Skip to content
Buick CenturyModel year report

1996 Buick Century Problems

Complaints
80filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
75,550miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.1L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1996 Buick Century (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe steering problems — losing power assist or being unable to turn left — along with brake complaints such as a pedal that sinks to the floor or fails to stop the car, and fuel leaks from the lines under the car. Many reports involve routine driving and highway speeds, with mileage spread widely and a number of complaints filed years after purchase.

  1. Steering

    Power steering loss / rack will not turn left

    • 7 complaints (9%)
    • median 30,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
    • filed 1998–2022

    Complaints describe the steering suddenly becoming very hard or the wheel turning without moving the front wheels, often while making a left turn. Several owners say a rack-and-pinion rebuild or replacement was needed, and some note the vehicle was outside the scope of a related power steering campaign. In some accounts the steering failed completely with no prior warning. Reported from about 30,000 miles up to roughly 146,000 miles, at both low and highway speeds.

    What to check: Turn the wheel fully in both directions at a standstill and at low speed and listen for noise or feel for stiffness; ask whether the rack or power steering components have been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a 1996 Buick that recently developed a problem with the power steering. The rack in the rack and pinion steering system will not allow the car to turn left. I researched this problem on the internet and found many instances of this problem with many general motors vehicles. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10239849, filed 2008-08, 146,000 miles

    “The steering system suffered a sudden and complete failure while negoriating a turn into a city street. I was able to safely stop the vehicle prior to any other vehicle or property contact. Had I been traveling at highway speed the results would have been quite different. Buick had rack problems in the late 1980's with the Century line; has the problem been resolved. This should cause a recall as the vehicle just passed a state safety inspection less than 2 months ago.”

    NHTSA complaint #733896, filed 2000-10
  2. Vehicle speed control

    Surge or loss of power while driving

    • 15 complaints (19%)
    • median 130,000 mi at 15.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 1996–2011

    Complaints describe the car surging forward, lunging when shifted into gear, or losing power and stalling without warning, including while passing or going uphill. Some owners say the dealer could not find or reproduce the cause; one service manager reportedly said similar behavior was common on 1995–96 models with the 3.1 engine. Reported at any speed including low-speed driving and stops; most sampled reports do not list mileage.

    What to check: Ask about any history of stalling or surging and whether throttle, idle control or ignition components were serviced; pay attention to how the car behaves cold and when shifting.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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. Also when went to have vehicle inspected it was found that a wheel alignment was needed and there was a fuel leak.”

    NHTSA complaint #805121, filed 1996-11

    “When traveling at any speed with foot pressed on the brake pedal, vehicle continued to accelerate, causing unwanted speed. Also, in order to stop the vehicle, the key has to be removed from the ignition. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer has yet to determine the cause of the problem. Please provide any further details.”

    NHTSA complaint #851557, filed 1999-10
  3. Brakes

    Brake pedal goes to the floor / poor stopping

    • 13 complaints (16%)
    • median 105,050 mi at 12.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 1996–2011

    Owners describe the brake pedal dropping to the floor or feeling that braking did not slow the car, sometimes followed by a collision. Dealers reportedly found a failed power booster or a sticking valve in the anti-lock system in some cases, and corroded or shorted ABS sensor wiring in another. Other complaints mention grinding from the rear brakes and repeated drum or rotor work. Mileage varies from around 30,000 to over 130,000 miles; several reports come from ordinary driving and stops.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Check pedal firmness and brake fluid level, look for ABS warning lights, and ask whether the booster and ABS wiring have been inspected or replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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 (fiberglass?) to the extremely thin and fragile wires to ABS sensor looked burnt. Cutting it off we discovered the wires inside had shorted out. When we cleared the short and individually wrap insulated the wires, the ABS warning light then came on. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10407363, filed 2011-06, 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.”

    NHTSA complaint #10087882, filed 2004-09, 80,100 miles
  4. Fuel system

    Fuel leaks from fuel line under the car

    • 9 complaints (11%)
    • median 69,500 mi at 17.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • filed 1996–2014

    Complaints describe gasoline leaking or gushing from the line running under the car between the driver's door and the front wheel well, sometimes right after starting. In two reports the line had failed on its own; in another it separated after road debris struck it, and repair involved splicing or replacing the line. Owners also describe stalling or hesitation that was attributed to fuel delivery. Reported from roughly 68,000 to 71,000 miles in the reports that list mileage, though most sampled fuel complaints do not state miles.

