- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
1997 Buick Skylark Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 87 complaints about the 1997 Buick Skylark with NHTSA, most often about the brakes (17) and the electrical system (14). Those complaints describe 8 crashes, 1 fire and 8 injuries. It is covered by 5 recalls, the latest in March 2007 for the pressure relief devices. For comparison, the 1996 has 88 and the 1998 has 34.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Skylark year, for its age
#72 most complained-about 1997 vehicle
- Complaints
- 87
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 8
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 8
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1997 Buick Skylark problems
Share of all 87 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1997 Buick Skylark recalls 5
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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 emission carbon canister may leak fuel.
- The risk
- A stalled vehicle can increase the risk of a vehicle crash. A fuel leak can result in a fire.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed.
- The fix
- 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 problem
- 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.
- The risk
- This high current flow can cause arcing and result in an underhood fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect these vehicles for the presence of the protective cover and, if necessary, install a protective cover to the underhood fuse center.
- The problem
- 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."
- The 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.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect for the missing welds and, if necessary, place three whelds between the involved panels applying primer, sealer and anti-corrosion materials.
What owners say
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87 complaints about the 1997 Buick Skylark
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 4.
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...
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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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
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
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.
Car caught on fire in the driveway, with no key and in park. My son had come in the house and said mom your car is smoking. I had parked the car approx 20 mins before after a 6 mile trip, it was winter, thank god I did not park in the garage or it would have gone up in smoke too, as I live in the country and it took a long time for the trucks to arrive. I am glad I was not a young mom with kids in car seats which takes alot of time. Scared the crap outta us, cause the garage (tools, wood, vehicles, stuff was so very close to the car and garage is very close to our home(keepsakes, everything). *Tr
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...
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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
Passenger airbag deployed for no reason while driving !*Jb
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle had problems steering and the power steering did not function. The contact expressed the problem was due to the rack and pinion that was noted on recall number 03v527000. The manufacturer determined the vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin.
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
While driving 25 mph the passenger side air bag deployed inadvertently. The cause has not been determined. Please provide additional information. *Jb
BRAKES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. *AK *MR
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
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
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 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
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
THE HORN ACTIVATES BY ITSELF. *JB...*AK
THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD.*JB
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
Engine was running while vehicle was in park. Suddenly gear slipped out of park into reverse and vehicle hit a house. *Ak *yh
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
While waiting for parts to recall 02v070000 concerning ignition switch failure. Problem stated in the recall happened.*Ak
Buick Skylark: every year compared
All Skylark years1997 Buick Skylark vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Buick Skylark | 87 | 5 | F | |
| 1997 Buick Lesabre | 402 | 2 | F | Compare |
| 1997 Buick Park Avenue | 219 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 1997 Buick Regal | 136 | 8 | F | Compare |
| 1997 Buick Century | 106 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 1997 Buick Riviera | 43 | 0 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1997 Buick Skylark
Does the 1997 Buick Skylark have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 1997 Buick Skylark: pressure relief devices (March 2007); fuel pump (February 2007); switch (March 2002); front underhood (April 1997) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Buick Skylark?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the brakes (17), electrical system (14), airbags (12).
How many complaints has the 1997 Buick Skylark had?
87 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on June 20, 1997 and the latest on May 24, 2015. Of these, 8 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 8 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1997 Buick Skylark a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 4 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Buick Skylark year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Buick Skylark years have the most complaints?
1995 (90), 1996 (88), 1997 (87). See every Buick Skylark year compared.
What should I do if my 1997 Buick Skylark has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data