Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 Skylark | 24 | 1 |
| 1997 Skylark | 79 | 3 |
| 1996 Skylark | 85 | 4 |
| 1995 Skylark | 85 | 1 |
| 1994 Skylark | 68 | 2 |
| 1993 Skylark | 46 | 1 |
| 1992 Skylark | 32 | 3 |
| 1991 Skylark | 38 | 1 |
| 1990 Skylark | 19 | 1 |
| 1989 | 4 | 2 |
| 1988 Skylark | 14 | 3 |
| 1987 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986 Skylark | 8 | 1 |
| 1985 Skylark | 6 | 1 |
| 1984 Skylark | 8 | 3 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | 3 | 3 |
| 1981 | 1 | 2 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system106
- Service brakes, hydraulic91
- Engine and engine cooling91
- Air bags53
- Vehicle speed control39
- Steering39
- Power train37
- Seat belts31
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 14 Skylark vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 12 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 | 2 | 2 |
| 1996 | 1 | 1 |
| 1995 | 4 | 3 |
| 1993 | 3 | 4 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 4 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 10.3–11.0 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Skylark · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.0 | 10.3 |
| 1997 | Skylark · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.5 | 10.5 |
| 1996 | Skylark · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.5 | 10.5 |
| 1995 | Skylark · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 8.8 | 11.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
87 Skylark cars are on the New Zealand register; 78% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | 8 | 1 | 5 |
| 1971 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| 1970 | 12 | 1 | 9 |
| 1969 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| 1968 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
| 1967 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
| 1966 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
| 1965 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1964 | 13 | 1 | 12 |
| 1963 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 1962 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 1954 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In Finland
49 Skylark cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 98% petrol, 0% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 7 | 39,000 km |
| 1972 | 7 | 56,000 km |
| 1971 | 9 | 59,000 km |
| 1970 | 7 | 38,000 km |
| 1969 | 7 | 26,000 km |
| 1967 | 7 | 51,000 km |
| 1965 | 5 | 73,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
30 campaigns cover the Skylark; the latest 12 are below.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."
THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER WAS OMITTED. WITHOUT THIS COVER, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT ON THE FUSE BLOCK IS EXPOSED AND CAN CONTACT THE INSULATED NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. IF THE INSULATION ON THE NEGATIVE CABLE BECOMES SUFFICIENTLY WORN, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NEGATIVE CABLE RESULTING IN EXTREMELY HIGH CURRENT FLOW.
THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY.
DURING ASSEMBLY OF THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL, SOME WELDS WERE MISSED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
DURING DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, THE AIR BAG FABRIC CAN SNAG ON A REINFORCEMENT INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CAUSING THE EXPANDING AIR BAG TO LIFT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD AND THEN DEPLOY UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE DOOR IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
THESE VEHICLES WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH WELDS IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT PAN ASSEMBLY THAT ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO FUEL TANK LEAKAGE IN THE EVENT OF A REAR IMPACT COLLISION. THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
THE NEUTRAL START SAFETY SWITCH COULD HAVE BEEN FRACTURED DURING INSTALLATION.
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.
THE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT SUSPENSION UPPER SPRING SEAT AT THE RIGHT-REAR POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A REAR IMPACT ACCIDENT, THE RIGHT-HAND REAR WHEEL HOUSE FLANGE COULD SEVER THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND SPILL FUEL.
NHTSA recalls