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.
Buick Skylark stalling problems
41 of the 477 owner complaints about the Buick Skylark describe engine stalls while driving, most of them for the 1997 model year.
- owner complaints
- 41
- worst model year
- 1997
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
By model year
Often reported together
Won't start 4Hesitation 3Power windows 2Wipers 1Transmission failure 1Loss of power 1Headlights 1Fuel pump 1
What owners say
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!
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle engine hesitated, then stalled completely. The vehicle lost power assist steering, and power assist braking. After being restarted, the vehicle stalled several more times. The vehicle was taken in for ervice. Previously, the on-board computer was replaced by a service dealer in an attempt to correct the same problem.*ak updated 12/01/06.
Vehicle stalled while driving in traffic. *bf the vehicle was inspected by a mechanic but he was unable to duplicate the problem.
This problem is happening more frequently now I can go out to the car and it won't start. I can wait a few hours or so and it will start right up. The first time this happened I had it towed to the mechanic, the day it was towed in it wouldn't start for him either. The next day and the days following that it fired up each and every time he kept it from mon-fri, he could not duplicate the problem. He did the diagnostic test it showed nothing wrong with it. I called two buick dealers, they told me if the car doesn't break down and stay broken down they can't tell me whats wrong because the problem is too intermittent. Before all this started that ets off light was coming on and staying on and the car would stall out on me, now its not doing that anymore, but I noticed something when I'm putting the car into reverse from park I noticed that the ets off light blinks. Please help me if you can, I don't know what to do. And sometimes it stays on. The fuel pump seems to be working. I have had it looked at twice and no one can find anything wrong with it.
1990 buick skylark (quad 4 engine)-chronic stalling due to faulty lockup torque converter.coil housing was replaced 3x in six years .alldata lists tech. Service bulletins concerning these problems.letters to gm and buick field zone office seeking restitution received no response whatsoever.
The federal safety agency recall 02 v 070 000 concerning ignition switch: recall repairs were done, causing intermittent stalling / starting problem. This problem was not occurring until repairs were done at steve schmitt motor co. In greensville, il; phone# 618/664-2811. Feel free to provide any further information.
The federal safety agency 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.
Vehicle would stall while driving at highway speed of 50-60 MPH. Dealer has been notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
While driving and without warning vehicle will stall out and die. Dealer has repaired vehicle, but problem has reoccurred. Please provide additional information.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Buick Skylark stalling
Which Buick Skylark years have engine stalls while driving problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1997 (10 complaints), 1991 (5 complaints) and 1992 (5 complaints).
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