1994 BUICK Skylark Problems & Complaints

I OWN A 1994 BUICK SKYLARK. IT DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK. I HAD THE HEATER CORE REPLACED ON ADVISE OF A MECHANIC THAT UNTIL RECENTLY WAS AT A GM DEALERSHIP. IT STILL LEAKED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. IT WAS THEN DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE WATER PUMP SO I HAD THAT REPLACED. IT STILL LEAKED. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $660.00. I HAVE CONTACTED GM DEALERSHIPS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS IN REGARDS TO THE MANIFOLD GASKET AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET IS THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND THAT MANY LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THE SKYLARKS BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. APPARENTLY GM DECIDED TO USE A PLASTIC GASKET AS OPPOSED TO THE PAPER COMPOSITE GASKET AND THIS IS THE CAUSE OF SO MANY VEHICLES HAVING TO HAVE THIS GASKET REPLACED. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT GM SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT IT WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN DESIGN. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, TEMPERATURE GAUGE ROSE IMMEDIATELY. AFTER THAT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. OWNER TOOK VEHICLE TO 2 MECHANICS. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO HEAD GASKET. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED AT #2 PLUG, RESULTING IN POWER LOSS, WATER INTRODUCTION IN CRANKCASE, COSTLY REPAIR AND , EVENTUALLY, FAILURE OF ROD BEARINGS.*AK

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN VEHICLE HESITATES OR COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER STATING THAT BRAKES WERE BAD. CALLED DEALER, AND PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.*AK

BRAKE SYSTEM OVERHEATING CAUSING ROTORS TO WARP CONTINUALLY.

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A SHARP TURN, A NOISE COMING FROM THE PANEL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

UNDER NORMAL USE OF VEHICLE BRAKE PEDAL EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. OWNER REFERS TO IT AS A SOFT PEDAL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

BRAKES HAVE FAILED 7 TIMES.

ON 11/14/2012 I BOUGHT AN EXCIDE CAR BATTERY FROM NATIONAL AUTO IN BANGOR, PA. BATTERY RAN FOR ABOUT 2 MOS. THEN STARTED TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS. AFTER SITTING FOR 2 DAYS IT WOULD NOT START. HAD CAR BATTERY JUMPED 3 TIMES. BETWEEN 01/ 2013 AND 02/ 10/2013. BATTERY COMPLETELY DEAD ON 02/11/2013. WAS PUT ON SLOW CHARGE AND RAN FOR ANOTHER 2 DAYS AND DIED AGAIN. TOOK BATTERY BACK TO NATIONAL AUTO ON 02/17/2013. BEFORE TAKING IT THERE I HAD ALTERNATOR, STARTER AND WIRES CHECKED .. EVERYTHING OK.. RETURNED TO STORE. SERVICE PERSON CHECKED IT AND SAID BATTERY WAS CHARGED...TOLD HIM IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE IT WAS DEAD IN CAR AND WE JUST TOOK IT OUT. HE GAVE ME ANOTHER BATTERY. WORKED FINE UNTIL PALM SUNDAY...DEAD BATTERY...AAA CAME OUT AND JUMPED CAR...WORKED UNTIL 04/04/2013. CALLED CAR STOP ABOUT PROBLEM....GUY SENT OUT.. HE CHECKED BATTERY OUTPUT ONLY 10...NEED 12 VOLTS TO START CAR. ALSO HAD STARTER AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED AGAIN...NO PROBLEMS THERE. TOOK CAR TO SHOP NEXT DAY...NEW BATTERY INSTALLED. CALLED NATIONAL AUTO ABOUT PROBLEM....TOLD TO BRING IT BACK... I DID SO THIS MORNING 04/07/2013 AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE IT IS HOLDING A CHARGE HE CAN'T GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK...I TOLD HIM " WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO WITH 2 BATTERIES" TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK WHEN STORE MANAGER IS THERE ON TUES AM OR WED. I AM A 68 YR OLD SENIOR WOMAN...I FEEL LIKE I AM BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACK...I DO NOT HAVE AN EXTRA HUNDRED DOLLARS TO SPEND JUST TO LET BATTERY SIT IN CELLAR. I WANT MY MONEY BACK. I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS BRAND BATTERY. *TR

THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH WIRES SHORTING OUT, LIGHTS COMING ON, HORN NOT WORKING, ETC. *YH

THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH WIRES SHORTING OUT, LIGHTS COMING ON, HORN NOT WORKING, ETC. *YH

THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-287 CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY STALL WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS ONLY GIVEN A PARTIAL REFUND. NLM

WHEN COLD LEATHER CONTRACTS AROUND STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING HORN TO GO OFF. OWNER HAD TO DISCONNECT FUSE TO HORN ASSEMBLY. MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

TILT STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY FAILED AND STEERING WHEEL BECAME DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE PINS CAME OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE ASSEMBLY SHOWS EXTREME WEAR WHERE THE PINS SHOULD INSERT. PINS CANNOT BE REINSTALLED. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF STEERING COLUMN. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF STEERING COLUMN DEFECTS ONLINE INCLUDING HIGHWAY SPEED LOSS OF CONTROL CRASHES. WHY HAS A RECALL NOT BEEN ISSUED. *KB

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL LOOSENED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THREE STEERING BOLTS FAILED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

AT 70,514 MILES THE TILT WHEEL PIVOT PINS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WERE LOOSE AND REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. NOW AT 75,000 MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. *AK *SCC *JB

THE PINS THAT HOLDS AND ALLOWS THE STEERING WHEEL TO TILT HAVE COME OUT OF THEIR HOLES ON TWO OCCASIONS MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER

WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS TURNING INTO A CURVE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIBRATING AND STEERING COLUMN DROPPED DOWN TO FLOOR. PINS FELL OUT FROM STEERING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER HAD A FRONT IMPACT CRASH AT 35 MPH, AND DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUFFERED KNEE AND BACK INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK *SLC

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SPEED UNKNOWN. *AK

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT END COLLISION WITH UTILITY POLE. REPORTED BY KENNETH ELANDT ELANDT, CORONER. TT

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH TWO EMPTY VEHICLES, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMERS. MJS

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH TWO EMPTY VEHICLES, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMERS. MJS

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH TWO EMPTY VEHICLES, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMERS. MJS

WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN DRIVE AND LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON ITS OWN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE . *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AXLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB.....PASSENGER'S AXLE BROKE SIX MONTHS AGO, AND CURRENTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE BROKE. IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE THAT BOTH AXLES WOULD BE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

TRANSMISSION IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.

TRANSMISSION HAS A DELAY REACTION WHEN SHIFTING IN GEAR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HOOD FLEW OPEN AND STRUCK WINDSHIELD, MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH THE FRONT HOOD CAME UP. OWNER NOTES THAT DEALERS TOLD DRIVER THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE LATCH AND THAT THE SECONDARY LATCH NEEDED REPAIRS. *AK

THE DRIVER SIDE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE DOOR LOCKED UP AND CAN'T USE IT MANUALLY . TT

THE SEAT BELT ON MY 1994 BUICK SKYLARK DOES NOT SEEM TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF LOCK-UP. I AM CONCERNED AS TO THE OPERATION OF THE SENSING DEVICE ON THIS SYSTEM. CAN I HAVE IT CHECKED FOR OPERATION BEFORE I HAVE AN ACCIDENT? *JB

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN UPON IMPACT. TT

AIR CONDITIONER JUST STOPPED WORKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT FIXED. A COUPLE DAYS LATER HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, AND PUT REFRIGERANT ON AIR CONDITIONER. BUT, PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. DEALER HAD FOUND A LEAK TO BE FIXED, BUT CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PLASTIC TUBING IS WHAT IS CAUSING PROBLEM AND WANTS IT REPLACED. *SLC

