1995 Buick Century Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 1995 Buick Century most often describe brake problems, including unusual ABS behavior, a pedal that sinks toward the floor, and repeat brake work. A second recurring theme is the engine shutting off without warning at speed, followed by complaints of transmission shifting and lock-up faults and of the airbags not deploying in frontal impacts. Many complaints were filed on vehicles well past 90,000 miles, though several brake and engine reports came in at lower mileage.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brakes feel weak, grab, or pedal sinks to floor

   • 12 complaints (12%)
   • typically at 2.5 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2004

   Complaints describe the brake pedal going to the floor, longer stopping distances, and occasional complete loss of braking, sometimes followed by a collision. Others report the brakes grabbing or jerking sharply, or repeated replacement of pads and related parts that did not end the problem. Several owners say a dealer inspected the system and reported nothing wrong or that the anti-lock brakes were functioning normally. Reported across a wide mileage range, with many complaints filed between the first and tenth years of use and in both summer and winter conditions.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have the brake hydraulics and ABS inspected, and ask for records of recent brake work; a service bulletin describes an ABS pump that runs when not needed, so ask whether that condition has been addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Brakes failed several times in low speed drivings (<=30miles) during summer and during winter. One winter failure before a red light (speed <=25 miles) caused a head to tail collision, which cost more than $2,000 in repairs. First, I felt the brakes working with some sharp noises and not working properly sometimes. I sent the car to a GM dealer service station t o inspect. No problem was found, then, several days later, when the brakes failed, I almost hit a police car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #708951, filed 1999-07

   “While driving 30 MPH consumer applied the brake pedal and the brakes became inoperative. This caused consumer's vehicle to collide with another vehicle. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic determined that the brakes needed to be replaced, and replaced it. However, the problem recurred.”

   NHTSA complaint #10088062, filed 2004-08
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls or cuts out while driving

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • typically at 5.7 yrs old
   • filed 1997–2004

   Owners describe the engine shutting off without warning at highway or in-town speeds, sometimes restarting after a short wait and sometimes not restarting until parked. Several say a dealer could not duplicate the fault, and repairs such as a fuel filter, spark plugs, alternator, or battery did not resolve it. One owner links repeated stalling to a failed intake manifold gasket that contaminated the oil. Complaints span the late 1990s through the mid-2000s, at both low and high mileage; several were on vehicles with no mileage recorded.

   What to check: Ask whether the stalling has been diagnosed and whether ignition, fuel delivery and manifold gaskets have been checked; a test drive at highway speed can help reveal a cut-out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving along at any speed the engine goes dead. When starting vehicle after stopping, in the parking gear, the vehicle starts up again immediately. The alternator was replaced on 9/9/ 97, and the battery a few days after that by dealership. Consumer is still experiencing a problem with vehicle cutting off.”

   NHTSA complaint #816750, filed 1997-09

   “Whenever driving or waiting at a stop light vehicle would stall causing a safety hazard in middle of traffic. Have taken to dealership. Vehicle was test driven, but mechanic could not indicate exact cause of problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #897212, filed 2001-10
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shifts oddly or locks in gear

   • 7 complaints (7%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2004

   Complaints describe the transmission locking in second gear, jumping out of gear at speed, failing to downshift when warm, and shuddering until it finally shifts. Several owners say the transmission or torque converter had to be replaced, and some report that shops could not identify the cause until the unit was rebuilt. One owner notes that a recall covering a second-gear loss applied to earlier-built cars but not to theirs, despite similar symptoms. Mostly reported between roughly 90,000 and 110,000 miles or later, often after the transmission warms up.

   What to check: Check transmission fluid condition and ask for service history; a careful test drive that includes warm-up and a hill climb can expose delayed or harsh shifting.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had two problems with the transmission in my Buick in less than one year. First the torque converter had to be replaced, now at 90,000 miles the pump assembly will have to be replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #713617, filed 1999-10

   “Once the transmission warmed up it would not down shift and would not change gear going up hill....would shake and shimmy and buck until it finally shifted .....transmission shop and dealership could not seem to find the problem .... Wiring was also checked .... Finally had to replace transmission to make it stop ... Was told after it was replaced that they had had a great deal of this happening to these cars but could not get Buick to answer us about the recall”

   NHTSA complaint #10070520, filed 2004-01, 110,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbags fail to deploy or deploy too forcefully

   • 9 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 3.4 yrs old
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2003

   Complaints describe frontal impacts in which neither airbag deployed, with one owner told the sensors were not struck, and another describing a deployment during which the driver sustained fractures, rib injuries and eye irritation. In a separate report the airbag deployed but the driver still struck the windshield. Owners generally report the vehicle was inspected by the manufacturer or dealer afterward. Reported from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s; impacts described range from about 13 to 20 mph.

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light behaves normally on start-up and ask whether any airbag-related repairs or inspections have been recorded.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driver's seatbelt system malfunctioned, causing the driver's head to hit the windshield and crack the windshield. Drive rsustained injuries. Also, airbag did deploy, but did not protect the driver. Please provide further information and VIN#.”

   NHTSA complaint #846808, filed 1999-09

   “While dirivng vehicle at 13 MPH owner was involved in an accident in which the right front side of vehicle was struck.there was no deployment of driver's side airbag. Gm inspected vehicle and determined airbag sensors were not struck.”

   NHTSA complaint #821169, filed 1998-02
5. 5
   Steering

   Speed control does not release or vehicle surges

   Mentioned in 5 of 56 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe cruise control that would not disengage when the brake was applied, requiring the engine to be switched off in traffic, and one case where the brakes overheated before the car stopped. Other owners report sudden unintended acceleration, in one case traced to a loose screw jamming the throttle linkage, and say dealers could not reproduce the problem. Reported from the late 1990s through the 2000s, with several complaints filed on vehicles over 100,000 miles.

   What to check: Test the cruise control on a quiet road, confirming it cancels with the brake pedal and the switch, and have the throttle linkage and cables inspected for binding or loose hardware.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The cruise control did not disengage on applying breaks. The engine/motor keep on pushing the vehicle and I failed to stop on stop light. I had to turn off the engine on the main street in the path of running traffic. Then back to park, start and drive.”

   NHTSA complaint #10221427, filed 2008-03, 145,780 miles

   “The consumer stated that he was driving and a screw had worked loose and fell into the throttle position sensor linkage, blocking the linkage gear in full throttle and lost control with traffic all surrounding him. The vehicle accelerated uncontrollably. Scc”

   NHTSA complaint #10003852, filed 2003-01, 114,000 miles

Buying note. On a car this old, condition and service records matter more than the model's reputation, so have brakes, transmission and airbag systems checked by an independent shop before purchase. Ask specifically about stalling history, past transmission work, and any cruise control repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 56 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.