Selling an old or junk Buick Skyhawk

So the paperwork on these cars is mostly about what GM fixed, not what owners reported. If yours is done, sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.

The 1984-1989 cars are the second-generation Skyhawk: a front-wheel-drive compact on GM's J-body, related to the Cadillac Cimarron. Wikipedia says it was built at Leeds Assembly in Kansas City, Missouri, through 1988, and that GM moved production to Janesville, Wisconsin, for 1989. EPA records carry it in two classes, compact car and small station wagon (the Skyhawk Wagon). The rear-drive 1975-1980 Skyhawk is a different car and is not in this data.

The seven recalls, grouped by what they fix

Each vehicle number is the campaign's total; other models can be inside it.

Fuel leaks (1987 and 1989). Recall 87V184000: on the 1987, the fuel feed and return hoses could crack or separate and leak fuel under the hood; both were replaced. 131,476 vehicles. Recall 88V189000: on the 1989, small creases on the tank's underside could crack and leak; the tank was replaced. 13,095 vehicles.

Fire hazard under the hood (1985). Recall 86V073000: the plastic trim cover on the air cleaner could fall onto the exhaust manifold. The remedy was to remove the cover and throw it away. 87,174 vehicles.

Seats (1984). Recall 84V011000: certain bucket-seat back locks fell short of FMVSS 207, the seat anchorage rule, so in a collision the seatback could fail to lock. The remedy was an inspection of the seat back locks, with any lock that had a bent, broken or missing hook replaced (campaign: 76,586, which may include other models). Recall 87V079000: metal fatigue could crack the floor-pan anchor bar around the driver seat's left front outer adjuster stud; the fix added a reinforcement bracket. Its total of 1,136,407 vehicles may cover many other GM models.

Parking brake (1987). Recall 86V128000: the lever might not engage fully, so the car could roll away. 1,470 vehicles.

Tail lamps (1986). Recall 85V149000: the wrong lenses were installed. 4,036 vehicles.

Complaints and recalls by model year

From NHTSA's file, October 10, 2026 tally.

A 1987 report mentions a fire; the file holds zero crashes, injuries or deaths. Seven reports can't sketch a trend. Keep in mind that later Skyhawks spent fewer years on the road gathering owner reports.

Engines, by year

Wikipedia lists four engines for this generation: the 1.8-liter L46 OHV, the 1.8-liter LH8 SOHC, the LA5 turbo 1.8 SOHC, and the 2.0-liter LQ5/LL8 OHV. For 1987 the 1.8s gave way to two SOHC 2.0-liter engines, one making 96 hp and the LT3 turbo making 165 hp. The OHV 2.0 stayed, at 88 hp. The hatchback was dropped for 1988.

Fix it or sell it?

With seven complaints over six years, the NHTSA file gives you nothing to plan a repair around. The car in front of you decides it. Smell fuel on a 1987 or 1989? Check the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup before anything else. If the Skyhawk has been parked a long time, read sitting for years; if the age and miles are the real problem, see old or high mileage.

How to sell it

Have the VIN, the mileage and the body style handy: coupe, sedan, hatchback or wagon. Request an offer on the site, or phone (877) 421-6008. Tell us whether its tires still inflate and the spot it sits in, and keep it in one piece. Hand the driver the title and your ID at pickup; if the title is lost, read selling with no title.

More Buicks from the same years: the Skylark, Century and Regal, or every Buick we cover.