BUICK SKYLARK · model year

1997 BUICK SKYLARK

111 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997BUICKSKYLARK carries 111 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 SKYLARK is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 11 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (8) and air bags:frontal (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1997 SKYLARK. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

111
Complaints
9
Crashes
0
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

111 filings

Crashes Reported

9 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE8
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH4
AIR BAGS4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE3
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
SUSPENSION:REAR2
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS2

Recent Complaints

20150524SERVICE BRAKES

THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR, THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES WITH THE ABS - ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ROAD IS WET AND DRIVING DOWN HILL. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN THESE CONDITIONS, THE CAR DOES NOT ALWAYS STOP EVEN WHEN PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. YOU WILL HERE A CLICKING OR GRINDING TYPE OF NOISE. IT'S NOT THE PADS OR ROTORS BECAUSE IT HAPPENS WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED. IN THESE CONDITIONS, I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM SO I WON'T HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND GONE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY IN ICY CONDITIONS EVEN WHEN DRIVING SUPER SLOW. FROM READING OTHER ONLINE COMPLAINTS, I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S SAFETY DEFECT.

Mileage: 60,000

20140610AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK SKYLARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND AN INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 140,000

20140402ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54000.

Mileage: 54,000

20111101ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

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.

20111101ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

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.

20091105ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 WHY THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WAS FLASHING OR IF IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING. I CALLED A TECHNICIAN I KNOW AND EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT THE CAR SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS TO START BUT KEEP STALLING. HE ASKED ME TO LOOK AT THE DASH AND TELL HIM WHAT I SAW. THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WAS FLASHING, IT REMAINED ON FOR A WHILE, THEN IT WENT OUT AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES. HE TOLD ME TO TRY TO START THE CAR AGAIN. IT STARTED. THIS (THE CAR STALLS,

Mileage: 155,000

20080617STRUCTURE

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

Mileage: 100,000

20080403ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK SKYLARK. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. HE CHECKED THE WATER AND OIL LEVELS DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

Mileage: 26,000

20071010CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK SKYLARK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. HE THEN APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND IT SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, BUT DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TWO FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY IN ORDER TO STOP THE WHEELS FROM SPINNING AFTER THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE, WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. A MECHANIC FROM THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE CABLE THAT OPERATES THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED BACKWARDS AND JAMMED THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY

Mileage: 123,000

20070110AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING !*JB

Mileage: 57,300

20050415VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER WINDOWS - VERY SLOW GOING UP AND DOWN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS AND MOTORS HAVE STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. CANNOT PUT WINDOWS DOWN TO GET OUT OF CAR IF IT LANDS IN A CANAL OR WATERWAY ALONG THE HIGHWAY. COST $500.00 A WINDOW TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. FRIEND HAS A 2002 BUICK AND ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS AND MOTORS DO NOT WORK.*AK

Mileage: 85,000

20050124AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Mileage: 55,033

20040204SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. *AK *MR

Mileage: 55,000

20040113STEERING

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

Mileage: 6,500

20040113STEERING

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

Mileage: 10,000

20030904AIR BAGS

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

Mileage: 43,749

20030904POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

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

Mileage: 43,749

20030813CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20030612CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20030328ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

THE HORN ACTIVATES BY ITSELF. *JB...*AK

Mileage: 7,082

Compare 1997BUICKSKYLARK to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 BUICK SKYLARK have?
The 1997 BUICK SKYLARK has 111 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 BUICK SKYLARK?
The most-complained component for the 1997 BUICK SKYLARK is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1997 BUICK SKYLARK safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.