1987 Buick Skyhawk problems

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1987 Buick Skyhawk

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Common 1987 Buick Skyhawk problems

The 1987 Buick Skyhawk, a front-wheel-drive variant of the Chevrolet Cavalier, is known for its reliability and versatility. However, there are some common problems that owners have reported over the years. Here are some of the most frequently mentioned issues:

Alternator and Battery Problems
Some owners have reported issues with the alternator and battery in their 1987 Buick Skyhawks. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including age and wear and tear, as well as user error. For example, one owner reported that they had replaced a few batteries over the years, but that most of these replacements were due to their own mistakes, such as leaving the car on or allowing a friend to attempt to jump-start another car using their Skyhawk.

Air Conditioning Issues
Another common problem reported by owners of the 1987 Buick Skyhawk is issues with the air conditioning system. One owner reported that their car would overheat if the air conditioning was run for more than a few minutes, even in traffic. This problem was eventually traced to a faulty radiator, which was replaced in 2001. However, the owner also reported that the air conditioning system began blowing warm air after a few years, even after being recharged. This issue was never fully resolved, and the owner eventually decided to leave the system alone due to concerns about damaging the engine.

Ground Connection Issues
Some owners of the 1987 Buick Skyhawk have reported issues with ground connections, which can cause a variety of symptoms. For example, one owner reported that their car had all kinds of "crazy symptoms" that were difficult to diagnose, including one of the idiot lights staying lit even when the key was not in the ignition. This problem was eventually traced to a disconnected ground wire near the coil, which had been buried underneath the intake and was not immediately visible.

Regular Maintenance
In addition to these specific issues, many owners of the 1987 Buick Skyhawk have reported that regular maintenance, such as replacing brakes and tires, is necessary to keep the car running smoothly. This is especially important given the age and mileage of many of these vehicles. However, with proper care and attention, the 1987 Buick Skyhawk can be a reliable and versatile vehicle that is well-suited to a variety of driving conditions.

1987 Buick Skyhawk engine

What was the last year they made the Buick Skyhawk?

Buick Skyhawk (1975 to 1989)

The Skyhawk was a range of compact cars that were built in two generations: 1st Ge... The Buick Skyhawk was introduced for the 1975 model year. The Skyhawk was a range of compact cars that were built in two generations: 1st Gen (1975-1980) and 2nd Gen (1982-1989).

How much horsepower does a 1975 Buick Skyhawk have?

(In the C/D mileage cycle, the Skyhawk delivered 18.5 mpg compared to 18.0 in the Monza.) Similar personalities are to be expected because both engines are rated at 110 net hp.

Who made the Skyhawk car?

General Motors

Buick Skyhawk
ManufacturerBuick (General Motors)
Production1974–1989
Model years1975–1980 1982–1989
Body and chassis

What is the rarest Buick ever made?

The 1931 95 Phaeton is one of rarest Buick models ever made with only 392 originally built. Only a few are known to still exist today, and this is one of those extraordinary examples.

Are Buick cars reliable?

According to data compiled by RepairPal, Buick earns a respectable reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5.0. This puts Buick in 13th rank among 32 surveyed brands for mechanical robustness and lower ownership costs.

What is a Buick Skyhawk?

The Buick Skyhawk is a subcompact, four passenger automobile introduced September 1974 by the Buick Division of General Motors produced for the 1975 thru 1980 model years. The Buick Skyhawk is a rebadged Chevrolet Monza based on the Chevrolet Vega, sharing its H platform.

How long do Buick engines last?

Buicks and Longevity

In fact, they generally last 200,000 miles, or about 13 years, which placed them third overall (and first among luxury brands) in J.D. Power's 2020 vehicle dependability survey. Of course, preventive maintenance and driving habits have a lot to do with a car's longevity.

Why not to buy a Buick?

Buick was included on TopSpeed's list of the “15 Most Unreliable Car Brands Of 2023,” with a Predicted Reliability Rating of 54 out of 100, according to an analysis by Consumer Reports. The 2023 Encore GX was cited as one the worst models to buy.