    What to check: Look for fuel smell or wet spots along the line under the driver's side and ask whether the fuel lines have been inspected or replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While backing into my daughter's attached garage, the gas line ruptured and leaked a lot of gasoline before I shut-off the ignition. I promptly re-started the car and backed it out of the garage, unwittingly risking igniting the gasoline in the process, but still afraid of the gas/fumes in the garage igniting and burning us, the car and the house down! We got a water hose and broom and swept as much of it out of the garage as we could. We were lucky. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10606448, filed 2014-06, 68,000 miles

    “Started car and gasoline started gushing out from beneath the car between the driver's door and the front wheel-well. As the car was partly in the garage, I drove it out of the garage and turned the engine off. This stopped the flow of gasoline. A mechanic later determined that the plastic gas line had failed and, after cutting-off the damaged part, he spliced the line back together with a brass coupling. That seems to have taken care of the problem, for now. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10510943, filed 2013-05, 71,000 miles

Buying note. Before buying, drive the car at highway speed and check the steering, brakes and fuel lines specifically, since those are the areas owners of this model year describe most. Ask for service records covering the steering rack, brake booster and fuel lines, and confirm whether any outstanding safety campaigns apply to the specific vehicle.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 47 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.

NHTSA recorded 80 consumer complaints for the 1996 Buick Century. 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 21% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 75,550 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 7 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 9 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Air bags (5), Exterior lighting (2), Interior lighting (2), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Other or unknown (2), Seat belts (2), Equipment (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “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 in the process of trying to put on the brakes. The passenger was also banged up. Passenger side does not have an air bag.”

NHTSA complaint #848023, filed 1999-09

Fuel system: “Consumer complaining of vehicle continually shaking/vibrating and hesitating while driving. Vehicle has been in/out of dealer shop on numerous times. Dealer informed consumer the problem is the cheap gas she puts into the vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #824096, filed 1998-06

Steering: “The vehicle suddenly lost power steering when making a left turn. As a result, the steering became difficult. There was a recall for this issue but the VIN and model year was outside the remedy scope. #03v457000.”

NHTSA complaint #10054132, filed 2004-03, 30,000 miles

Engine cooling: “Consumer pullred out of driveway and proceeded down the road, not 100 yards from driveway smoke began coming out of the vents on the passenger side, the driver and passenger exited vehicle then it caught fire, possible engine failure may have caused the accident. Nlm”

NHTSA complaint #562500, filed 2001-08

Mileage when problems were reported

21% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 60,000 and 145,321 miles.

0%0–100%10–2521%25–5029%50–757%75–10029%100–15014%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 75,550 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’9614’98’00’02’04’09’13’22
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1996 Buick Century. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Century · sedan not rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1996 Buick Century version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Century FWD2.2L 4-cyl3-speed automatic212924$2,800
Century FWD3.1L 6-cyl4-speed automatic182621$3,200
Century Wagon FWD3.1L 6-cyl4-speed automatic182621$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1996 Buick Century → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 9 on record; the latest 9 are shown.

Other model years of the Buick Century

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20051968,9770—21—Rising
20043973,0000—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200312763,5460—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200215462,0000—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200114554,8003—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200019360,9355—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199923556,5003—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199821857,9722—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199710694,9442——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19968075,5501—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19959992,5001—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199410688,5006—22Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199354123,0002—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19924594,5003—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19913845,0822—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199033—2—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198940110,0001—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198816—3—21—Stable
19872890,0000—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198622100,0002—20—Stable
19857—0—19—Not enough data
19848—3—20—Not enough data

All Buick Century model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Buick Century?

Owners of this model year most often describe steering problems — losing power assist or being unable to turn left — along with brake complaints such as a pedal that sinks to the floor or fails to stop the car, and fuel leaks from the lines under the car. The issues reported most often: Power steering loss / rack will not turn left; Surge or loss of power while driving; Brake pedal goes to the floor / poor stopping.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1996 Buick Century have?

NHTSA recorded 80 consumer complaints for the 1996 Buick Century as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1996 Buick Century is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 13 complaints (16% of the total), followed by fuel system with 11.

Has the 1996 Buick Century been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Buick Century get?

The EPA rates the 1996 Buick Century (Century, 3.1L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1996 Buick Century reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 75,550 miles and the middle half falls between 60,000 and 145,321 miles; 21% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.