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1996 Buick Century

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Buick Century do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 28.

About this comparison →
80Owner complaints

Model-year median: 28

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
54
1993106
199499
199580
1996106
1997218
1998235
1999
Compare all Century years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
12Fuel System, Gasoline
10Steering
10Engine And Engine Cooling
9Structure
8
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
8Visibility
8Power Train
7Suspension
7Electrical System
6Air Bags
5Exterior Lighting
2Interior Lighting
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Seat Belts
2Unknown Or Other
2Equipment
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Parking Brake
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 14 of 80 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
70,000 miles · May 11, 2009
Seat BeltsInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS TOO TIGHT AND CAUSES HER TO CHOKE. SHE NOTICED BRUISES ON HER NECK. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERS REQUESTING THAT THEY ADJUST OR CHANGE THE SEAT BELT. THE DEALERS STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ADJUST OR CHANGE THE SE…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS TOO TIGHT AND CAUSES HER TO CHOKE. SHE NOTICED BRUISES ON HER NECK. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERS REQUESTING THAT THEY ADJUST OR CHANGE THE SEAT BELT. THE DEALERS STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ADJUST OR CHANGE THE SEAT BELT DUE TO THE DESIGN. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE SEAT BELT. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD REVIEW THE REPORT; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10268378

Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 1999
Seat BeltsInjury

VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH CEMENT-BASED LAMP POST IN PARKING LOT GOING 10-15 MPH, SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT WINDSHIELD AND BRUISE CHEST ON STEERING COLUMN. MJS

NHTSA ODI #549532

Official recalls

1

95V173000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 15, 1995

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.