IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MILES STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE ON LEFT REAR SIDE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
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 reportsTHE ORIGINAL TIRES (GOODYEAR EAGLE) EXPERIENCED SPLITTING AT THE SIDEWALL. *MJS
NO SUMMARY
RECALL 97V059000: CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY 35MPH AND ABS BRAKE SYSTEM BLEW UP IN HER FACE. THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE INSIDE OF VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS GRABBING SLOWLY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE HOME VERY SLOWLY. CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER. *AK
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
EXCESSIVE WEAR OF OF BRAKE PADS. ALSO, VEHICLE COMMENCED VIBRATION AT 65 MPH, AND REAR SHOCKS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THIS CAR HAS BEEN STALLING OUT ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING OF OUR PURCHASE. IT WAS A USED VEHICLE BUT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP NUMERIOUS TIMES AND I KEEP GETTING TOLD IT IS A PHANTOM PROBLEM AND THEY CANNOT RECREATE IT AT THE SERVICE DEPT. I HAVE IN THE PAST THOUGHT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING…
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THIS CAR HAS BEEN STALLING OUT ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING OF OUR PURCHASE. IT WAS A USED VEHICLE BUT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP NUMERIOUS TIMES AND I KEEP GETTING TOLD IT IS A PHANTOM PROBLEM AND THEY CANNOT RECREATE IT AT THE SERVICE DEPT. I HAVE IN THE PAST THOUGHT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING THEIR JOB BUT AFTER A YEAR OF HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THIS CAR STALLS OUT MOST OFTEN WHEN IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A FEW HOURS - IT HAS STALLED IN FRONT OF A DUMP TRUCK FULL OF GRAVEL - HE MISSED ME BY JUST INCHES SINCE I HAD JUST PULLED OUT FROM A STOP SIGN AND THE TRUCK CAME OVER A HILL. LAST WEEK IT STALLED IN FRONT OF A SCHOOL BUS FILLED WITH CHILDREN! THE ETS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES & SOMETIMES NOT! I NEED SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM SO I AM NOT DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR. AFTER IT STALLS I SOMETIMES NEED TO LEAVE IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND SOMETIMES I CAN GET IT RESTARTED AND THEN NEED TO "REV" UP THE ENGINE TO KEEP IT GOING. I HAVE BEEN TREATED LIKE A "COMPLETE IDIOT" BY MORE THAN ONE PERSON AT THE STARK DEALERSHIP IN STOUGHTON, WI. HELP!!!!!!!!*AK
DEALERSHIP ON 12/02/99 SAYING FUEL INJECTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
ABS SYSTEM HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE OWNERSHIP, REPLACED BRAKES ONCE, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO LOCK UP IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AREA AND MAKES NOISE. MJS
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL BECOMES SOFT, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES WHICH RESULTED IN TWO MINOR COLLISIONS. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.ALSO, BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED . MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *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.