Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
AIR BAGS - FRONTAL
96V211000GENERAL MOTORS CORP.from 08/01/1995 to 02/28/1996V (Vehicle)4868911/04/1996MFRGENERAL MOTORS CORP.10/28/199610/31/1996
Defect SummaryDuring 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 SummaryIn 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.
Corrective SummaryDealers 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.
NotesOwner notification:owner notification is expected to begin during november 1996. note: 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 contact buick at 1-800-521-7300 or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
AIR BAGS
04/02/1997109/27/1996
 Violet deployment of passenger side airbag after recall repair. dup of 811494, added on 25-feb-98. *ak
06/20/1996
 The airbags deployed and the entire dashboard split in half.please describe. *ak
AIR BAGS - FRONTAL
07/30/2008820001
 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 contacting the local buick dealer, i was told my car did not match any of the recall companies? perhaps it should have made the campaign list. *tr
06/21/2008475001
 I got a letter from gm , buick motor division, that was a customer advisory not a recall that said if my 1996 buick has ever been wet or had water soak the floor board on the passenger side the air bags might deploy at any time due to a malfunction of the control box located under the front passenger seat. it said i need to have the car serviced asap to correct the problem if it has indeed been wet . and it has been wet on several occasions due to failure of the door gaskets and rear window seal and possibly the trunk gasket. i feel that gm should pay at the least for the dealer to decide if the control box needs to be replaced or not . if not for the repairs needed to insure that the air bags don't deploy for no reason while i'm going down the road causing an accident. air bags are supposed to help you not hurt you. j.m.k. *tr
06/18/2008
 Tl*the contact owns a 1996 buick skylark. on june 18, 2008, the contact received an owner's manual supplement pertaining to the air bag controller module on the front passenger side. he is outraged because gm is refusing to make any repairs to the air bag system. the letter mentioned that consumers have sustained minor injuries due to air bag deployment after the vehicle has been exposed to water. the conclusion was that this is a design flaw. there had been no failure to date. the current mileage was 124,000.
1400001
 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. *ak
1
 The air bags deployed without impact.*jb
09/02/2002
 While driving at 20mph front air bags deployed without vehicle being involved in an accident. contacted dealer. *ak
07/13/2001109/01/1996
 While driving on a smooth, clear two lane highway at a steady speed, passenger air bag deployed without warning. *ak
12/05/1997
 Air bags: driving approximately 30mph when car ahead made an illegal turn, front ofconsumer's car hit the passenger's side of other car and neither air bag deployed. *ak
04/21/199709/01/1996
 While driving at approximately 25mph driver's airbag inadvertently deployed, no impact on hwy, sustained injury to right arm, no prior warning. *ak
03/22/1996
 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. *ak
AIR BAGS - SIDE/WINDOW
 While driving under normal road conditions both driver's side and passenger's side air bags deployed without warning and for no reason.dealer has been contacted. *ak