1980 Buick Skylark: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 1980 Buick Skylark. The newest campaign is 83V018000. NHTSA received the report on 24 Feb 1983. The NHTSA record gives the component Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components. NHTSA has no complaint on file for this model year. 7 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 83V018000, in the NHTSA record

Depending on the transmission type and the brake components that have been installed, dealers will inspect and replace or repair, as necessary, certain front brake components, and the parking brake cables. The rear brake shoes and linings will be replaced with parts that use a material which greatly reduces the likelihood of rear wheel skid. Actions taken to the front brakes are to ensure uniformity of the entire brake system. Actions taken to the parking brake components will ensure that the performance requirements, for keeping the vehicle stationary while manual transmission equipped units are in neutral and automatic transmission equipped units are in park, are met.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 29 Mar 2018. Recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

9 campaigns, newest first. 706,291 units in total.

83V01800024 Feb 1983Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components
81V09500010 Aug 1981Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Differential Proportional Valve
79V23400023 Oct 1979Exterior Lighting / Turn Signal / Flasher Unit
79V22100017 Oct 1979Steering / Rack and Pinion
79V22000025 Sep 1979Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Cooling Unit and Lines
79V09800017 Apr 1979Suspension / Front / Springs / Coil Springs
79V0900005 Apr 1979Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
79V0910005 Apr 1979Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
79V07300022 Mar 1979Seats

83V018000Received 24 Feb 1983. 239,799 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Under certain conditions, vehicles may experience premature rear wheel skid during braking. Rear wheel skidding is most likely to occur on a wet or slick surface.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Depending on the transmission type and the brake components that have been installed, dealers will inspect and replace or repair, as necessary, certain front brake components, and the parking brake cables. The rear brake shoes and linings will be replaced with parts that use a material which greatly reduces the likelihood of rear wheel skid. Actions taken to the front brakes are to ensure uniformity of the entire brake system. Actions taken to the parking brake components will ensure that the performance requirements, for keeping the vehicle stationary while manual transmission equipped units are in neutral and automatic transmission equipped units are in park, are met.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 4 Apr 1983.
81V095000Received 10 Aug 1981. 47,371 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Differential Proportional Valve
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Under certain conditions, the rear brakes could lock up without prior warning during high deceleration braking. The problem may be caused by defective proportioner valves in the braking system.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will inspect the brake system proportioner valves and if necessary install new valves.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 25 Aug 1981.
79V234000Received 23 Oct 1979. 236 units.
Exterior Lighting / Turn Signal / Flasher Unit
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The turn signal flasher unit installed on the involved vehicles fails to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment". This incorrect unit causes the flash rate to be too fast or renders inoperative the feature which causes the turn signal indicator light(s) in the instrument panel to remain lit if one of one or more of the turn signal lights has failed.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will install the correct flasher unit without charge to owner.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 24 Oct 1979.
79V221000Received 17 Oct 1979. 161,225 units.
Steering / Rack and Pinion
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The steering gear mounting plate on the involved vehicles may develop fatigue cracks at high mileage which would allow the steering gear attachment to become loose. If this condition exists, the driver may notice considerable "free play" in the steering wheel.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will install an improved type of steering gear mounting bracket without charge to owner.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
79V220000Received 25 Sep 1979. 224,892 units.
Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Cooling Unit and Lines
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The automatic cooler line hoses on some of the suspect vehicles may contain material voids, which combined with a high thermal expansion at elevated temperatures, could result in hose failure and transmission fluid leakage.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will replace the cooler line hoses using hoses with kevlar braided reinforcement.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 11 Oct 1979.
79V098000Received 17 Apr 1979. 23,725 units.
Suspension / Front / Springs / Coil Springs
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The front suspension coil spring may have a larger than desired inside diameter of the lower coil where it rests on the spring seat. This could allow the spring to be forced over the lower spring seat due to suspension forces.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will inspect and replace incorrect front suspension coil springs without charge.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
79V090000Received 5 Apr 1979. 4,382 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
There is a potential for interference between the clutch control cable and brake pipe in the master cylinder. This can result in rubbing contact when the clutch pedal is operated. Also, the brake pipe clearance to the transmission case may be inadequate. If this condition exists, it could eventually result in a failure in the brake pipe, causing loss of brake fluid and partial loss of braking action.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The clutch cable routing will be revised to prevent contact with the master cylinder, without charge.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
79V091000Received 5 Apr 1979. 4,626 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Fuel hoses may be incorrectly positioned and contact the right front drive axle boot during vehicle operation. After a period of time, the rotating boot could wear a hole in the fuel hose, resulting in fule leakage.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
If proper clearance is not present, the metal fuel pipe will be reformed upwards to correct the problem, without charge to owner.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
79V073000Received 22 Mar 1979. 35 units.
Seats
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicles do not comply to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 207, "anchorage of seats". The lock bar in the front seat adjuster assemblies may not engage properly and the ability of the seat adjuster to maintain the seat in a latched position during an accident may be reduced.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Both front seat adjuster assemblies will be replaced at no charge to owner.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 28 Mar 1979.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

The NHTSA complaint file has no complaint for this model year.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1980 Buick Skylark
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed
EA87006	Engineering analysis	POWER ST. ASSIST	Steering	16 Dec 1986	19 Sep 1988
DP86020	Defect petition	EXPEDITE DETERMINATN OF DEFECT IN C84-01	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	18 Sep 1986	6 Oct 1986
DP83017	Defect petition	REAR WHEEL LOCKUP INVOLVING AFTERMARKET	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	1 Sep 1983	22 Sep 1983
DP83010	Defect petition	LOSS OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST (E80-100)	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	29 Mar 1983	29 Jul 1983
DP83008	Defect petition	LOCKED POWER STEERING SYSTEM	Unknown or Other	23 Mar 1983	20 Jul 1983
DP83006	Defect petition	REAR BRAKE LOCKUP, EXPAND CASE C81-09 TO	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	30 Nov 1982	8 Dec 1982
DP82010	Defect petition	TRANS. LOCKUPS AND TRANS. HARD SHIFTING	Power Train	20 May 1982	18 Oct 1982

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

19661
19672
19681
19701
19711
19751
19772
19782
19791
19809
19812
19823
19831
19843
19851
19861
19871
19883
19892
19901
19911
19923
19931
19942
19951
19964
19973
19981
20000

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1980 Buick SkylarkThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1980 Buick Skylark: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/buick/skylark/1980/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 29 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 29 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 29 Mar 2018
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1980 Buick Skylark?: 706,291 units in 9 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Buick Skylark have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 50 recall campaigns for the Buick Skylark, model years 1966 to 2000. 9 of them name the 1980 model year.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1980 Buick Skylark open?: No. Each of the 7 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.