1997 Buick SKYLARK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
47 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
55,033 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 47 complaints (12.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 25.5% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 12.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 6.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 5; Air Bags: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch: 3; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Horn: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 32 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 8; 2001: 8; 2002: 12; 2003: 5; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008729 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057534 · 2004-02-26 (February 26, 2004)
BRAKES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. *AK *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10291114 · 2009-11-05 (November 5, 2009)
THE CAR HAD BEEN STALLING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR BUT NOT AS FREQUENT. THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME IT STALLED WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE 240N. MY WIFE AND CHILD WAS WITH ME. IT WAS RUSH HOUR AND THERE WERE LOTS OF TRAFFIC. WE WERE TERRIFIED! ONCE I MERGED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, WE HAD TO WAIT FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. MIND YOU, WE ARE ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY AND DANGEROUS INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I NOTICED WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR AFTER IT HAD STALLED, THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I HAD NO IDEA W…
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576917 · 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK SKYLARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER OR CENTRAL COMPUTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS THEN REFERRED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053921 · 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)
WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN, AND MADE A LOUD DRAGGING NOISE. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053984 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. *AK THE WHEEL WOULD SQUEAL. THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND A RUBBER SEAL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING SHAFT. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053984 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10433382 · 2011-11-01 (November 1, 2011)
1997 BUICK SKYLARK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRING SYSTEM WHICH WAS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DIE. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 02V070000.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10433382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 566556 · 2002-07-09 (July 9, 2002)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 566556 at NHTSA ↗