Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Buick Skylark problems
Owners filed 88 complaints about the 1996 Buick Skylark with NHTSA between Feb 1996 and Jul 2016. The most-cited component is air bags (18).
Complaints
88
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags18
- Electrical system15
- Engine and engine cooling14
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Seat belts7
- Visibility5
- Equipment3
- Wheels3
- Structure3
- Steering3
- Parking brake3
- Tires2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Power train2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 13, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
7
13
10
8
11
5
12
4
4
1
0
1
6
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 7 |
| 1997 | 13 |
| 1998 | 10 |
| 1999 | 8 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
18 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“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.”
Electrical system
15 reports1 crash1 related recall
“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.”
Engine and engine cooling
14 reports1 crash
“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.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
11 reports1 crash
“WHENEVER DRIVING ABS BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. RADIO WOULD FAIL TO WORK AFTER TURNING IT ON. BEEN TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING. WOULD NEED TO BREAK DOWN WIRE COMPONENT TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *AK”
Seat belts
7 reports
“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”
Visibility
5 reports
“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”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 13, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.