1997 Buick Skylark Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 15%of 79 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 56,166miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Buick Skylark, 15% of the 79 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 56,166 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10038189, filed 2003-09, 43,749 miles“Horn button is under airbag in order to fix airbag must be replaced at a cost of $800 or I remove the fuse, I can't afford to replace airbag for a simple button so this becomes a safety issue. Since I have no horn am deeply concerned for my and my kids safety in case of an emergency (need to alert someone who is going to run into me ) please help.”
NHTSA complaint #754639, filed 2001-11“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10597478, filed 2014-06, 140,000 miles“Horn is inoperative because of a failure within internal contact of horn assembly. Vehicle was taken in for repair to the horn. Consumer was informed that the internal contacts for horn inside airbag assembly was faulty. Consumer was also informed that if the horn was not repaired the air bag may not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #8010085, filed 2002-05“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10033831, filed 2003-08Air bags: other model years
Other parts of the 1997 Buick Skylark
16 complaintsElectrical system
13 complaintsEngine cooling
10 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsSeats
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Buick Skylark
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology