1996 Buick Century

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/24/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT WARMED UP, THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. *AK WHEN PROCEEDING AFTER A STOP, VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS INTERMITTENT, AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE FUEL JETS. *TT

• 11/18/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  BATTERY FAILED TWO TIMES.

• 11/16/1999· SEAT BELTS

  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

• 11/15/1996· SUSPENSION,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  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. *AK ALSO WHEN WENT TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED IT WAS FOUND THAT A WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED AND THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK.*JB

• 11/08/2001· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPERS WHEN USED, SPRAY WOULD SQUIRT THE WATER THREE TIMES, CAUSE VERY POOR VISIBILITY WHICH ESPECIALLY WHEN USES AT NIGHT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD WASHER SHOULD SPRAY ONLY ONCE.*YD

• 10/27/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  PUTTING KEYS IN IGNITION IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

• 10/27/1997· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED.

• 10/27/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL INJECTOR #6 FAILED.

• 10/25/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  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. *AK *YC

• 10/22/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHEN CONSUMER HITS THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SURGES A FOOT OR TWO, THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES BUT HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. *SLC

• 10/20/1999· STRUCTURE

  WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT VEHICLE THE HANDLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BROKE OFF. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE HANDLE. *AK

• 10/20/1997· SUSPENSION

  FRONT END VIBRATION.

• 10/16/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM. WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT VIBRATES. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED T MANUFACTURER TWICE, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

• 10/15/2001· STEERINGCrash

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 10/10/2000· STEERING

  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.

• 10/09/1997· VISIBILITY

  WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE'S BACK WINDOW JUST BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

• 10/03/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CAR CONTUNUES TO STALL AFTER MANY REPAIR ATTEMPTS.

• 10/01/2003· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATIONS AT SPEEDS EXCEEDING 70 MPH. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW MICHELIN TIRE BUT THEY DID NOT CORRECT THE VIBRATION PROBLEM. THE GEAR SELECTOR BECAME STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION PERIODICALLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *MR *NLM

• 09/29/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK

• 09/28/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  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. *AK

• 09/28/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  ONE OF THE VEHICLE'S FUEL LINES LEAKED. *NM FUEL LINE WAS UNPROTECTED. *TC

• 09/27/1999· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY CAR SHUT DOWN, AND CONSUMER HAD TO COAST TO THE NEAREST SHOULDER. CAR RESTARTED 5MINUTES LATER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

• 09/23/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ONCE A DAY, THE FIRST TIME OF OPERATION OF VEHICLE, WILL EXPRIENCE STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING APPROX. 2 BLOCKS BEFORE PROBLEM STARTS. WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL HALF WAY DOWN, VEHICLE WILL IMMEDIATELY BEGIN STALLING. THEN IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY BEGIN TO SURGE. WHEN SURGING BEGINS CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO HIT HIS BRAKES QUICKLY. AFTER THIS HAPPEN ENGINE DIES. STALLING AND SURGING AND ENGINE DYING HAPPENS SOMETIMES. BUICK SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING IN MOST 95/96 BUICKS WITH A 3.1 ENGINE. *AK

• 09/22/1997· PARKING BRAKE

  EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED.

• 09/20/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  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. *AK

• 09/12/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER IS REQUESTING INFORMATION AS TO HOW TO OBTAIN FREE VEHICLE REPAIRS. *MR *TS THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED AND CAUSED INJURY TO THE DRIVERS HEAD. THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE ARE ON A FIXED INCOME. *NLM

• 09/11/1997· INTERIOR LIGHTING

  DOME LIGHT LAMP FELL OFF DUE TO LOOSE COVER.

• 09/10/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IN JULY 1996, OWNER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS W/HIGH IDLE. AREA DEALERSHIP REPLACED COMPUTER BUT VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCES SAME CONDITION, ALSO, FRONT BRAKE ROTORS/PADS OVERHEATED/REPLACED. *AK

• 09/03/1999· POWER TRAIN

  VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS ACCELERATING WHEN IT STOPS AND GOES. CAR SEEMS TO BE RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *AK

• 08/26/2008· STEERING,SUSPENSION

  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

• 08/20/1996· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND HIT A SMALL PIECE OF WOOD ON THE ROAD THAT BROKE OFF THE FUEL LINE FROM THE FUEL TANK. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

• 08/18/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING.MECHANIC CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 08/17/2001· STRUCTURE

  WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT FRONT LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. 'DOORLOCKS JAMMED, AND CONSUMER COULD NOT GET OUT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER FELT THAT IF CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED UP.*AK

• 08/15/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ENGINE SURGES OR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY.

• 08/14/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  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

• 08/12/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TWO TIMES ENGINE STALLED, AND ONE TIME WHILE STOPPING AT STOP SIGN IT STALLED

• 08/04/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CRUISE CONTROL SPEED INCREASES UPON DESCENDING A HILL. (QCAW)

• 08/03/2000· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING UP TO A HILL VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABOUT 50 MPH WITH HEADLIGHTS ON. THEN, THEY WILL GO OUT WITHOUT A WARNING. *AK

• 07/30/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ALTERNATOR WENT OUT 3 TIMES . ABS WARNING LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THIS HAPPENED. DLR HAS REPLACED ALTERNATOR.*AK

• 07/15/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  SHORT IN FUEL PUMP CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL AND LOSS OF BRAKES.

