The 1996 Buick Skylark has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,888,481 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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 AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD…
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.
STEERING96V2490001996-12-17424 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.
AIR BAGS96V2110001996-10-2848,689 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.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
10
3crashes2injuries
AIR BAGS
7
1crashes5injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
7
1crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
1crashes
Total complaints116
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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 [REDACTED] 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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Buick Skylark as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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