no report yet
Ignition: switch
Risk. IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
1997 Buick SkylarkProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 79 owner complaints about the 1997 Buick Skylark, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 24, 2015. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 1997 Buick Skylark has problems
79 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
15Service brakes, hydraulic1 crash/fire/injury
13Electrical system
12Air bags5 crash/fire/injury
10Engine and engine cooling
6Suspension
6Power train2 crash/fire/injury
6Vehicle speed control1 crash/fire/injury
5Visibility
5Structure
1911 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 15 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 13 | 0 |
| Air bags | 12 | 5 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 0 |
| Power train | 6 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 1 |
| Visibility | 5 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 0 |
| 11 other systems | 19 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
1997 Buick Skylark recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Wiring: front underhood
Risk. THIS HIGH CURRENT FLOW CAN CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
no report yet
Storage: tank assembly
Risk. 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,…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Buick.
Best & worst years
1997 vs. every other Skylark year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Skylark median. How we score
'66'67'68'70'71'75'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'00
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
1997 Buick Skylark safety ratings
1997 Buick Skylark 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Skylark owners report
Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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
Own a 1997 Skylark?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.