Complaints
110
Crashes
7
Fires
1
Injuries
10
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1996 Buick Century Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#17 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:60,000 mi
Crash-related:1
#27 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
#36 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Buick Century.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 | 1 | — | 60,000 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | 1 | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 5 | 1 | — | 154,000 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 5 | — | — | 146,000 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Side/Rear Glass | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
60,000
Unintended Acceleration
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
154,000
Structure:Body:Door
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
146,000
Automatic Transmission
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Side/Rear Glass
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Interior Lighting
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1996 Buick Century. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Buick Century Years
1996 Buick Century — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1996 Buick Century reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1996 Buick Century has 110 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 7 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1996 Buick Century?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (7 complaints, avg 60,000 mi); Unintended Acceleration (7 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (6 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1996 Buick Century?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 112,941 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1996 Buick Century?
NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Buick Century include 7 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1996 Buick Century have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1996 Buick Century as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1996 Buick Century?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Buick Century reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1996 Buick Century
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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