IllustrationTHE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT.*JB
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
What owners actually said
85 reportsAFTER 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
HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR RIMS. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR
NHTSA 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.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES AND PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA RECALL01 V 070 000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02998 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH: DEALER: SALE AUTO MALL IN KINSTON, NC. PHONE# 252/522-3611 REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL UNTIL CONSUMER AGREED TO PAY FOR IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
HORN PAD SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE HORN TO BE INOPERABLE, CONSUMER HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED PREVIOUSLY UNDER WARRANTY BUT PROBLEM REOCCURED. *AK *NLM
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL 02V070000 ON IGNITION SWITCH, AND WAITED 1 MONTH FOR REMEDY APPOINTMENT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, WARNING ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AGAIN BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD. CONSUMER VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PO…
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CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL 02V070000 ON IGNITION SWITCH, AND WAITED 1 MONTH FOR REMEDY APPOINTMENT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, WARNING ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AGAIN BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD. CONSUMER VERY CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. *AK
VEHICLE HAD NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V070000 PERFORMED BY THE DEALER, SAM TAYLOR BUICK CADILLAC, ON 9&10 MAY 2002. SINCE THIS TIME THE VEHICLES' ENGINE FREQUENTLY SHUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING. IN EACH SITUATION THE CAR WILL IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND SHUT-OFF. THIS ACTION HAS REPEATED UP TO TWENTY FIVE TIMES WITH THE…
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VEHICLE HAD NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V070000 PERFORMED BY THE DEALER, SAM TAYLOR BUICK CADILLAC, ON 9&10 MAY 2002. SINCE THIS TIME THE VEHICLES' ENGINE FREQUENTLY SHUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING. IN EACH SITUATION THE CAR WILL IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND SHUT-OFF. THIS ACTION HAS REPEATED UP TO TWENTY FIVE TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THE VEHICLE ALSO DISPLAYS A CONSTANT THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT (LOCATED ON DASH PANEL) WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILS TO CONTINUE RUNNING. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEALER STATED THIS VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A THEFT DETERRANT SYSTEM WHEN I PURCHASED IT. ONLY A RADIO THEFT DETERRANT SYSTEM. I ALSO DO NOT HAVE THE CONTROLLER TO REMOTELY LOCK/UNLOCK MY DOORS, WHICH IS PART OF THE THEFT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE STARTED IN PARK OR NEUTRAL SO THE GEAR POSITION SWITCH IS GOOD. FURTHERMORE, THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR/CHARGING SYSTEM ARE GOOD. SEAT BELT INTERLOCKS DO NOT EFFECT ABILITY TO START OR REMAIN RUNNING. THIS PROBLEM NEVER OCURRED UNTIL THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. PROBLEM CLEARS OVERNIGHT AND REOCURRS AFTER ENGINE IS WARM. IGNITION SWITCH, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER CONNECTIONS ARE GOOD WITHOUT ANY CORROSION. VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERS NOW. THEY SUSPECT THEFT MODULE MAY BE BAD. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOUR WORKING DAYS SO FAR. A SIMILAIR PROBLEM WAS NOTED IN CUSTOMER COMPLAINT NUMBER ODI ID 709641, BUT THIS OCURRED PROIR TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN.HAS THIS PROBLEM BEEN REPORTED BEFORE?*AK
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.