1996 Buick Skylark problems
Owners have filed 116 complaints about the 1996 Buick Skylark with NHTSA. Air bags account for 15.5% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of engine and engine cooling at 14.7%.
Complaints116
Crashes12
Fires1
Injuries9
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Air bags 15.5% · 18
Engine and engine cooling 14.7% · 17
Electrical system 13.8% · 16
Service brakes, hydraulic 12.9% · 15
Seat belts 6.9% · 8
Wheels 4.3% · 5
Visibility 4.3% · 5
Unknown or other 4.3% · 5
Severity
Of those complaints, 12 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire and 9 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 3 model years of the Buick Skylark in this data, 1996 ranks 2nd by complaint volume — 1995 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 6 in the last three years against 8 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 96,140 miles.
In owners' own words
Consumer received a manufacturer's notice for air bag defect on nov./96 Had the repairs done dec./96. Consumer had a vehicle crash on mar-22-97 when the air bags deployed the passenger side bag was ripped, allowing a black colored sodium acid to spill into vehicle, this sodium acid has a bad smell that won't go away. The manufacturer said that was not possible and that mr. Fletcher was lying about the air bag. Air bags
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. Air bags · reported at 68,818 miles
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. Air bags · reported at 140,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…