Check a vehicle VIN check Latest recalls Latest complaints Common problems Rankings Compare vehicles Recall roundups All makes Guides Share your experience
Theme

Engine & cooling

1996 Buick Skylark Engine problems

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 1996 Buick Skylark's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 17% of all its complaints, most recently on June 20, 2008. They describe 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & cooling

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.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10231850
Engine & cooling

Tl*the contact owns a 1996 buick skylark. The contact stated that the vehicle leaked antifreeze onto the motor, which then leaked onto the ground. The dealer stated that the failure resided in the lower intake manifold and they would repair it for a fee. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage was 72,992 and failure mileage was 62,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10214413
Engine & cooling

While driving at 55 mph engine failed intermittently. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10071841
Engine & cooling

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...

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10045493
Engine & cooling1 injury

To start the engine , and the car was pushed into st stall by.The ss tube under the car and the ss manifold on the motor block are connected vie a thin-walled plasric tube, which is heat-shrinke under the car and connected to the manifold by a flimsy plastic connector. Both connectors broke ( of course they must brake eventually thru age etc), and the gas spilled onto the hot motor block, forming a puddle and vaporizing , thus forming an explosive mixture waiting to be ignited from the hot exhaust mamnifold. *Ak referenced in ea02-030

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 762719
Engine & cooling

While driving and without warning vehicle will stall out and die. Dealer has repaired vehicle, but problem has reoccurred. Please provide additional information. *Ak

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 8004235
Engine & cooling

COOLING SYSTEM BURNED OUT DUE TO LEAKING.*JB

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 562952
Engine & cooling

Engine failure and coolant leakage through out entire engine. Coolant went into oil tank, was coming out exhaust pipe. Dealer mechanic told my mechanic they are aware of the problem with the engine. It's cyclinder 1 that is defective and causing the engine damage. Engine must be replaced. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 740001
Engine & cooling

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.

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 9001459
Engine & cooling

The check engine light came on due to oxygen sensor failure. Yh

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 552615
Engine & cooling

Ongoing problem with engine check light coming on. On three occasions dealer replaced the oxygen sensor under warranty. However, problem reoccurred and oxygen sensor needed to be replaced again. Dealer notified, and has not informed consumer whether oxygen sensor will or will not be replaced at consumer's cost. *Ak *ml

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Unknown or otherNHTSA 862218
SteeringBrakesEngine & coolingElectrical systemCrash

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...

Read the full complaint

performed since than it only happens about half as much. 5 Days after purchasing car the key was stuck in ignition would not turn or come out, called buick they told me to jiggle the steering and manually push the car back and forth than try it, recently when it happened we tried for 3 hours and they suggested, as I quote gm road side assistance for us "to pound on the key about 20 times like you were pounding a nail with a hammer" we were stuck 50 miles from home and had to have car towed to nearest dealer. On the electrical sometimes the clock and radio stations will reset without battery touched or anything else touched, window motors go bad, while under warranty dealer replaced inside drivers side mirror bezel (only the inside plastic triangle part) cause it was coming off, the work order shows new part put in but they just stuck a bunch of epoxy in it and stuck the old one back on. When complaining constantly to the service mgr its usually "you have a bad battery" "a fuse" "module" at one time they changed the alarm module twice within a matter of 4 - 6 months leading me to believe that because lights are not on all the time, it happens sparatically that they are just replacing simple parts to show they repaired problem, sales manager said fuses and modules are commonly being replaced. Twice while driving about 35 mpr, engine turned off and all lights came on, stearing locked. I hear clicking and/or rubbing sounds coming from front whleft s

Filed Incident Steering · Service brakes, air · Parking brake · Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 709641
Engine & cooling

Vehicle experiences hesitation and loss of acceleration which has almost resulted in vehicle collision on several occasions, unable to determine cause.

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 539382
Engine & cooling

Oxygen sensor failed twice due to check engine light coming on. (Qcaw)

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 538157
Engine & cooling

ENGINE FAILED.

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 605659

Buick Skylark engine complaints by year

Skylark engine problems, every year

Had a engine problem with your 1996 Skylark? Tell other owners.

Your experience goes live straight away and helps every owner and buyer who checks this vehicle. Anonymous, free, no account.

Overall, how would you rate it? *

0/4000 · Please leave out names, phone numbers and your full VIN.

By posting you confirm it's your own, honest experience and agree to the rules. Safety defect? Also report it to NHTSA - that's how recalls start.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

Owners helping owners

Know before you drive.

Every experience you share - good or bad - shows on that vehicle's page and helps the next owner and buyer. Two minutes, anonymous.

Share your experience