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#BS-1988-BUISKY-4BF2

1988 Buick Skylark

Based on reports from 17 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recalls

TSBs

🟢

Preliminary Verdict

Proceed with Caution

Based on 17 complaints, 3 crashes, 2 fires, and 4 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Speed ControlHIGH

3 owners reported speed control issues.

!Inspect the Engine And Engine Cooling:engineMED

Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure

+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Speed Control (3 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Speed Control3 (18%)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine1 (6%)

Seat Belts1 (6%)

Exterior Lighting:headlights1 (6%)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages1 (6%)

Electrical System:ignition1 (6%)

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings1 (6%)

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail1 (6%)

1988 Buick Skylark: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 18% of all reports filed for the 1988 Buick Skylark, with 3 owners filing complaints with NHTSA.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1988 Buick Skylark, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Seat Belts Issues

Seat Belts complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1988 Buick Skylark, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to seat belts-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Exterior Lighting:headlights Issues

Exterior Lighting:headlights complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 1988 Buick Skylark, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to exterior lighting:headlights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (4 recalls)

06E043000Oct 2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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 CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

87V169000Nov 1987

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

UNEXPECTED LOSS OF TAIL LAMP AND SIDE MARKER LAMP FUNCTION MAY OCCUR, REDUCING OTHER DRIVERS ABILITY TO SEE THE VEHICLE.

90V042000Mar 1990

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

92V150000Nov 1992

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FRONT FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Buick Skylark is the 1995 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

1988 Buick Skylark vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)

This vehicle

Class avg

Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical compact cars vehicles. A good sign.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 17 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Buick Skylark Model Years

2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966

View all Buick Skylark years →

1988 Buick Skylark: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1988 Buick Skylark?

The most commonly reported issue with the 1988 Buick Skylark is related to the speed control, with 3 complaints filed with NHTSA.

Is the 1988 Buick Skylark reliable?

The 1988 Buick Skylark has 17 complaints, 3 crash reports, and 2 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.

How much does it cost to fix 1988 Buick Skylark problems?

Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.

Does the 1988 Buick Skylark have any recalls?

Yes, the 1988 Buick Skylark has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

What mileage do Buick Skylark problems start?

Mileage data is limited for this vehicle. The full report analyzes available data to identify failure patterns by mileage range.

What’s in the full report?

10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.

How is this different from free NHTSA data?

NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.

How is this different from Carfax?

Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.

What if the report isn’t useful?

100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.

Get the Full 1988 Buick Skylark Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 17 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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