1987 Buick Skyhawk car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Buick Skyhawk problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Electrical system problems
  • Service brakes problems
  • Hydraulic problems
  • Tires problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Buick Skyhawk vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1987 Buick Skyhawk complaints

The NHTSA has received 3 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Buick Skyhawk.

2000-12-06

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: WHILE TRAVELING ABS INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH WHEN MAKING A TURN, VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
1997-04-02

TIRES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1997-03-23
  • VIN: 1G4JS81K7HK
  • Components: TIRES
  • Summary: DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE LOCKS UP WHETHER IN REVERSE OR IN DRIVE. *AK
1996-05-13

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1996-05-02
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: 1G4JS81K4HK
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. *AK

1987 Buick Skyhawk recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 1987 Buick Skyhawk.

2006-05-19
  • Manufacturer: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
  • Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
1987-12-01
  • Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
  • Summary: THE FUEL FEED AND/OR RETURN HOSE/PIPE ASSEMBLIES COULD CRACK OR SEPARATE, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE UNDERHOOD AREA.
  • Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE, WITHOUT PRIORWARNING, AND CAUSE INJURY TO OCCUPANTS.
  • Remedy: REPLACE BOTH FUEL FEED AND RETURN HOSE/PIPE ASSEMBLIES.
1986-09-15
  • Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
  • Components: PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL
  • Summary: PARKING BRAKE LEVER MECHANISMS MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 105. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: VEHICLE COULD UNEXPECTEDLY ROLL AWAY UNCONTROLLED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
  • Remedy: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.
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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1987 Buick Skyhawk problems:

Looking Back: 1987 Buick Skyhawk LaserDisc Promo | GM Inside ...
Looking Back: 1987 Buick Skyhawk LaserDisc Promo | GM Inside ...
https://www.gminsidenews.com/threads/looking-back-1987-buick-skyhawk-laserdisc-promo.206977/

May 2, 2015 ... Buick's 1987 Skyhawk offered ... The Buick/Olds J cars also weren't that common to begin with. ... We ran into some problems. Please try again ...

1986 Buick Skyhawk Turbo : r/regularcarreviews
1986 Buick Skyhawk Turbo : r/regularcarreviews
https://www.reddit.com/r/regularcarreviews/comments/ktp1j7/1986_buick_skyhawk_turbo/

Jan 9, 2021 ... 1986 Buick Skyhawk Turbo ... More maintenance and problems than a stripper girlfriend with a coke addiction. ... They were common first cars for ...

What's Wrong with the Buick Skylark?
What's Wrong with the Buick Skylark?
http://www.buickproblems.com/models/skylark/

... reliability out of 14 Buick models , with real engine and cooling system concerns. The Most Common Skylark Problem ... We know there's more problems ... (1987–1991).

TunerStudio errors loading MS3 .msq - Megasquirt Support Forum ...
TunerStudio errors loading MS3 .msq - Megasquirt Support Forum ...
https://www.msextra.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=77992

May 2, 2023 ... Tha Summer Daily: 1987 Buick Skyhawk hatchback. Tha Long Term Project: 1985 GMC S-10 Jimmy, hasn't been fun for a while. Top. rickb794: Super MS ...

Car Show Outtake: 1979 Buick Skyhawk Road Hawk - Saddest Car ...
Car Show Outtake: 1979 Buick Skyhawk Road Hawk - Saddest Car ...
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/car-show-classic/car-show-classic-1979-buick-skyhawk-road-hawk-saddest-car-ever-made/

Jul 30, 2023 ... If we're going to talk sad cars from a sad company, I have to submit the 1987 Eagle (no mention of AMC) as the saddest car brochure of all time.

Other years of Buick Skyhawk

buick skyhawk 1989 photo
Skyhawk 1989
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Skyhawk 1991
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Skyhawk 1992
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Skyhawk 1993
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buick skyhawk 1975 photo
Skyhawk 1975
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buick skyhawk 1983 photo
Skyhawk 1983
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