1996 Buick Century problems
Owners have filed 110 complaints about the 1996 Buick Century with NHTSA. Service brakes, hydraulic account for 13.6% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of steering at 9.1%.
Complaints110
Crashes7
Fires1
Injuries10
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Service brakes, hydraulic 13.6% · 15
Steering 9.1% · 10
Visibility 9.1% · 10
Fuel system, gasoline 9.1% · 10
Engine and engine cooling 8.2% · 9
Vehicle speed control 8.2% · 9
Structure 7.3% · 8
Suspension 6.4% · 7
Severity
Of those complaints, 7 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire and 10 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 10 model years of the Buick Century in this data, 1996 draws comparatively few complaints; 1999 is the outlier year.
Filings have fallen off, 3 in the last three years against 6 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 80,100 miles.
In owners' own words
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. Service brakes, hydraulic · reported at 80,100 miles
When consumer hits the brakes, the vehicle surges a foot or two, the dealer has tried to remedy the problem several times but has not been successful. *Slc Service brakes, hydraulic
Auto-tran: vehicle suddenly loses power while driving uphill or while passing, lurches forward when started in park, tries to lurch backward while in reverse, jumps forward at high speed in drive position, nearly caused an accident. *Ak also when went to have vehicle inspected it was found that a wheel alignment was needed and there was a fuel leak. Vehicle speed control
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Buick Century years
1994 144 complaints · 17.4% service brakes, hydraulic 1995 127 complaints · 18.9% service brakes, hydraulic 1997 132 complaints · 16.7% electrical system 1998 278 complaints · 10.1% service brakes, hydraulic 1999 287 complaints · 20.2% engine and engine cooling 2000 249 complaints · 19.7% power train