Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1982 Skylark.
The 1982 Buick Skylark sits at the quieter end of the model's documented reliability arc, carrying just three total owner complaints and three recalls on record, with fuel system issues topping the grievance list. That minimal complaint volume reads favorably against the Skylark's broader history spanning 1990 through 2000, which peaked at 100 complaints in 1995 before tapering to a single complaint by 2000. For a researcher sizing up the 1982 model, the available data suggests a largely unremarkable—almost notably unproblematic—entry in a lineage that would later generate far more owner frustration.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 181.1 in |
| Overall width | 69.3 in |
| Overall height | 53.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 104.7 in |
| Curb weight | 2531 lb |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1982 Buick Skylark exhibits an exceptionally low federal complaint volume, with just one complaint each for the fuel system, seat belts, and hydraulic service brakes, alongside zero crash and fire incidents. The generation's broader federal record from 1990 to 2000 reveals a pronounced complaint arc, escalating from 31 complaints in 1990 to a peak of 100 in both 1995 and 1996, before dropping to a single complaint in 2000. Because the 1982 model year precedes this recorded arc, it implies that the specific defects driving the generation's later peak volumes are not present in the 1982 models. The data does not specify the root causes for the 1982 model's three isolated complaints or the subsequent generational trends. Consequently, given its position well before the generation's problem-prone peak and its own negligible complaint figures, the 1982 Skylark represents a fundamentally sound year to purchase.
All 3 complaints on record, top 3 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
UNDER CERTAAIN CONDITIONS, THE HOSE CLAMPS ON THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND FUEL TANK FILLER VENT PIPE COULD FRACTURE. THE FRACTURE OF THESE CLAMPS COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE AT ANY OF THE FOUR PIPE TO HOSE CONNECTIONS… Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE HOSE CLAMPS ON THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND VENT PIPE AT NO COST TO OWNER.
THE CLUTCH CABLE MAY RUB AGAINST THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE PIPE WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS OPERATED. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE MAY RESULT IN WEAR THROUGH OF THE INSULATION ON THE CLUTCH CABLE. THE RESULTING METAL… Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, CORRECT SYSTEM BY PROVIDING A MINIMUM 1/2 INCH CLEARANCE BETWEEN CLUTCH CABLE AND BRAKE PIPE TO AVOID METAL ON METAL CONTACT.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.