CONSUMER HAD TO REPAIR AIR CONDITIONER MORE THAN ONCE . TT

VEHICLE IS LEAKING GASOLINE, IT IS FLOWING OUT THROUGH FILLER NECK PIPE WHEN SHE PULLS NOZZLE INSIDE OF PIPE. THERE IS A PROBLEM. *AK

FUEL INJECTORS CONTINUE TO FAIL DUE TO CONTAMINATION OF GAS ADDITIVES.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ENGINE HESITATED, THEN STALLED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER ASSIST STEERING, AND POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AFTER BEING RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ERVICE. PREVIOUSLY, THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER WAS REPLACED BY A SERVICE DEALER IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON APRIL 10TH 2006 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP TO SHEMY THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT AS WELL AS REPLACE THE RIGHT INNER TIRE ROADS AND END BUSHINGS. THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO SERVICE WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVEWAY GOING 5 MPH THE FRONT END COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP WHO DETERMINED IT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL PERTAINING TO LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO VEHICLE WITHOUT A COST. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

AC HEATING - HEATER CORE WENT OUT- AC STILL NOT WORKING COMPUTER CONTROL- BUICK REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER CHIP- MY COMPLAINT WAS ERRATIC IDLING. IT FIXED PROBLEM. PAINT PEELING THIS YEAR STRUTS AND SPRINGS ON SUSPENSION ARE NOT LASTING LONG TIRES- PROBABLY MY FAULT FOR NOT ROTATING TRANSMISSION- I REPLACED IT WITH SALVAGED ONE AT 170,000- HEARD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS 4T60E TRANSMISSION. BRAKES- FRONT ONES LAST 1,000 MILES. I REPLACE ALL HARDWARE. STEERING-LISTEN TO THIS-THE PIVOT PINS ON MY TILT STEERING FELL OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ON MY LAP.CAR COULD STILL DRIVE. I EPOXIED NEW PIVOT PINS IN AND THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. ALL REPAIRS DONE BY ME, EXCEPT FOR THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING-I THOUGHT IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED IT FOR NO CHARGE. THEY DID NOT. HEARD FRIENDS TELL ME G.M CARS EAT UP ALTERNATORS AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS THREE TIMES. THANK YOU!

WHILE SITTING IN CAR WITH ENGINE RUNNING PASSENGER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK SWITCH, YELLOWISH IN COLOR. CONSUMER EXITED VEHICLE, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF DOOR. THEY STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK AND NO AJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE, ALSO STEERING WHEEL IS EXTREMELY LOOSE WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. *AK CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, DEALER FOUND TILT WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE, FOUND PIN LOOSE IN SHAFT, NOTCHED SHAFT TO HOLD PIN, FACTORY HAD NOTCHED SHAFT 3 TIMES, DEALER NOTCHED SHAFT APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES AND COLUMN WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, MULTI-FUNCTION TURN SIGNAL FAILED AND LEVER WAS INOPERATIVE. *YD

WHILE DRIVING HORN WILL GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. HAD TO TAKE FUSE OUT IN ORDER FOR THE HORN TO STOP. DEALER SAID THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE HORN AND AIRBAG SYSTEM IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

NO SUMMARY

ABS BRAKE FAILURE, EXCESS WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, ALSO PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK GOODYEAR TIRE WENT BAD CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, TOOK DEALER ALMOST A YEAR TO REPLACE. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS WITH HIGH QUALITY PADS, EXCESSIVE WEAR STILL OCCURS, CONSUMER STATES BRAKES ALSO SOMETIMES FADE WHEN APPLIED. *SLC

DRIVER SIDE SEAT IS BROKEN THE SPRING NEEDS TO GET REPLACED. TT VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER TWICE FOR BAD BRAKES, NEW PADS INSTALLED AND ARE NOW SQUEAKING. WHEN AC IS ON, ENGINE SMELLS AND SMOKES, DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED THREE TIMES. TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. *SLC

DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FAILED , CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACKWARDS INTO REAR SEAT. *AK