1996 Buick SKYLARK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
95,280 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 50 complaints (14.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 12.0% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 8.0% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 7; Air Bags: 6; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 4; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 35 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
1996: 2; 2000: 10; 2001: 5; 2002: 11; 2003: 4; 2004: 4; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 6; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10040337 · 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
NHTSA RECALL 02-V-070-000: IF THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENTS FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND SOMETIMES PRODUCE ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNING FOUR STARTERS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT A WARRANTY. *AK *SCC (THIS DOCUMENT IS AN ADD TO) *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203522 · 2007-09-20 (September 20, 2007)
WHILE ON VACATION WE TOOK A TRIP. ON THE WAY HOME AT NIGHT ALL ELECTRICITY DEVICES STARTED TO DIE. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE DIED AND WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND IT HASN'T STARTED SINCE. I TURN THE KEY AND GET NOTHING. WHEN I TURN THE KEY ON, THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM LIGHT IS LIT AND NEVER GOES OUT. THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED AND I CAN START THE CAR IF I JUMP THE STARTER BUT NOT FROM THE KEY. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL DEVICES WORK FINE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070839 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
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 DOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8004235 · 2002-02-20 (February 20, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8004235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024463 · 2003-06-16 (June 16, 2003)
CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON 1996 BUICK SKYLARK REAR BRAKING SYSTEM. *MR *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024463 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 562952 · 2001-09-06 (September 6, 2001)
CONSUMER STATES ABS INOPERATIVE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 562952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10871513 · 2016-05-31 (May 31, 2016)
AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, ON MAY 5 2016, 10 PM, WENT OUT TO PUT WINDOWS UP IN CAR, VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY,OPENED DOOR, LEANED IN TO TURN ON KEY, WHEN I TURNED ON KEY, HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION, TWO THOUGHTS BEFORE I BLACKED OUT, THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT & WHAT THE HELL WAS PULLING ME BACKWARDS SO FAST, CAME TO IN A FEW SECONDS LAYING ON THE GROUND, NOTICED THAT AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED, COULD NOT GET UP & CRAWLED TO HOUSE, THIS WAS A VERY VIOLENT & TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, WENT TO HOSPITAL WHERE THEY XRAYED MY NECK & FOUND NO BROKEN BONES, MY FACE WAS ACTUALLY 2 TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10871513 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724908 · 2000-07-04 (July 4, 2000)
VEH HAS TWO RECALLS #96V24900-STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY. AN UNDER TORQUED PINCH BOLT CAN RATTLE AND CAUSE LOOSENESS IN STEERING SYSTEM (CAUSING GRINDING NOISE). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 559338 · 2001-02-01 (February 1, 2001)
FUEL TANK IS LEAKING. *CJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 559338 at NHTSA ↗