RoadVitals

1996 Buick Skylark Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Jun 20, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 85 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Buick Skylark submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Jun 20, 2008

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.

NHTSA ID
10231850
Incident
May 9, 2008
Mileage
117,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 10, 2008

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.

NHTSA ID
10214413
Incident
Nov 7, 2007
Mileage
62,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 29, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ENGINE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10071841
Incident
Apr 15, 2004
Mileage
29,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2003

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...

NHTSA ID
10045493
Incident
Oct 20, 2003
Engine
Filed Feb 20, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
8004235
BrakesEngine
Filed Sep 6, 2001

CONSUMER STATES ABS INOPERATIVE.*JB

NHTSA ID
562952
Engine
Filed Jan 27, 2001

ENGINE FAILURE AND COOLANT LEAKAGE THROUGH OUT ENTIRE ENGINE. COOLANT WENT INTO OIL TANK, WAS COMING OUT EXHAUST PIPE. DEALER MECHANIC TOLD MY MECHANIC THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. IT'S CYCLINDER 1 THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING THE ENGINE DAMAGE. ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
740001
Incident
Dec 8, 2000
Engine
Filed Jul 28, 2000

ENGINE 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.

NHTSA ID
9001459
Engine
Filed Jun 12, 2000

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO OXYGEN SENSOR FAILURE. YH

NHTSA ID
552615
Incident
Jun 24, 1997
Engine
Filed May 19, 2000

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

NHTSA ID
862218
Incident
Jun 15, 1997
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Aug 5, 1999
Crash reported

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 01/17/97, I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS: EMERGENCHY/PARKING BRAKE POPS OUT WHEN PARKING THE CAR AND PUTTING PARKING BRAKE ON, BRAKES FAIL TO PERFORM PROPERLY AND BRAKE PADS WEAR DOWN EXCESSIVLY, DASH BOARD (CHECK ENGINE, ABS, ETS, SEAT BELT LIGHT BLINKS WHEN WEARING AND DOESNT BLINK WHEN NOT WEARING OCCASSIONALLY, THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON BUT I DO NOT HAVE A THEFT SYSTEM)AND DOME LIGHTS COME ON SPARATICALLY, SOMETIMES THE DOME LIGHT COMES ON WHEN CAR OF OFF AND NO ONE NEAR CAR, RECALL WAS PERFORMED SINCE THAN IT ONLY HAPPENS ABOUT HALF AS MUCH. 5 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING CAR THE KEY WAS STUCK IN IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OR COME OUT, CALLED BUICK THEY TOLD ME TO JIGGLE THE STEERING AND MANUALLY PUSH THE CAR BACK AND FORTH THAN TRY IT, RECENTLY WHEN IT HAPPENED WE TRIED FOR 3 HOURS AND THEY SUGGESTED, AS I QUOTE GM ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE FOR US "TO POUND ON THE KEY ABOUT 20 TIMES LIKE YOU WERE POUNDING A NAIL WITH A HAMMER" WE WERE STUCK 50 MILES FROM HOME AND HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER. ON THE ELECTRICAL SOMETIMES THE CLOCK AND RADIO STATIONS WILL RESET WITHOUT BATTERY TOUCHED OR ANYTHING ELSE TOUCHED, WINDOW MOTORS GO BAD, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY DEALER REPLACED INSIDE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR BEZEL (ONLY THE INSIDE PLASTIC TRIANGLE PART) CAUSE IT WAS COMING OFF, THE WORK ORDER SHOWS NEW PART PUT IN BUT THEY JUST STUCK A BUNCH OF EPOXY IN IT AND STUCK THE OLD ONE BACK ON. WHEN COMPLAINING CONSTANTLY TO THE SERVICE MGR ITS USUALLY "YOU HAVE A BAD BATTERY" "A FUSE" "MODULE" AT ONE TIME THEY CHANGED THE ALARM MODULE TWICE WITHIN A MATTER OF 4 - 6 MONTHS LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE LIGHTS ARE NOT ON ALL THE TIME, IT HAPPENS SPARATICALLY THAT THEY ARE JUST REPLACING SIMPLE PARTS TO SHOW THEY REPAIRED PROBLEM, SALES MANAGER SAID FUSES AND MODULES ARE COMMONLY BEING REPLACED. TWICE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPR, ENGINE TURNED OFF AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON, STEARING LOCKED. I HEAR CLICKING AND/OR RUBBING SOUNDS COMING FROM FRONT WHLEFT S

NHTSA ID
709641
Incident
May 9, 1998
Engine
Filed Aug 26, 1998

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES HESITATION AND LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHICH HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN VEHICLE COLLISION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.

NHTSA ID
539382
Engine
Filed Jul 22, 1998

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED TWICE DUE TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. (QCAW)

NHTSA ID
538157
Incident
Apr 22, 1997
Body & structureBrakesEngine+1 more
Filed Nov 25, 1997

NOISE IN WHEEL.

NHTSA ID
525423
Engine
Filed Oct 27, 1997

ENGINE FAILED.

NHTSA ID
605659

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .