IllustrationENGINE RUNS 30-40MPH WITH FOOT OFF GAS, DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING IN ENGINE INTO OIL. PUT COOLANT (DEX COOL) IN CAR, PAID FOR A WINDOW REGULATOR ON PASSENGER SIDE, SOON LIGHT HEATER DUCTS, THINK CYLINDER SHIFT LIGHT CLICKER, LOW COOLANT, ENGINE NOISE, WE WERE TOLD CAR WAS NORMAL.
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 reportsROTORS 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
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
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE. YH
CONSUMER HEARD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM DASH DUE TO WELD THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. DEALER STATED THAT REPAIRS WERE DONE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON. ON THREE OCCASIONS DEALER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED AND OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND HAS NOT INFORMED CONSUMER WHETHER OXYGEN SENSOR WILL OR WILL NOT BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING AND FOR NO REASON.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS OFF TRACK. HIS CAUSES A PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO SHUT THE DOOR. WHEN SLAMMING THE DOOR SHUT, IT HAS TO BE LIFTED UP 3/4 OF AN INCH TO SHUT EVENLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM DASHBOARD DUE TO TO A DEFECTIVE WELD. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *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 …
Read full complaint
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.
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.