Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 85 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Buick Skylark. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 85 · page 1 of 4
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK SKYLARK. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE, NECK, CHEST, RIGHT SHOULDER, AND MOUTH. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,818.
AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, ON MAY 5 2016, 10 PM, WENT OUT TO PUT WINDOWS UP IN CAR, VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY,OPENED DOOR, LEANED IN TO TURN ON KEY, WHEN I TURNED ON KEY, HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION, TWO THOUGHTS BEFORE I BLACKED OUT, THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT & WHAT THE HELL WAS PULLING ME BACKWARDS SO FAST, CAME TO IN A FEW SECONDS LAYING ON THE GROUND, NOTICED THAT AIRBAG HAD DEPLOYED, COULD NOT GET UP & CRAWLED TO HOUSE, THIS WAS A VERY VIOLENT & TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, WENT TO HOSPITAL WHERE THEY XRAYED MY NECK & FOUND NO BROKEN BONES, MY FACE WAS ACTUALLY 2 TO 3 INCHES AWAY FROM STEERING WHEEL WHEN DEPLOYMENT HAPPENED, I BELIEVE THE ATTACHED HINGE PARTS THAT OPENED WHEN BAG DEPLOYED ACTUALLY HIT ME IN FACE, BRUISED LIP & BLOOD BLISTERS ON LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE, THOUGH MY NECK WAS NOT BROKEN, HOSPITAL DID NOT CHECK ME FOR CUNCUSION PROBABLY DUE TO THE FACT I DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE, I AM POSITIVE I HAD ONE, STILL HAVING PROBLEMS FOCUSING, ALONG WITH EXCESSIVE FORGETFULNESS, FOR THREE DAYS I COULD FEEL THAT MY BODY HAD BEEN TWISTED AWAY FROM MY SPINE, THIS WAS VERY VIOLENT AND HOPE THAT IT NEVER HAPPENS TO ANYONE ELSE, STILL RECOVERING.
THE AIRBAG EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THEN CAUSED THE HORN TO CONTINUOUSLY GO OFF. NOT FIVE MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE IT WENT OFF WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING FROM BEING STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS PULLED OVER ON A SIDE STREET WHEN THE HORN STARTED GOING OFF. THE AIR BAG BRUISED AND BURNED MY LEFT ARM, HOWEVER MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. I HAD A WATER LEAK SOMEWHERE THAT CAUSED WATER TO BUILD UP PRIMARILY ON MY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARD, HOWEVER EVENTUALLY THE BACK FLOOR BOARDS BECAME WET AS WELL. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE WATER CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AND SET OFF THE AIR BAG. IT SEEMS STANDING WATER IS AN ISSUE FOR THESE CARS AND CAN CAUSE AN ISSUE WITH A CONTROL BOX LOCATED UNDER THE SEAT, WHICH IS AN AWFUL COMBINATION. THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN WAY WORSE THAN IT WAS, AND IT FORCED ME TO BUY A NEW CARE EARLIER THAN I WAS FINANCIALLY PREPARED TO DO. *TR
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
WENT TO START TO CAR AFTER DRIVING ALL AFTERNOON AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE DASH AND WINDSHIELD. *TR
WHEN CAR PUT IN REVERSE, AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING KNOT AND BRUISING TO ARM. 4/14/14 CALLED 800-222-1020 AND SPOKE TO FRANKLIN THAT STATED AIRBAGS ARE NOT COVERED EVEN FOR DEFECT AFTER WARRANTY OF CAR IS OVER. CALLED BERGLUND LOCAL DEALER IN ROANOKE VA AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID $99 TO EVEN LOOK AT AIRBAG. CALLED INSURANCE AND FILED CLAIM AND ADJUSTOR SAID OBVIOUS DEFECT IN AIRBAG SINCE NO EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO CAR. WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE ME? I AM HANDLING THIS SITUATION FOR MY AUNT, THAT ACTUALLY OWNS THE CAR. THANKS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK SKYLARK. ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN. NEITHER THE SPEEDOMETER NOR THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED ACCURATE READINGS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V070000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 86,000.
