IllustrationTHE LEFT FRONT SIDE AIR BAG WAS BUNCHED IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING PRESSURE ON THE HORN. AS A RESULT OF EXTREME TEMPERATURES, THE HORN GOES OFF AUTOMATICALLY OR GETS STUCK WHEN CONTACT WAS MADE WITH IT. *YH
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 reportsTIMING CHAIN HAS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES IN 3 MONTHS. TENSIONER IS DEFECTIVE/ COLAPSES, AND WARRANTY EXPIRED. NO PROBLEM WITH TENSIONER.*AK
FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING 40 MPH FRONT END COLLISION. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
HORN BUTTON IS UNDER AIRBAG IN ORDER TO FIX AIRBAG MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $800 OR I REMOVE THE FUSE, I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE AIRBAG FOR A SIMPLE BUTTON SO THIS BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE I HAVE NO HORN AM DEEPLY CONCERNED FOR MY AND MY KIDS SAFETY IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY (NEED TO ALERT SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO RUN INT…
Read full complaint
HORN BUTTON IS UNDER AIRBAG IN ORDER TO FIX AIRBAG MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $800 OR I REMOVE THE FUSE, I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE AIRBAG FOR A SIMPLE BUTTON SO THIS BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE I HAVE NO HORN AM DEEPLY CONCERNED FOR MY AND MY KIDS SAFETY IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY (NEED TO ALERT SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO RUN INTO ME ) PLEASE HELP. *AK
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
THE DATE OF 02/05/01 IS THE THIRD TIME OF REPLACEMENT FOR THAT STRUT. *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
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.