RoadVitals

1997 Buick Skylark Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Apr 3, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 79 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Buick Skylark submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2008

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.

NHTSA ID
10223950
Incident
Mar 3, 2008
Mileage
26,000 mi
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Jun 4, 2002

NHTSA RECALL 02 V 9070 000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. AFTER DEALER: LESTER GLENN BUICK PONTIAC GMC, TOMS RIVER, NJ, PHONE# 732/349-4200, MADE RECALL REPAIRS, VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRING. *AK VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A FAULTY ALTERNATOR AND TWO BAD BATTERIES. RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT FAILED, DEALER REPLACED 2 BULBS.

NHTSA ID
8011016
Incident
May 24, 2002
Engine
Filed Apr 10, 2002

TENSIONER COLLAPSED AND PLASTIC GUIDES BROKE, CAUSING TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP IN MIDDLE OF FREEWAY. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8007249
Engine
Filed Dec 14, 2001

TIMING CHAIN HAS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES IN 3 MONTHS. TENSIONER IS DEFECTIVE/ COLAPSES, AND WARRANTY EXPIRED. NO PROBLEM WITH TENSIONER.*AK

NHTSA ID
8000747
Incident
Sep 23, 2001
Engine
Filed Sep 4, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
730177
Incident
Sep 4, 2000
Body & structureElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Jun 28, 2000

1. DURING COLD MONTHS VEHICLE STARTS FINE, THEN WHILE DRIVING, WILL STALL- OFTEN UPON ACCELERATION AT A LIGHT OR INTERSECTION. 2) DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED 3) KNOB FOR HEADLIGHT CONTROL BROKE AT STEM 4) GLOVE BOX LATCH BROKE INTO PIECES 5) LIGHTER FELL APART WHEN A CELL PHONE WAS PLUGGED IN- NEVER USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE

NHTSA ID
724701
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Engine
Filed Mar 31, 1999

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY.

NHTSA ID
544733
Engine
Filed Dec 28, 1998

IN FLOW OF TRAFFIC VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND ENGINE WILL TURN OFF. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
832708
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Nov 24, 1998

MY CAR HAS KILLED ON ME SEVERAL TIMES SINCE ITS PURCHASE IN MAY WITH MANY OF THEM COMING AT LOW TO ACCELERATING SPEEDS AND CROSSING IN TRAFFIC. I'VE ALSO HAD SEVERAL ACCELARATION STICKINGS WITH THE GAS PEDAL, THIS DISTURBS ME VERY MUCH BECAUSE IT BECOMES HARDER TO STOP THE CAR. I'VE GOTTEN NO RESPONSE THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS EVER DONE THIS EACH TIME IT IS SENT TO BE LOOKED AT (THREE OCCASSIONS) AND ACCORDING TO THEIR PAPERWORK THEY NEVER TEST DROVE THE CAR, SEEING THAT THE MILEAGE WAS THE SAME AS WHEN I DROPPED THE CAR OFF. THEY'VE ALREADY SAID THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS TO BE REPLACED BUT I'M WORRIED THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THAT AND OTHER PROBLEMS. I'D APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME IN DEALING WITH THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. SINCERELY, JAMES ALEXANDER

NHTSA ID
700869
Engine
Filed Sep 15, 1998

VEHICLE EITHER STALLS OR ACCELERATES AT FULL THROTTLE. QCAW

NHTSA ID
540010
Incident
Oct 8, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .