AI Damage1986 Buick Skylark: common problems
Owners of the 1986 Buick Skylark filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and equipment. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 8
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 25% of all complaints
- 2 Equipment 25% of all complaints
- 3 Seat belts 25% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 13% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 13% of all complaints
- 7 Wheels 13% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (25% of all).
- Equipment: 2 complaints (25% of all).
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (25% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (13% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (13% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 8 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was in brick nj on rt 70 about to enter the parkway when I saw smoke coming out of my hood. Before this happened I was using gallons of coolant in my car. I pulled over and got out and opened my hood so the car could cool. It was then drive able to the nearest mechanic where he replaced my intake gasket.
Seat belt retractors for both left and right side inoperable, rendering seatbelt unusable. The plunger activated by the closing of front car doors has a cable attatched to release the belts. The cable for both front doors is broken.
Windshield wipers will not stay on , have to hold switch in when driving. Had vehicle in for repair of windshield wipers and they still won't work.
Engine failure due to a defective engine head gasket/also overheated.
Driver's side seat failure, seat belt will not come out of its housing. Tt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 11,896 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 32% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Skylark has 28 complaints (19 years in the data). This year has 8, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
- Skylark 19823 sources
- Skylark 19848 sources
- Skylark 19856 sources
- Skylark 198814 sources
- Skylark 19894 sources
- Skylark 199019 sources
- Skylark 199138 sources
- Skylark 199232 sources
- Skylark 199346 sources
- Skylark 199468 sources
- Skylark 199585 sources
- Skylark 199685 sources
- Skylark 199779 sources
- Skylark 199824 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1986 Buick Skylark?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, equipment, seat belts. Total complaints: 8. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (25%), engine failure or replacement (13%), overheating, coolant loss (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1986 Buick Skylark?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1986 Buick Skylark from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1986 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.