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1996 Buick CenturyProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 80 owner complaints about the 1996 Buick Century, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

53
CarFlaw IndexSolid year12% below the Century median · #11 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints8013 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage80kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 10, 2022. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1996 Buick Century has problems

80 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic122
Fuel system, gasoline100
Steering101
Engine and engine cooling91
Visibility80
Structure81
Vehicle speed control80
Suspension70
Power train70
9 other systems226

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1996 Buick Century recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Front: anchorage

Recall 95V-173 · Sep 15, 1995 · 2,216,325 vehicles

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Buick.

Best & worst years

1996 vs. every other Century year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Century median. How we score

'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1996 Buick Century safety ratings

1996 Buick Century 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words

What Century owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

DRIVING TOWARDS A STOPLIGHT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ON A 1996 BUICK CENTURY. PUMPING GAVE ONLY PARTIAL REAR BRAKING. DROVE TO FRIEND'S HOUSE (DURING WHICH THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY THE WHOLE WAY). WE PULLED THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FIBROUS FINELY WOVEN TUBE COVER…
Complaint 10407363 · Jun 18, 2011 · 130,000 miles
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE PEDAL DIDN'T DEPRESS WHICH RESULTED IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE BRAKES, AND INDICATED THAT THE POWER BOOSTER FAILED, AND A CHECK VALVE IN THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FROZE UP. *AK
Complaint 10087882 · Sep 28, 2004 · 80,100 miles
WHILE RIDING ABOUT 25 MPH CAR IN FRONT STARTED TO PUT ON ITS BRAKES. CONSUMER ALSO ATTEMPTED TO PUT ON THE BRAKES. BUT, INSTEAD, CAR SPEEDED UP AND JUMPED THE CURVE. CAR GAINED EVEN MORE SPEED AND FINALLY WAS STOPPED BY HITTING A TREE, UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DIDN'T DIPLOY. CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS BROKEN…
Complaint 848023 · Sep 20, 1999

Own a 1996 Century?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.