1997 Buick Skylark
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Buick › Skylark › 1997
These records cover every 1997 Buick Skylark. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
5 recalls name the 1997 Buick Skylark. Newest first.
Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. Fp10020-11b1, fp10026-11b1, and fp10027-11b1, sold after january 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. the universal pressure regulators (upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire.
Remedy
Delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. the recall began on april 23, 2007. owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770.
Certain delphi aftermarket fuel pump modules / module reservoir assemblies (mra) that were sold for use on the above listed vehicles. during production the mras vent and fuel return tubes were reversed. this condition can result in the vehicle not running correctly (idle rough and/or stall) due to an overly rich fuel blend or the vehicle's evaporative…
Risk and remedy
Risk
A stalled vehicle can increase the risk of a vehicle crash. a fuel leak can result in a fire.
Remedy
Delphi will notify owners and replace the defective mras free of charge. the recall began on march 20, 2007. owners can contact delphi at 1-877-335-7443.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
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."
Risk and remedy
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, 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.
Owner complaints
79 complaints8 involved a crash7 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Service 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…
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.
- Air 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.
- Electrical 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…
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.
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch · Electrical 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.
- Electrical 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…
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, wait awhile, then it starts) went on for awhile. on september 15, 2009, I went out to start the car to take my child to school and the car would not start. to this day, I can not get my car to start and the theft system light IS still flashing. there are several people I know who own buick skylarks and are having similar problems with the theft system. some have gotten several things replaced such as the key, the switch, etc and have yet to have this problem corrected. it seems to be a problem with the buick skylarks theft system manufactured around 1997! IS there anything being done or will there be something done to correct this problem? this could cause serious injuries and/or deaths! *Tr
- Structure
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
- Engine 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.
- Vehicle 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…
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 123,000. updated 12/12/07 *bf
- Air bags › Frontal
Passenger airbag deployed for no reason while driving !*jb
- Visibility › 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
- Air bags › Frontal
While driving 25 mph the passenger side air bag deployed inadvertently. The cause has not been determined. Please provide additional information. *jb
- Service brakes, hydraulic
Brakes wear out prematurely. *Ak *mr
- Steering
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
- Steering
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
- Air bags · Power 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
- Air 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
- Air 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
- Electrical system › Horn
The horn activates by itself. *jb...*ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Abs warning light
The ABS light illuminated on the dashboard.*jb
- Air bags › Frontal
Consumer states that the horn blows with out touching it, dealer notified and said the heat casuses the air bag to expand which causes the horn to go off. Ts
- Power train › Automatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch
Engine was running while vehicle was in park. Suddenly gear slipped out of park into reverse and vehicle hit a house. *Ak *yh
- Vehicle speed control
While traveling on highway and without prior warning consumer applied brake pedal and engine revved, and took off in traffic. dealership was aware of problem.*ak *yh
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch · Structure › Body › Door
After recall notification the consumer vehicle would not start, the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the battery was replaced and recall 02v-070 was performed on the ingnition switch, the next day the battery was dead again, the consumer took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who found that the door lock switch was sticking causing a draw which drained the new battery. nlm
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
While waiting for parts to recall 02v070000 concerning ignition switch failure. problem stated in the recall happened.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Vehicle was serviced for nhtsa recall 02-v-070-000 / manufacturer's recall 02008 concerning ignition system. Two months later, after recall was serviced problem reoccurred. when key IS turned in on position engine makes a clicking sound but doesn't start. also. each time after repairs…
Vehicle was serviced for nhtsa recall 02-v-070-000 / manufacturer's recall 02008 concerning ignition system. Two months later, after recall was serviced problem reoccurred. when key IS turned in on position engine makes a clicking sound but doesn't start. also. each time after repairs / before leaving dealer or once vehicle IS turned off it will not restart. foger buick; 5701 e independence blvd, chalotte, nc. 28212 added an ignition module. Please provide more information.*ak
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10248444Vehicle Recalls
- 10246631Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10208027This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
- 10171318This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
- 10170494This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco Radio with Theftlock.
- 10168979This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details.
- 10165876This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.
- 10157018This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
- 10141381This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.
- 10137901This informational bulletin provides the technician with information on what E85 fuel may due to a non E85 vehicle.
- 10113443This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
- 10082506This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest calibrations to correct a condition of the rear entertainment system not operating as intended in colder ambient temperature areas due to calibration concerns.
- 10023171ABS pump running when not needed.
- 10017096Vehicle will not move in either direction. Transmission may show over full. P90 4t40e 4t45e no movement drive or reverse. Converter may be empty of fluid.
- 100170864T40e or 4t45e will not shift no diagnostic trouble codes.
- 10009220Vehicles may set anyone or a combination of front-wheel speed sensor anti-lock brake system codes as intermittent or hard failures. Gm voicemail express.
- 10007816Anti-lock braking system (ABS) front wheel speed codes - jumper harness.
- 10007293ABS front wheel speed codes - jumper harness.
- 10000782Revised piston pin removal / installation procedure.
- 6089996Some vehicles equipped with hydra-matic 3T40, 4T60 or 4t60-e transxales may comment on a grinding and / or growling noise that IS noticeable when in park on incline.
- 634708Subject regarding revised lower intake manifold installation.
- 631899Subject regarding revised ignition lock cylinder or ignition switch assembly replacement. *Slc
- 628890Some owners may comment on leakage of a few drops of coolant after parking their vehicle.
- 620810Subject regarding polymer service pistons.
- 619370Owners of some vehicles equipped with hydra-matic 3T40, 4T60, 4t60-e or 4t65-e transaxles may comment on a grinding and / or growling noise that IS noticeable when standing in park on a hill or slope with the engine running and the parking brake not applied.
- 619360Some owners may comment on driveability symptons of long or hard starts, chuggle, rough idle and light or intermittent misfire due to clogged fuel injectors.
- 615073Some V6 engines may, on a very infrequent basis, have an oil odor condition that IS generally encountered after the engine's oil has been changed.typically the odor lasts approximately 1000 miles after the change of oil and then does not reappear until the next change of oil.
- 613590Information regarding snow intrusion into rear drum brake assemblies. **Mr
- 604343Some owners may experience a driveability symptom of long or hard starts, chuggle, rough idle and light or intermittent misfire.
- 602983Concerns of door handles on white painted vehicles truning yellow.
- 602826Some customers may comment about a squeak/ squawk type noise coming from the steering column area when turning the steering wheel.
- 601915Comments on a ticking type noise that begins shortly after cold engine start-up and gradually diminishes as the engine warms up.
- 601912Conditions regarding weak or discharged battery, slow starting, gen or mil lamp on, various driveability symptoms.
- 601782Information on generator not charging.
- 601412Some vehicles may experience a mil (malfunction indicator lamp) light illuminated on the vehicle's instrument panel.
- 601114Seat belt latch slides to seat belt anchor sleeve.
- 600282Some vehicles may experience a driveability symptom of long or hard starts, chuggle, rough idle and light or intermittent misfire.
- 54419Comment that the ABS light IS on with diagnostic trouble codes (dtc's) 46 and 86 set as current or history.
- 54418Some vehicles experience difficulties to depress accelerator pedal and/or an accelerator cable separation.
- 54329Complaints that the ABS indicator lamp IS "on".
Every Buick Skylark model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.