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1993 Buick Skylark

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Skylark.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1993 Buick Skylark is a passenger car that, under the hood, requires 4.0 quarts of 10W-30 API oil, a specification that aligns with its era’s standard maintenance needs. With 55 total owner complaints on record and a single recall, the model year’s most frequently cited issue involves the service brakes and hydraulic system. Within the Skylark’s broader 1990–2000 reliability history—where complaints peaked at 100 in 1995 and bottomed out at just one in 2000—the 1993 model sits in the earlier portion of the curve, reflecting a moderate but not extreme level of reported problems.

Model year1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1989

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12737092. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12737092 alt 12731175
Engine air filter	24577608
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19354417 alt 19362247
Front wiper blades	22155381
Serpentine belt	25534241 alt 24572563
Thermostat	24505924 alt 22545290

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	189.4 in
Overall width	68.1 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	103.5 in
Curb weight	2701 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Federal data shows the 1993 model year sits on the early upslope of a worsening trajectory across this generation. Complaints rose steadily from 31 in 1990 to 55 in 1993, recalls eased from three in 1992 to one in 1993, investigations settled back to one, and technical service bulletins climbed to 25, foreshadowing the sharp escalation to 47 in 1994 and 67 in 1995. Relative to the peak years of 1995–1997—when complaints hit 100, recalls multiplied, and TSBs remained elevated—1993 represents a lower-exposure point before the most intensive phase of reported issues. The top 1993 complaint areas were Service Brakes, Hydraulic and Engine & Engine Cooling, though the data does not specify root causes, and the year generated five crash complaints alongside zero fire complaints. Given its single recall, complaint volume well below later peaks, and minimal safety-related reports, 1993 stands as one of the more favorable years to buy in this generation.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

5 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92’93’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’00

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 55 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic11

Engine & Engine Cooling10

Power Train5

Steering5

Electrical System4

Vehicle Speed Control4

Seats3

Seat Belts3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

93V153000Electrical System:Ignition:SwitchReported 14/09/1993

THE NEUTRAL START SAFETY SWITCH COULD HAVE BEEN FRACTURED DURING INSTALLATION. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE NEUTRAL START SWITCH. THE MANUAL SWITCH OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF AN OVERSIZED CONDITION EXISTS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 25 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
130089009	2013-09-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
04152004	2004-04-15	Service Brakes, Air	VEHICLES MAY SET ANYONE OR A COMBINATION OF FRONT-WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE…
00966B	2004-01-01	Service Brakes, Air	ABS FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT
00966	2004-01-01	Service Brakes, Air	ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT
990730030A	2001-04-01	Power Train	OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Skylark. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.0 qt Engine oil filter 12737092 Engine air filter 24577608 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19354417

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 Skylark take?

4.0 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Skylark have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.