Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Buick Skylark, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 23% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 15% |
| Seats | 4 | 10% |
| Structure | 2 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 5% |
| Steering | 2 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 3% |
| Tires | 1 | 3% |
| Visibility | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD CAME OFF AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER LOSSED CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Tires
VEHICLE WAS IN A LEFT REAR END COLLISION. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT RECLINED BACKWARD UPON IMPACT. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH RECLINING SEATS. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER HAVING NECK AND EYE INJURIES. THIS COULD OF
NHTSA complaint: Seats
WHEN PUTTING DOWN THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW, THE WINDOW AT TIMES WILL NOT COME BACK UP. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND THEY PUT ON A 4 WAY SWITCH THATS USED TO LET DOWN ALL 4 WINDOWS. THAT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TOOK
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON IT WILL ACCELERATE AND MOVE FORWARD WHETHER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED OR NOT.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
WHILE DRIVING FOR AN EXTEND PERIOD OF TIME AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. OCCURRED 5 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FAN MOTOR, COOLING SYSTEM, BOTH FRONT DOOR WINDOW MOTORS, AND THE BATTERY TWICE. THIS PLUS 6 ALTERNATORS WITHIN 5 1/2 YEARS. THE COOLING SYSTEM, FAN MOTOR, AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS OCCURED AT VAR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT & SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, TAPPED ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE ACCELERATED & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE & IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SKYLARK WAS DECLARED TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. NLM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1991 Buick Skylark. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
MOISTURE CAN ENTER THE EXPRESS-DOWN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT CAUSES WINDOW OPERATION WITHOUT OPERATOR CONTROL, AND LEAVES THE WINDOW IN THE DOWN POSITION.
Risk: THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WILL FAIL FROM OVERHEATINGAND COULD RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD INSIDE THE DOOR PANEL.
Fix: REPLACE THE WINDOW EXPRESS-DOWN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 48 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 9 of them (23%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.