Most common 1996 Buick Century problems
Share of the 80 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Century complaints by model year
Best Century years: 2005, 2004, 1996. Years to avoid: 1999, 1998, 2000. Compare all years →
1996 Buick Century recalls (1)
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
These vehicles were assembled with rear outboard safety belt anchorages that May not withstand the required load. This does not comply with FMVSS no.210, "seat belt assembly anchorages."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the existing anchor bolts with a new shoulder bolt and thread locking adhesive. Additionally, noise control patches will be applied at each anchorage.
What 1996 Buick Century owners say
Brakes
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.
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.
Fuel & propulsion system
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. The point of this complaint is that there are probably tens of thousands of g m cars being driven and parked in garages with quite old, deteriorating gas lines whose drivers are totally unaware of it. Our experience, alone, could have been a disaster. My son-in-law has experienced the same problem with his 1995 Oldsmobile ciera, although he believes that the squirrels around his home like to chew on the plastic gas lines. …
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. The really scary thing is that there are hundreds of thousands of GM cars "out there" in garages and on the road with deteriorating plastic gas lines! Probably some other brands, as well. An acquaintance of mine had the same gas line failure on his 1996 Oldsmobile ciera.
Steering
I went to turn my wheel and it wouldn't turn left then the rack and pinion broke the wheel just turns 360 to the left but no movement in turning lost all steering
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. I contacted GM with my concerns and I was told by their representative that they acknowledge the problem is widespread with this model of vehicle, but they are not able to help with the repair costs nor issue a consumer alert of a possible danger of a catastrophic failure of the power steering in many of their vehicles. I was lucky not to be involved in an accident, but I cannot drive my car now. I wish the government would investigate the incidents I have outlined as there is a definite possibility of a fatal accident happening with all 1996 - 1998 Buick products. …
1996 Buick Century engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Buick Century a good car?
Based on 80 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Century rates average: 29% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Century at the same age. It is one of the best Century years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Buick Century?
The brakes — 13 complaints, 16% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (11) and steering (10).
How many recalls does the 1996 Buick Century have?
There is 1 recall for the 1996 Buick Century, the most recent from September 15, 1995 (anchorage). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Century?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2004 and 1996. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 1998 and 2000. See the full Buick Century years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Buick Century problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 21% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.