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1998 Buick Skylark Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 1998 Buick Skylark, and owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
24
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
21–23
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 1998 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. Switch (electrical system)

    NHTSA 04V036000 Reported 1,415,231 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    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…

24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1998 Buick Skylark have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 114,750 miles. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 4 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Tl* 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 t”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 23, 2016 · Electrical system

“Tl* the contact was a passenger in a 1998 buick skylark. While driving approximately 50 MPH, another vehicle ran a red light and crashed into the vehicle. The air bags deployed and a police report was”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 16, 2015 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1998 Buick Skylark. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined21–23 mpg
City / Highway18–19 / 27–30
FuelRegular
EPA classCompact Cars
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.4/3.1 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

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 1998 Buick Skylark

How do I know if my 1998 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 1998 Buick Skylark; your car may already have been repaired under it.

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 04V036000).

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.