1997 Buick SKYLARK: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10014642 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
THE HORN ACTIVATES BY ITSELF. *JB...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 7,082 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022941 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND NONE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033831 · 2003-08-13 (August 13, 2003)
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033831 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038189 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
WHILE PARKING HORN CONTINUOUSLY SOUNDED. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER KNOB BROKE OFF. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE AIR BAG SYSTEM IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE HORN FAILURE AND REPLACED THE SHIFTER KNOB. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 43,749 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038189 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 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 ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V070000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2002-03-06 (March 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V212000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1996-10-30 (October 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V059000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Reported: 1997-04-08 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