1996 Buick Skylark Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe air bags firing with no crash — while parked, being started, or pulling away from a light — and several connect it to water soaking the floorboards and the air bag control module. The next most common theme is stalling or a no-start condition tied to the ignition switch and the theft-deterrent system, including complaints filed after the ignition switch recall work was done. Coolant leaks, brake noise and seat belt hardware problems also appear repeatedly; sampled mileage runs from about 45,000 to over 200,000, so most of these cars are well used.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag deploys with no crash

   • 17 complaints (20%)
   • median 97,000 mi at 18.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2016

   Complaints describe the driver or passenger air bag firing during ordinary use — stopped at a red light, accelerating from a stop, shifting into reverse, or simply turning the key — with no impact involved. Owners say the inflation burned or bruised an arm, chest, neck or face, and a few report a cracked windshield or damaged dashboard. Several complaints also describe water collecting on the floorboards from door, window or trunk seals, and mention a manufacturer advisory warning that a wet air bag control module under the front passenger seat could set the bag off. Dealers are described as declining to cover the work once the car is out of warranty. Sampled complaints run from roughly 47,000 to 209,000 miles, with many filed when the cars were 12 to 20 years old.

   Recall 96V211000

   What to check: Check for damp or musty carpets, especially on the passenger side, and ask whether the air bag control module has ever been inspected or replaced because of water exposure. Ask about any history of an air bag warning lamp.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10237518, filed 2008-08, 82,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10717763, filed 2015-05, 97,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalls or won't restart (ignition switch, Passlock)

   • 10 complaints (12%)
   • median 96,640 mi at 9.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2007

   Owners describe the engine quitting without warning at road speed or immediately after starting, sometimes repeating many times in a row, and sometimes refusing to crank at all until the car sits. Several complaints were filed after the ignition switch recall was performed, saying the stalling or intermittent no-start appeared or got worse afterward. Others mention that all electrical devices die while driving and that a theft-system or Passlock light stays lit while the car will not start from the key. Dealers are described as unable to reproduce the fault and as replacing starters, alternators or wiring without a lasting cure. Mileage in the sample clusters from about 75,000 to 120,000 miles, though several complaints report trouble at 28,000 miles or less.

   Recall 02V070000

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch recall work was done and whether any stalling or no-start complaints followed it. Watch for a theft or Passlock lamp that stays lit with the key on, and treat a crank that only works after sitting as something to inspect before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10203522, filed 2007-09, 98,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070839, filed 2004-01, 95,280 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Coolant leak, coolant mixing with oil

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 89,500 mi at 12.4 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2008

   Complaints describe coolant disappearing with no obvious puddle, antifreeze running down the engine onto the ground, or coolant ending up in the oil and out the exhaust. Owners report overheating, gurgling heater ducts, engine noise and, in some accounts, a failed head gasket or damaged cylinder that led to engine replacement. Shops and dealers are said to have traced the leak to the lower intake manifold gasket, the radiator or the head gasket and to have quoted the repair at the owner's expense. Mostly reported between about 62,000 and 120,000 miles, often after a long period of topping off the coolant.

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for staining or residue around the intake manifold and radiator, and check the dipstick for a milky or frothy appearance. Ask whether the intake manifold gasket or radiator has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 complaint #10045493, filed 2003-11

   “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 complaint #9001459, filed 2000-07
4. 4
   Brakes

   Rear brake noise, ABS lamp, weak braking

   • 8 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 2.8 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2000

   Complaints describe grinding, knocking or squealing from the brakes, rear drums that had to be resurfaced or replaced more than once, and rotors replaced twice on the same car. Some owners report the pedal going away for a period and then coming back, and others mention slipping or jerking when braking in rain as well as dry weather. The ABS warning lamp coming on during normal driving is also described, with one shop attributing it to wiring. Dealers are described as calling the noise normal for the design or blaming the owner's driving. Reported across a wide mileage range in the sample, and several complaints give no mileage at all.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Listen for grinding or knocking on a test drive and check that the ABS lamp lights with the key and goes out after start. Ask for service records covering rear drum and rotor work, since repeat repairs are described in the complaints.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Have had knocking noise in right rear brakes. Dealer stated that brake springs weren't functioning right and have continually resurfaced my drums. Replaced drums on9/23/97 per service bullitin #235015. Now brake drums are at max specs because they can't resolve the problem, but only temp fix if by resurfacing drums, now they won't fix because they state that its they way I drive the car, when all along thry said it was the springs sticking and heating up the brakes. My drums need replacing and they won't fix it any longer”

   NHTSA complaint #701482, filed 1998-12

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #714784, filed 1999-11
5. 5
   Seat belts

   Seat belts that twist, jam or won't latch

   Mentioned in 4 of 57 sampled complaints

   Owners report belts that twist repeatedly and are hard to buckle, a driver belt that will not fasten properly, and retractors that broke so the belt no longer pulls back. One complaint describes a belt fitted the wrong way round. Owners say dealers either offered no fix or said the entire assembly had to be purchased. Reported from about 35,000 miles up to around 100,000 miles, including on cars still under warranty.

   What to check: Pull each belt out fully and let it retract, check for twists and fraying, and confirm every buckle latches and releases cleanly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased the car new and the driver's seat belt twists on me all of the time making it difficult for me to put on my seat belt. I have been meaning to file a report but kept putting it off until today when I received more grief at the dealership when I complained about it again. The reply from the service manager, bob crippen,was that I have been taught to untwist it so why do I keep bringing it up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #759343, filed 2002-03

   “Driver side and passenger side seatbelt retractors broke, the plastic part wasn't operable. Driverside seat belt broke. Consumer stated that she needed a replacement part. Dealership told her that she needed to purchase the whole part .”

   NHTSA complaint #871110, filed 2000-09

Buying note. This model year draws a lot of complaint attention to air bag deployment without a crash, so check for a wet or previously leaky interior and ask about the air bag control module before buying. Budget as well for ignition switch, cooling system and brake work, and ask for service records on each.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 57 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.