The 1996 Buick Skylark has 3 recalls, the most serious being a steering column pinch bolt that was not fully tightened during assembly, which can cause the steering to feel loose or rattle and reduce steering precision while driving.
The passenger-side airbag carries its own concern: during deployment, the airbag fabric can catch on a reinforcement inside the instrument panel and inflate downward beneath the panel rather than outward through its designed opening. In a crash, this misdirected deployment can leave the front passenger without proper protection or expose them to contact with broken trim pieces. There is also an interior lighting issue where the cabin lights can switch on unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving, creating a sudden distraction that may startle the driver and briefly disrupt vehicle control.
At a glance
What can fail
Interior lamps may turn on unexpectedly while driving, which can distract the driver.
What the fix does
Dealers will test the lamp control module and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The bolt that secures the lower steering column may not have been tightened properly during manufacturing, which could cause the steering column to move or loosen.
What the fix does
Dealers will check the steering column bolt's tightness and tighten it to the correct specification if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger airbag fabric can snag on a reinforcement inside the instrument panel during deployment, causing the airbag to push up the panel pad and inflate underneath the panel instead of through the proper opening.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the instrument panel pad and install a plastic edge protector on the reinforcement if needed. On some early vehicles, the panel pad will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