ON JULY 30 2008 THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN MY 1996 BUICK SKYLARK. I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. MINOR INJURIES BRUISES AND A SMALL CUT ON MY CHEST AREA. AFTER REVIEWING THE RECALLS ON THIS CAR, I REALIZE THAT I HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS RELATED TO OTHER RECALLS. UPON CONTACTING THE LOCAL BUICK DEALER, I WAS TOLD MY CAR DID NOT MATCH ANY OF THE RECALL COMPANIES? PERHAPS IT SHOULD HAVE MADE THE CAMPAIGN LIST. *TR
I GOT A LETTER FROM GM , BUICK MOTOR DIVISION, THAT WAS A " CUSTOMER ADVISORY" NOT A RECALL THAT SAID IF MY 1996 BUICK HAS EVER BEEN WET OR HAD WATER SOAK THE FLOOR BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE AIR BAGS MIGHT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE CONTROL BOX LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IT SAID I NEED TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED ASAP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM IF IT HAS INDEED BEEN WET . AND IT HAS BEEN WET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE DOOR GASKETS AND REAR WINDOW SEAL AND POSSIBLY THE TRUNK GASKET. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD PAY AT THE LEAST FOR THE DEALER TO DECIDE IF THE CONTROL BOX NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR NOT . IF NOT FOR THE REPAIRS NEEDED TO INSURE THAT THE AIR BAGS DON'T DEPLOY FOR NO REASON WHILE I'M GOING DOWN THE ROAD CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AIR BAGS ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP YOU NOT HURT YOU. J.M.K. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK SKYLARK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 35 MPH, THE RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKING FLUID. ON JUNE 22, 2006, A RADIATOR WAS INSTALLED AT 2,000 MILES. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OFFERED TO RE-DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE INSTALLED THE SAME PARTS AT THE SAME RATE. THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN; HOWEVER, IT CONTINUES TO LEAK FLUID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK SKYLARK. ON JUNE 18, 2008, THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLEMENT PERTAINING TO THE AIR BAG CONTROLLER MODULE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. HE IS OUTRAGED BECAUSE GM IS REFUSING TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE LETTER MENTIONED THAT CONSUMERS HAVE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO WATER. THE CONCLUSION WAS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK SKYLARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED ANTIFREEZE ONTO THE MOTOR, WHICH THEN LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE RESIDED IN THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THEY WOULD REPAIR IT FOR A FEE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,992 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
WHILE ON VACATION WE TOOK A TRIP. ON THE WAY HOME AT NIGHT ALL ELECTRICITY DEVICES STARTED TO DIE. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE DIED AND WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND IT HASN'T STARTED SINCE. I TURN THE KEY AND GET NOTHING. WHEN I TURN THE KEY ON, THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM LIGHT IS LIT AND NEVER GOES OUT. THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED AND I CAN START THE CAR IF I JUMP THE STARTER BUT NOT FROM THE KEY. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL DEVICES WORK FINE. *JB
I PURCHASED FOUR NEW BRIDGESTONE TIRES (19570S14 BS WTHRFRCB) FOR MY SON'S CAR (1996 BUICK SKYLARK - 6 CYL) IN APRIL 2005 AT SEARS AT OXMOOR CENTER IN LOUISVILLE. ON TUE AUG 16, 2005, HE WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET ON HIS WAY TO WORK WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, ACTUALLY DISINTEGRATED. WHEN I SAW IT, IT HAD HOLES ALL AROUND THE SIDEWALL, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TIRE LIKE THIS. IT LOOKED LIKE SOME ONE HAD SHOT AT IT WITH A MACHINE GUN. THERE WERE PIECES OF THE TIRE ALONG THE STREET AND IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE HE STOPPED. MY SON PUT ON THE SPARE AND WE TOOK IT BACK TO SEARS WHERE IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. FORTUNATELY, HE WAS NOT DRIVING FAST AND WAS NOT ON AN EXPRESSWAY. THIS WAS MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH BRIDGESTONE TIRES, AND I DO NOT INTEND TO BUY ANY MORE. *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ENGINE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE CONSUMER WAS WARMING UP THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO ONE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FRONT WINDSHIELD BROKE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK
NHTSA RECALL 02-V-070-000: IF THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENTS FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND SOMETIMES PRODUCE ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNING FOUR STARTERS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT A WARRANTY. *AK *SCC (THIS DOCUMENT IS AN ADD TO) *JB
THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY NOW I CAN GO OUT TO THE CAR AND IT WON'T START. I CAN WAIT A FEW HOURS OR SO AND IT WILL START RIGHT UP. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC, THE DAY IT WAS TOWED IN IT WOULDN'T START FOR HIM EITHER. THE NEXT DAY AND THE DAYS FOLLOWING THAT IT FIRED UP EACH AND EVERY TIME HE KEPT IT FROM MON-FRI, HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HE DID THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST IT SHOWED NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I CALLED TWO BUICK DEALERS, THEY TOLD ME IF THE CAR DOESN'T BREAK DOWN AND STAY BROKEN DOWN THEY CAN'T TELL ME WHATS WRONG BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS TOO INTERMITTENT. BEFORE ALL THIS STARTED THAT ETS OFF LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND STAYING ON AND THE CAR WOULD STALL OUT ON ME, NOW ITS NOT DOING THAT ANYMORE, BUT I NOTICED SOMETHING WHEN I'M PUTTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE FROM PARK I NOTICED THAT THE ETS OFF LIGHT BLINKS. PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. AND SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON. THE FUEL PUMP SEEMS TO BE WORKING. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT TWICE AND NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.
THE ENGINE OF MY CAR IS A MESS. IT HAS ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM SINCE I BOUGHT IT THREE YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE WORKED ON SO MANY TIMES IT IS CRAZY. NOW IT SEEMS THAT I NEED A NEW HEAD GASKET AND WHATEVER ELSE CYLINDER ONE IS KICKING REPORTS ON. I WILL PROBABLY END UP HAVING TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I STILL OWE $4,000.00 ON THIS ONE. WHAT THE HECK...
CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON 1996 BUICK SKYLARK REAR BRAKING SYSTEM. *MR *NM
THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT.*JB
AFTER 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
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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