"How reliable is the 1996 Buick Century?"

"Based on 110 NHTSA complaints, the 1996 Buick Century has a median complaint mileage of 80100 miles. The most common issue is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL."

"What are common problems with the 1996 Buick Century?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Buick Century is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, accounting for a significant portion of the 110 total complaints filed."

1996 Buick Century: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 110 complaints

110

Total Complaints

80,100mi

Median Mileage

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

60,000 25th Percentile

80,100 Median Mileage

145,321 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SUSPENSION:FRONT

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

STEERING

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"SUSPENSION, RIGHT FRONT TIRE, AFTER 50MPH PULLS TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND HAS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. *AK"

"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"

"ENGINE SURGES OR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28