U.S. public vehicle records

1983 Buick SKYHAWK: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1983 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	1	100.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1995: 1

Pattern summary

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 971818 · 1995-09-08 (September 8, 1995)

WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE OR WHEN WARMING UP THE CAR THE STEERING EFFORT INCREASES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971818 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

82V096000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors

Reported: 1982-10-07 (October 7, 1982)

POSSIBLE FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR AT THE THROTTLE BODY INJECTION FUEL FEED PIPE CONNECTION ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES.

Remedy: THE FUEL FEED LINE FITTING BOLT AND TWO WASHERS WILL BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT NO COST TO OWNER.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

83V105000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Differential Proportional Valve

Reported: 1983-10-13 (October 13, 1983)

THE BRAKE PROPORTIONER VALVES MAY BREAK AND SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS WOULD ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK AND WOULD RESULT IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ALL SUSPECT VALVES.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

87V079000 · Seats

Reported: 1987-05-07 (May 7, 1987)

THE METAL FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR COULD FATIGUE AND BREAK AROUND THE LEFT FRONT OUTER SEAT ADJUSTER STUD OF THE DRIVERS SEAT, ALLOWING THE STUD TO SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR.

Consequence: DRIVERS SEAT COULD TIP REARWARD UNEXPECTEDLY; THIS COULDRESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET ON THE FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR AT THE LEFT FRONT OUTER SEAT ADJUSTER POSITION OF THE DRIVERS SEAT.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

87V165000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv)

Reported: 1987-10-26 (October 26, 1987)

INTERNAL CORROSION OF PULSAIR CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY COULD PERMIT EXHAUST GAS TO MELT THE PLASTIC SHUT OFF VALVE AND DRAW VALVE PIECES INTO THE AIR CLEANER AND THROTTLE BODY.

Consequence: IF VALVE PIECES LODGE AGAINST THROTTLE PLATE, ENGINE MAYNOT RETURN TO IDLE RESULTING IN LOSS ACCELERATOR CONTROL AND POSSIBLY A CRASH.

Remedy: REPLACE PULSAIR CHECK VALVE AND SHUT OFF VALVE WITH NEWLY DESIGNED VALVES.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 1 records

100.0%Valid incident date1 / 1 records

100.0%Valid filing date1 / 1 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates1 / 1 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1979	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1989	1991	1992	1993
Tires	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 516014 DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE LOCKS UP WHETHER IN REVERSE OR IN DRIVE. *AK Look up ODI 516014 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Ignition	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 876037 WHILE TRAVELING ABS INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH WHEN MAKING A TURN, VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK Look up ODI 876037 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 984328 POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. *AK Look up ODI 984328 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 8000835 CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. SHE SAW SMOKE INSIDE OF CAR, AND PULLED OVER. FIRE STARTED IN TURN SIGNAL INSIDE OF TRUNK AREA. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK Look up ODI 8000835 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 823653 WHEN HIITING A BUMP THE HATCHBACK COMES OPEN. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK Look up ODI 823653 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Power Train	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 10438575 · 17,000 mi TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUICK SKYHAWK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHENEVER IT CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY RESTART ONCE THE ENGINE WAS COOLED DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY A DEALER TO UN PLUG A FOUR PRONGED CONNECTER THAT LEADS TO THE TRANSMISSION TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THIS PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM SLOWING DOWN ON HILLS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT … Look up ODI 10438575 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle)	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 513363 CLUTCH DISC ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *AK Look up ODI 513363 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 876037 WHILE TRAVELING ABS INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH WHEN MAKING A TURN, VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK Look up ODI 876037 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1992: 0 complaints · 1993: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1992	0	0	0
1993	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1992	2	0	0
1993	2	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.