IllustrationHEAD LIGHTS FAILED.
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 reportsWINDSHIELD MAKES OBJECTS APEAR RIGID DURING ANY TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH DRIVER'S AIRBAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED, NO IMPACT ON HWY, SUSTAINED INJURY TO RIGHT ARM, NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S NOTICE FOR AIR BAG DEFECT ON NOV./96 HAD THE REPAIRS DONE DEC./96. CONSUMER HAD A VEHICLE CRASH ON MAR-22-97 WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THE PASSENGER SIDE BAG WAS RIPPED, ALLOWING A BLACK COLORED SODIUM ACID TO SPILL INTO VEHICLE, THIS SODIUM ACID HAS A BAD SMELL THAT WON'T GO AWAY. THE MANUF…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S NOTICE FOR AIR BAG DEFECT ON NOV./96 HAD THE REPAIRS DONE DEC./96. CONSUMER HAD A VEHICLE CRASH ON MAR-22-97 WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THE PASSENGER SIDE BAG WAS RIPPED, ALLOWING A BLACK COLORED SODIUM ACID TO SPILL INTO VEHICLE, THIS SODIUM ACID HAS A BAD SMELL THAT WON'T GO AWAY. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND THAT MR. FLETCHER WAS LYING ABOUT THE AIR BAG. *AK
SEAT BELT FAILED.
VIOLET DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AFTER RECALL REPAIR. DUP OF 811494, ADDED ON 25-FEB-98. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS, IN FOR REPAIRS, CHANGED ALL PARTS, VEHICLE STILL CONTINUES TO STALL DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
INSUFFICIENT INSULATION UNDER STEERING COLUMN CAUSED DRAFT TO COME IN UNDER LEFT LOWER DASH PANES.
SEAT BELT FAILED TWICE.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT SURGING; ALSO, REAR WINDSHIELD GASKET/HORN/MIRROR CONTROL/TRANSMISSION/EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASE FAILED. *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.