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1997 Buick Skylark

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 15 of 79 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports

Structure complaints

5 reports
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100,000 miles · Jun 17, 2008
Structure

WHEN IT RAINS THE CAR LEAKS. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A FEW YEARS. PREVIOUSLY IT WAS IN A GARAGE, SO WE DON'T NO FOR SURE HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON. WE BROUGHT IT TO A GARAGE TO BE FIXED, THEY WORKED ON THE AREA OF THE COWL SECTION. BUT COULDN'T FIX IT. ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONING NEVER WORKED RIGHT AND HAD TO HAVE…

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WHEN IT RAINS THE CAR LEAKS. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A FEW YEARS. PREVIOUSLY IT WAS IN A GARAGE, SO WE DON'T NO FOR SURE HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON. WE BROUGHT IT TO A GARAGE TO BE FIXED, THEY WORKED ON THE AREA OF THE COWL SECTION. BUT COULDN'T FIX IT. ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONING NEVER WORKED RIGHT AND HAD TO HAVE A CHARGE EVERY YEAR. FINALLY IT QUIT ALL TOGETHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231250

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2002
Electrical SystemStructure

AFTER RECALL NOTIFICATION THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND RECALL 02V-070 WAS PERFORMED ON THE INGNITION SWITCH, THE NEXT DAY THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT THE DOOR LOCK SWITCH WAS STI…

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AFTER RECALL NOTIFICATION THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND RECALL 02V-070 WAS PERFORMED ON THE INGNITION SWITCH, THE NEXT DAY THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT THE DOOR LOCK SWITCH WAS STICKING CAUSING A DRAW WHICH DRAINED THE NEW BATTERY. NLM

NHTSA ODI #566556

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentExterior Lighting

1. DURING COLD MONTHS VEHICLE STARTS FINE, THEN WHILE DRIVING, WILL STALL- OFTEN UPON ACCELERATION AT A LIGHT OR INTERSECTION. 2) DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED 3) KNOB FOR HEADLIGHT CONTROL BROKE AT STEM 4) GLOVE BOX LATCH BROKE INTO PIECES 5) LIGHTER FELL APART WHEN A CELL PHONE WAS PLUGGED IN- NEVER USED FOR ANY O…

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1. DURING COLD MONTHS VEHICLE STARTS FINE, THEN WHILE DRIVING, WILL STALL- OFTEN UPON ACCELERATION AT A LIGHT OR INTERSECTION. 2) DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED 3) KNOB FOR HEADLIGHT CONTROL BROKE AT STEM 4) GLOVE BOX LATCH BROKE INTO PIECES 5) LIGHTER FELL APART WHEN A CELL PHONE WAS PLUGGED IN- NEVER USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE

NHTSA ODI #724701

Mileage unknown · May 26, 1999
Structure

THE BAR ASSEMBLY FOR THE ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL OPERATING OF THE LATCH BECAME SEPARATED AT A PLASTIC HELD JOINT AND JAMMED THE LATCH MECHANISM, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE DOOR TO NOT OPEN AT ALL FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. MJS

NHTSA ODI #545803

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1998
Structure

VEHICLE HAVING TROUBLE IN DIRECTIONAL PULLING, THE UNIBODY FRAME RAIL IS LONGER ON ONE SIDE THAN THE OTHER.

NHTSA ODI #540990

Official recalls

3

02V070000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Mar 6, 2002

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

97V059000 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Apr 8, 1997

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS HIGH CURRENT FLOW CAN CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE PROTECTIVE COVER AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER.

96V212000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Oct 30, 1996

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A REAR END COLLISION, THE VEHICLE SHEET METAL STRUCTURE WILL NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED CAUSING UNEXPECTED DAMAGE TO THE FUEL TANK OR FUEL LINES, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. IF THIS IS A FUEL LEAK AND AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE MISSING WELDS AND, IF NECESSARY, PLACE THREE WHELDS BETWEEN THE INVOLVED PANELS APPLYING PRIMER, SEALER AND ANTI-CORROSION MATERIALS.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.