1996 Buick SKYLARK: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10006437 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE ON WIRE HARNESS VEHICLE WOULD START INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN BACK TO DEALER ON EIGHT OCCASIONS ,AND PROBLEM STILL REOCURRING. PH....*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006897 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006897 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 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 10045493 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
THE ENGINE OF MY CAR IS A MESS. IT HAS ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM SINCE I BOUGHT IT THREE YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE WORKED ON SO MANY TIMES IT IS CRAZY. NOW IT SEEMS THAT I NEED A NEW HEAD GASKET AND WHATEVER ELSE CYLINDER ONE IS KICKING REPORTS ON. I WILL PROBABLY END UP HAVING TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I STILL OWE $4,000.00 ON THIS ONE. WHAT THE HECK...
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10045493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059824 · 2004-02-25 (February 25, 2004)
FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE CONSUMER WAS WARMING UP THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO ONE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FRONT WINDSHIELD BROKE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059824 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 10071841 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ENGINE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071841 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V070000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2002-03-06 (March 6, 2002)
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.
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V211000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 1996-10-28 (October 28, 1996)
DURING DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, THE AIR BAG FABRIC CAN SNAG ON A REINFORCEMENT INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CAUSING THE EXPANDING AIR BAG TO LIFT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD AND THEN DEPLOY UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE DOOR IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
Consequence: IN A CRASH, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER COULD RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES IF HE OR SHE CONTACTS A BROKEN REINFORCEMENT OR IF THE SNAGGING AFFECTS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PADS AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PLASTIC EDGE PROTECTOR TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD REINFORCEMENT. ON CERTAIN EARLY-PRODUCTION VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PAD WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V249000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Reported: 1996-12-17 (December 17, 1996)
THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: AN UNDERTORQUED PINCH BOLT CAN RATTLE AND CAUSE LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IF THE PINCH BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE JOINT COMPLETELY, ROTATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT AGAINST THE CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE INCREASING LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN PINCH BOLT FOR CORRECT TORQUE AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN THE BOLT TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V027000 · Interior Lighting
Reported: 1998-02-17 (February 17, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."
Consequence: THE INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY COULD STARTLE A DRIVER CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