IllustrationI 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
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Century years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
Steering complaints
10 reportsI 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 B…
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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. THE PROBLEM RESULTS IN COMPLETE FAILURE TO CONTROL THE CAR WHILE TRYING TO TURN LEFT. IF THE PROBLEM WOULD BE WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE CAR COULD STILL TURN, BUT IN MANUAL MODE. THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO TURN TO THE LEFT. THIS COULD BE DISASTROUS FOR SOMEONE. GM SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS BUT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION OR HELP PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK. I FEEL THAT A RECALL WOULD BE IN ORDER IF IT WOULD SAVE LIVES. YOU CAN CONTACT ME FOR THE NAME OF THE INDIVIDUAL I SPOKE WITH AND THE REFERENCE NUMBER FOR MY COMPLAINT TO GM. *TR
CONSUMER REQUESTED HIS VEHICLE BE INCLUDED IN THE POWER STEERING RECALL. *PH THE CONSUMER HAD EXTENSIVE POWER STEERING WORK PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED WITH A W BODY WHICH WAS THE BODY FOR THE BASIS OF THE RECALL. *JB *SC *JB
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT WHILE BACKING IN MY DRIVEWAY THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN.*AK
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. *JB *MR
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THERE'S A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THE VIN NUMBER AND MODEL YEAR IS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE (RECALL # 03V457000). *NM
LETTER SENT TO CEO OF GENERAL MOTORS: NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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 CE…
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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.
STEERING ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLE IS NOT DESIGNED PROPERLY, TURNING RADIUS IS TOO LARGE, STEERING SENSE IS SLUGGISH AND POWER STEERING ASSIST IS NOT ADEQUATE.
Official recalls
195V173000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.