• 07/10/2000· INTERIOR LIGHTING

  CONTINUOUS LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD WITH ANTI -LOCK ON IT

• 07/10/1997· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  REFLECTION OF SUN FROM DASH BOARD INTO WINDSHIELD DISTRACTS VISION.

• 07/09/1997· EQUIPMENT

  BRACKET THAT HOLDS SPEAKER IS SHARP, CUTTING OWNER'S HAND.

• 06/27/2014· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  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. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THESE OLD PLASTIC GAS LINES REPRESENT AN ENORMOUS RISK TO THE SAFETY OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHILE THEY'RE NOT EVEN IN OR NEAR THE SOURCE OF IGNITION. THEY COULD, IN FACT, BE IN BED AT THE OTHER END OF THE HOME WHEN IT ALL BLOWS-UP! *TR

• 06/25/1998· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  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. *AK

• 06/18/2011· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  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. A GRAVEL SKID TEST REVEALED NO ABS AT ALL. WE FOUND THAT DEAD SHORTING THE WIRE TO THE SENSOR WITH A JUMPER WIRE WILL CAUSE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT TO GO OUT, BUT OBVIOUSLY DISABLES THE ABS. WE REPLACED THE SENSOR (WHICH REQUIRES THAT THE WHOLE BEARING/STUD ASSEMBLY TO BE REPLACED), AND THEN THE ABS LIGHT WENT OUT. A GRAVEL SKID TEST REVEALED THE ABS WORKING FINE AND HE SAYS THE NORMAL BRAKING IS NOW BETTER TOO. SOME RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THE ABS DETECTS NO TIRE TURNING DURING A SKID VIA THE SENSOR, AND RELEASES HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES UNTIL THE TIRE IS DETECTED BY THE ABS AS TURNING. WE THINK THAT WHEN A SHORT TO THE SENSOR OCCURS, THE SENSOR CAN'T DETECT THE TIRE TURNING AGAIN AND THUS THE ABS UNIT NEVER STOPS BLEEDING FLUID PASS THE BRAKE (AND THE INITIAL SHORT MAY EVEN SET OFF THE ABS WITHOUT AN ACTUAL SKID OCCURRING - THAT IS WITHOUT THE SENSOR EVER SENSING A TIRE NOT TURNING). ANYONE HAVING RANDOM NEAR-TOTAL OR TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE MIGHT DO WELL TO EXAMINE THE WIRES AND TERMINALS LEADING TO THE ABS SENSORS - AND REPLACE SUSPICIOUS UNITS (WE PAID ABOUT $90 FOR A UNIT FROM A COMMON AUTO PARTS CHAIN). A GRAVEL SKID TEST MIGHT ALSO REVEAL AN ABS SYSTEM NOT WORKING EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO ABS WARNING LIGHT LIT. REPLACING THE BEARING/STUD/ABS SENSOR ASSEMBLY IS MODERATELY HARD. *TR

• 06/17/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.

• 06/15/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED A GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD IN THE RIGHT REAR . THE DEALER HAS CHANGED REAR BRAKE DRUMS TWICE. *AK

• 06/14/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  IN 2003 I HAD THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OF MY 1996 BUICK CENTURY WAGON SERVICED AT RAGSDALE CHEVROLET IN SPENCER, MA. THE INITIAL REASON FOR BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICING WAS THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. THE MECHANICS OF RAGSDALE CHEVROLET THEN WENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND REPLACED THE SENSORS. THE COST OF THE REPAIRS WAS VERY HIGH AND SEEMED LEGITIMATE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON. ON JANUARY 23, 2004 I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISSION WHEREIN I WAS CUT-OFF AT AN INTERSECTION BY AN SUV. MY FRONT STRUCK HIS CAR BROADSIDE. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED TO FULLY DEPLOY THE BAG AND IN FACT NO PART OF THE AIR BAG EXITED THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

• 06/06/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TO START THE ENGINE , AND THE CAR WAS PUSHED INTO ST STALL BY.THE SS TUBE UNDER THE CAR AND THE SS MANIFOLD ON THE MOTOR BLOCK ARE CONNECTED VIE A THIN-WALLED PLASRIC TUBE, WHICH IS HEAT-SHRINKE UNDER THE CAR AND CONNECTED TO THE MANIFOLD BY A FLIMSY PLASTIC CONNECTOR. BOTH CONNECTORS BROKE ( OF COURSE THEY MUST BRAKE EVENTUALLY THRU AGE ETC), AND THE GAS SPILLED ONTO THE HOT MOTOR BLOCK, FORMING A PUDDLE AND VAPORIZING , THUS FORMING AN EXPLOSIVE MIXTURE WAITING TO BE IGNITED FROM THE HOT EXHAUST MAMNIFOLD. *AK REFERENCED IN EA02-030