IllustrationCONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON 1996 BUICK SKYLARK REAR BRAKING SYSTEM. *MR *NM
1996 Buick Skylark
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Skylark years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 15 of 85 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
13 reportsWHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES AND PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
COOLING SYSTEM BURNED OUT DUE TO LEAKING.*JB
WHENEVER DRIVING ABS BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. RADIO WOULD FAIL TO WORK AFTER TURNING IT ON. BEEN TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING. WOULD NEED TO BREAK DOWN WIRE COMPONENT TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACE TWICE. THE DIDN'T TURN THEM BEFORE STATING THEY NEEED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THEY HAVE WORKED ON THE VEHICLE ALL KINDS OF ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED. DEALER HAS NEVER GIVEN THE CONSUMER A REASON WHY THEY NEEDED TO REPLACED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL IN THE NORMAL FLOW OF TRAFFIC IN A LOWER GEAR MY HUSBAND, WHO WAS DRIVING, STOPPED TO LET MY NEPHEW UTILIZE THE RESTROOM. WHEN WE STARTED TO LEAVE MY HUSBAND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR DIDN'T STOP, THE BRAKES HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT …
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL IN THE NORMAL FLOW OF TRAFFIC IN A LOWER GEAR MY HUSBAND, WHO WAS DRIVING, STOPPED TO LET MY NEPHEW UTILIZE THE RESTROOM. WHEN WE STARTED TO LEAVE MY HUSBAND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR DIDN'T STOP, THE BRAKES HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR SOUND. WE WAITED APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AND TRIED THE BRAKES AGAIN AND THEY WORKED. WE STARTED BACK TO ALABAMA, AND AGAIN, WITHOUT A WARNING LIGHT OR SOUND THE BRAKES WENT OUT CAUSING A NEAR ACCIDENT. IF MY HUSBAND HADN'T BEEN A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER WE WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. HE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND STOPPED THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL DRIVING CONDITIONS WE WERE DRIVING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I JUST DON'T SEE HOW IT CAN BE NORMAL OR SAFE FOR THE BRAKES TO JUST STOP WORKING WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING.
WHILE DRIVING BRAKING SYSTEM MAKES A GRINDING NOISE EVERY TIME CONSUMER USES THE BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
HAVE HAD KNOCKING NOISE IN RIGHT REAR BRAKES. DEALER STATED THAT BRAKE SPRINGS WEREN'T FUNCTIONING RIGHT AND HAVE CONTINUALLY RESURFACED MY DRUMS. REPLACED DRUMS ON9/23/97 PER SERVICE BULLITIN #235015. NOW BRAKE DRUMS ARE AT MAX SPECS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT ONLY TEMP FIX IF BY RESURFACING DRUMS, NOW THEY WON…
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HAVE HAD KNOCKING NOISE IN RIGHT REAR BRAKES. DEALER STATED THAT BRAKE SPRINGS WEREN'T FUNCTIONING RIGHT AND HAVE CONTINUALLY RESURFACED MY DRUMS. REPLACED DRUMS ON9/23/97 PER SERVICE BULLITIN #235015. NOW BRAKE DRUMS ARE AT MAX SPECS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT ONLY TEMP FIX IF BY RESURFACING DRUMS, NOW THEY WON'T FIX BECAUSE THEY STATE THAT ITS THEY WAY I DRIVE THE CAR, WHEN ALL ALONG THRY SAID IT WAS THE SPRINGS STICKING AND HEATING UP THE BRAKES. MY DRUMS NEED REPLACING AND THEY WON'T FIX IT ANY LONGER
THE BRAKING SYSTEM WHEN APPLIED WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE IN THE RAIN ALSO, IN DRY WEATHER IT STILL WOULD SLIDE/JUMP/JERK AND MAKE A NOISE. SPEED AT 35 MPH OR LES., DEALER CONTACTED TWO TIMES, STATES IT IS THE DESIGN, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAIL TO ENGAGE.
Official recalls
402V070000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Mar 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 & 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.
98V027000 · Interior Lighting
Feb 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 & 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.
96V249000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar
Dec 17, 1996
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.
96V211000 · Air Bags:frontal
Oct 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 & 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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.