TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK SKYLARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS AND THERE WERE TWO RIGHT HAND SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK SKYLARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS AND THERE WERE TWO RIGHT HAND SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 8/29/14*CN
NHTSA ODI #10615102
Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2002
Seat Belts
I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TWISTS ON ME ALL OF THE TIME MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO PUT ON MY SEAT BELT. I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO FILE A REPORT BUT KEPT PUTTING IT OFF UNTIL TODAY WHEN I RECEIVED MORE GRIEF AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT AGAIN. THE REPLY FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER, BOB CRIPP…
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I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TWISTS ON ME ALL OF THE TIME MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO PUT ON MY SEAT BELT. I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO FILE A REPORT BUT KEPT PUTTING IT OFF UNTIL TODAY WHEN I RECEIVED MORE GRIEF AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT AGAIN. THE REPLY FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER, BOB CRIPPEN,WAS THAT I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO UNTWIST IT SO WHY DO I KEEP BRINGING IT UP. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE THE SEAT BELT WOULD BE WITH A CRASH AND WAS TOLD IT WAS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT,THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT, AND I WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT, ALL I COULD THINK WAS I MIGHT DIE WITH IT. AT THE FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH HIM HE TOLD BE TO BE CAREFUL WHEN I COMPLAINED. IT STARTED WITH THE ORGINAL BELT AND THE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYMORE ABOUT IT. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN TOLD ME THAT I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO WORK A SEATBELT. THE CAR WENT IN FOR ITS FINAL WARRANTY WORK ON 3/13 AND WAS RETURNED TO ME ON 3/14 WITH THE SEAT BELT SO TWISTED I CAN NOT UNTWIST IT AND ALSO AT THIS TIME I HAVE A RIGHT HAND IN A CAST. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAST WAS UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND I SAID BEFORE THEY TAUGHT ME HOW TO UNTWIST IT SO WHY WAS I COMPLAINING?AT THIS TIME I HAVE BECOME SO FRUSTRATED WITH THE SITUATION I FINALLY DECIDE TO CONTACT YOU. WHAT SHOULD I DO? CAN YOY HELP? AM I BEING UNREASONABLE/ IF I AM PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I HATE TO SAY IT BUT EVEN IN THIS DAY AND AGE WOMEN STILL TEND TO BE IGNORED BY CARE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. WILL YOU KEEP ME INFORMED. THANK YOU. CHRISTINE BARKAUSKAS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #759343
Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2000
Seat Belts
DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTORS BROKE, THE PLASTIC PART WASN'T OPERABLE. DRIVERSIDE SEAT BELT BROKE. CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED A REPLACEMENT PART. DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO PURCHASE THE WHOLE PART .*AK
NHTSA ODI #871110
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Seat Belts
NO SUMMARY.
NHTSA ODI #712453
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 1998
Seat Belts
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT FASTEN PROPERLY. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A VEHICLE WITH 35000 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS THE COST GOES TO THE CONSUMER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #826355
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1997
Exterior LightingParking BrakeSeat Belts
SEAT BELT FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #602984
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1997
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT FAILED TWICE.
NHTSA ODI #602671
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1996
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT STICKS INTO DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING DISCOMFORT. *SD
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 & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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1996 Buick Skylark Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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