Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Buick Skylark, and it carries 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 9 | 20% |
| Power train | 6 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 11% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 9% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 7% |
| Steering | 3 | 7% |
| Visibility | 3 | 7% |
| Structure | 2 | 4% |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
VEHICLE 330 ENGINE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN IN PARK, THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. I HAVE WORKED AROUND IT BY TILTING THE STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN SHARPLY SEVERAL TIMES WHEN TH
NHTSA complaint: Power train
VEHICLE STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHEN RAINING, WATER LEAKS AND SETTLES ON THE RIGHT FRONT FLOOR. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Structure
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. I REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, FUSIBLE LINK, AND STARTER WHEN THE IGNITION STARTED TO SMOKE/BURN WHEN STARTING IN THE PARKING LOT. THE REPLACEMENT STARTER FAIL
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
WHILE CAR WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF, VEHICLE SOMEWAY JUMPED OUT OF OF PARK AND ROLLED ACROSS THE LOT, HITTING ANOTHER PARKED CAR. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE CRIMP ON THE CONNECTOR FOR THE INJECTOR PUMP, FUEL SUPPLY HOSE FAILED, CAUSING THE RUBBER FUEL LINE TO COME LOOSE FROM THE CONNECTOR. GAS FROM THE FUEL PUMP SPRAYED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. FORTU
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, AND CONSUMER WAS HIT IN THE REAR. CALLEDDEALER AND CAR WAS REPAIRED . *AK
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1992 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.
THE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT SUSPENSION UPPER SPRING SEAT AT THE RIGHT-REAR POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A REAR IMPACT ACCIDENT, THE RIGHT-HAND REAR WHEEL HOUSE FLANGE COULD SEVER THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND SPILL FUEL.
Risk: THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 301,FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY. SPILLED FUEL IN A LOW SPEED ACCIDENT CAN RESULT IN AFIRE.
Fix: INSPECT AND REPLACE INCORRECT UPPER SPRING SEAT WITH THE CORRECT PART.
A MISADJUSTMENT OF THE PARK LOCK CABLE IN THE COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THE STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND THE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION.
Risk: LOCKING OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS INMOTION RESULTS IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND INCREASED RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ADJUST THE PARK LOCK CABLE, AND REROUTE AND RESTRAIN THE BRAKE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK HARNESS AND CONNECTOR.
THE PASSENGER'S SIDE EASY-ENTRY SEAT ADJUSTER MAY FAIL FULLY LOCK INTO POSITION AFTER THE SEAT BACK HAS BEEN TILTED FORWARD AND THE SEAT SLID FORWARD, THEN RETURNED TO ITS ORIGINAL POSTITION.
Risk: IF THE SEAT ADJUSTER FAILS TO LOCK INTO POSITION, THEPASSENGER SEAT WOULD SLIDE FORWARD IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.OCCUPANTS OF THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD FACE INCREASED RISK OF SERIOUS I
Fix: REPLACE THE ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY ON THE SEAT.
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 48 | below average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 9 of them (20%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (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 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 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 73/100. 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.