1996 BUICK SKYLARK — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
116
Owner Complaints
6
Recalls
3
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 BUICK SKYLARK
The 1996 BUICK SKYLARK has received a total of 116 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 6 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH. 3 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bagsfrontal (10 complaints), Air Bags (7 complaints), and Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip (7 complaints).
Recalls for the 1996 BUICK SKYLARK
NHTSA has recorded 6 recalls for the 1996 BUICK SKYLARK, potentially affecting up to 1,892,347 vehicles.
Recall 07E021000 — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
| 742 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Consequence: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
View full details →Recall 07E015000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 3,124 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN DELPHI AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULES / MODULE RESERVOIR ASSEMBLIES (MRA) THAT WERE SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE MRAS VENT AND FUEL RETURN TUBES WERE REVERSED. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE VEHICLE NOT RUNNING CORRECTLY (IDLE ROUGH AND/OR STALL) DUE TO AN OVERLY RICH FUEL BLEND OR THE VEHICLE'S EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CARBON CANISTER...
Consequence: A STALLED VEHICLE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. A FUEL LEAK CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MRAS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 1-877-335-7443.
View full details →Recall 02V070000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
| 1,589,948 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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...
View full details →Recall 98V027000 — INTERIOR LIGHTING
| 249,420 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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.
View full details →Recall 96V249000 — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
| 424 vehicles affected
Defect: THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY.
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.
View full details →Recall 96V211000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
| 48,689 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 BUICK SKYLARK
116 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 BUICK SKYLARK. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
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
Safety Rating for the 1996 BUICK SKYLARK
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 BUICK SKYLARK in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 BUICK SKYLARK
General Motors, LLC has issued 3 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1996 BUICK SKYLARK. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
971101776304 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
SUBJECT PERTAINING TO DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR DEPOSITS. *YC
97010 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
INCORRECT EVAPORATIVE EMISSION PURGE SOLENOID. *TW
96074 — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
RECALL 97V-037 - GENERAL MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN CERTAIN 1996 BUICK SKYLARK AND PONTIAC GRAND AM MODEL VEHICLES - THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT MAY NOT FHAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFIED TORQUE - AN UNDER-TORQUED PINCH BOLT COULD RESULT...
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 BUICK SKYLARK
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BUICK SKYLARK
- 1991 BUICK SKYLARK — 46 complaints
- 1992 BUICK SKYLARK — 48 complaints
- 1993 BUICK SKYLARK — 54 complaints
- 1994 BUICK SKYLARK — 95 complaints
- 1995 BUICK SKYLARK — 119 complaints
- 1996 BUICK SKYLARK (current)
- 1997 BUICK SKYLARK — 111 complaints
- 1998 BUICK SKYLARK — 34 complaints
- 2000 BUICK SKYLARK — 1 complaint
Other BUICK Models
- BUICK LESABRE — 4,864 total complaints
- BUICK REGAL — 4,444 total complaints
- BUICK ENCLAVE — 3,194 total complaints
- BUICK LACROSSE — 2,882 total complaints
- BUICK CENTURY — 2,393 total complaints
- BUICK PARK AVENUE — 1,880 total complaints
- BUICK RENDEZVOUS — 1,795 total complaints
- BUICK LUCERNE — 1,322 total complaints