IllustrationPOSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW OF GENERATOR ASSEMBLY CAUSED IT TO FAIL AT 25,491 MILES. *YC
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 reportsAXLE SEAL SHAFT ASSEMBLY--CHANNEL PLATE, STEERING COLUMN.
WHEN PUTTING PASSENGERS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, CAR BOTTOMS OUT WHEN HITTING A BUMP.CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT THE IS THE CAR'S NORMAL FUNCTION. *AK
BRAKES LOCK UP ON TURN, WET SURFACES AND UNEVEN TERRAIN. VEHICLE EXPERIENCING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTACE WHEN BRAKING AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED. NLM
THE BAR ASSEMBLY FOR THE ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL OPERATING OF THE LATCH BECAME SEPARATED AT A PLASTIC HELD JOINT AND JAMMED THE LATCH MECHANISM, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE DOOR TO NOT OPEN AT ALL FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. MJS
WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, 5 YEAR OLD SON WAS ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR WITHOUT KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS, CHILD BECAME SCARED, JUMPED OUT OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER CHILD AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT BEFORE STOPPING. PLEASE PR…
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WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, 5 YEAR OLD SON WAS ABLE TO PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR WITHOUT KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS, CHILD BECAME SCARED, JUMPED OUT OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER CHILD AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT BEFORE STOPPING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY.
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE AND THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM BUT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAS AND CLAIMS FAILURE IS DUE TO FAILURE OF ABS. *AK
FRONT SEAT BELTS FREQUENTLY TWIST IN TRACK AND HANG UP REQUIRING DEALER TO READJUST OR REINSTALL.
DRIVER SIDE SEAT WON'T LOCK IN POSITION, AND THE SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORWARD, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO ROCK FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND THE LATCH ISN'T IN POSITION. *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.