IllustrationENGINE WAS RUNNING WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. SUDDENLY GEAR SLIPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE AND VEHICLE HIT A HOUSE. *AK *YH
1997 Buick Skylark
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Skylark years →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
What owners actually said
79 reportsWHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL AND ENGINE REVVED, AND TOOK OFF IN TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *YH
WHILE WAITING FOR PARTS TO RECALL 02V070000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. PROBLEM STATED IN THE RECALL HAPPENED.*AK
VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL 02-V-070-000 / MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008 CONCERNING IGNITION SYSTEM. TWO MONTHS LATER, AFTER RECALL WAS SERVICED PROBLEM REOCCURRED. WHEN KEY IS TURNED IN ON POSITION ENGINE MAKES A CLICKING SOUND BUT DOESN'T START. ALSO. EACH TIME AFTER REPAIRS / BEFORE LEAVING DEALER OR ON…
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VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL 02-V-070-000 / MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008 CONCERNING IGNITION SYSTEM. TWO MONTHS LATER, AFTER RECALL WAS SERVICED PROBLEM REOCCURRED. WHEN KEY IS TURNED IN ON POSITION ENGINE MAKES A CLICKING SOUND BUT DOESN'T START. ALSO. EACH TIME AFTER REPAIRS / BEFORE LEAVING DEALER OR ONCE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF IT WILL NOT RESTART. FOGER BUICK; 5701 E INDEPENDENCE BLVD, CHALOTTE, NC. 28212 ADDED AN IGNITION MODULE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
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 RECALL 02 V 9070 000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. AFTER DEALER: LESTER GLENN BUICK PONTIAC GMC, TOMS RIVER, NJ, PHONE# 732/349-4200, MADE RECALL REPAIRS, VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRING. *AK VEHICLE ALSO EXP…
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NHTSA RECALL 02 V 9070 000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. AFTER DEALER: LESTER GLENN BUICK PONTIAC GMC, TOMS RIVER, NJ, PHONE# 732/349-4200, MADE RECALL REPAIRS, VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRING. *AK VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A FAULTY ALTERNATOR AND TWO BAD BATTERIES. RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT FAILED, DEALER REPLACED 2 BULBS.
WHILE CHILD WAS IN VEHICLE PLAYING AND VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF IT WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND ROLLED BACKWARDS, HITTING A TREE WHILE CHILD WAS STILL IN VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
HORN IS INOPERATIVE BECAUSE OF A FAILURE WITHIN INTERNAL CONTACT OF HORN ASSEMBLY. *AK VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR TO THE HORN. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTERNAL CONTACTS FOR HORN INSIDE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY. CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IF THE HORN WAS NOT REPAIRED THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY. *JG
WHEN CAR IS PARKED IN ANY GEAR IT WILL REVERSE WITHOUT PUTTING KEY IN IGNITION. THIS INCCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE, ONCE RESULTING WITH AN INFANT IN CAR WHEN IT REVERSED. CONTACTED DEALER , CANNOT NOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK
TENSIONER COLLAPSED AND PLASTIC GUIDES BROKE, CAUSING TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP IN MIDDLE OF FREEWAY. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
Official recalls
302V070000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.