Most common 1996 Buick Skylark problems
Share of the 85 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Skylark complaints by model year
Best Skylark years: 1998. Compare all years →
1996 Buick Skylark recalls (4)
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
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.
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.
Interior lighting
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."
Remedy: Dealers will run a diagnostic test on the lamp control module and, if necessary, replace it.
Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
The steering column lower pinch bolt was not properly tightened during assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column pinch bolt for correct torque and, if necessary, tighten the bolt to the specified torque.
Air bags › Frontal
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the instrument panel pads and, if necessary, install a plastic edge protector to the instrument panel pad reinforcement.
What 1996 Buick Skylark owners say
Air bags
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 …
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.
Brakes
The braking system when applied would cause the vehicle to slide in the rain also, in dry weather it still would slide/jump/jerk and make a noise. Speed at 35 MPH or les., dealer contacted two times, states it is the design, problem still exists.
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. …
Electrical system
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.
Tl 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.
1996 Buick Skylark engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 29 / 23 |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Buick Skylark a good car?
Based on 85 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Skylark rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Skylark at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Buick Skylark?
The air bags — 18 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the brakes (16) and electrical system (15).
How many recalls does the 1996 Buick Skylark have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1996 Buick Skylark, the most recent from March 6, 2002 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Skylark?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1998. See the full Buick Skylark years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Buick Skylark problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 95,000 miles; 13% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.