IllustrationBRAKES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. *AK *MR
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
15 reportsTHE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD.*JB
BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE WHEN APPLIED, AND PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE BECAUSE NOONE COULD FIX THE DEFECT. *SLC
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSUMER HAD TO HOLD FOOT ON BRAKE.*AK EVENTHOUGH THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, THE CONSUMER FEELS NOT SECURE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *YH
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ABS ENGAGING ON WET ROADS OR INTERMITTENTLY ON DRY ROAD. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
ABS LIGHT WOULD FLASH WHILE TRAVELING. WHEN MAKING TURNS VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL. ALSO, WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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
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
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
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.