985 Buick Skylark16
1986 Buick Skylark18
1987 Buick Skylark10
1988 Buick Skylark314
1989 Buick Skylark24
1990 Buick Skylark119
1991 Buick Skylark138
1992 Buick Skylark332
1993 Buick Skylark146
1994 Buick Skylark268
1995 Buick Skylark185
1996 Buick Skylark485
1997 Buick Skylark379
1998 Buick Skylark124
2000 Buick Skylark01

Checking a specific 1980 Buick Skylark

How do I know if my 1980 Buick Skylark has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 9 campaigns currently list the 1980 Buick Skylark; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Buick dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 79V073000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Buick models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.