1995 Buick Century

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

68/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Buick Century, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Service brakes	19	16%
Air bags	10	9%
Power train	10	9%
Steering	10	9%
Engine and engine cooling	10	9%
Seat belts	6	5%
Electrical system	5	4%
Suspension	5	4%
Visibility	5	4%
Fuel system	4	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

WATCHED ALOT OF CAR RACES ON TV AND NASCAR RACES ARE ONE OF THOSE RACES WHERE DRIVERS DO CAR ACCIDENTS ON PURPOSE SO THEY DONT LSE A RACE AND PEOPLE OUT THERE DO THE SAME ON REGULAR ROADS.YOU CANT STOP THESE HUMANS OR RO
NHTSA complaint: Tires

1995 BUICK CENTURY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO AIRBAG SAFETY, THE AIRBAG CAN BE SEEN THROUGH VINYL COVER. *AS *JS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

1995 BUICK CENTURY. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH LEAKING GAS LINE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A LEAK DEVELOPED IN THE GAS LINE BELOW HIS FEET, SATURATING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK CENTURY WITH SIGMA SHADOW TIRES, SIZE 195/75/R14. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION SEVEN TIMES WITH THE TIRES. EACH TIME HE EXPEREINCED THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WOU
NHTSA complaint: Tires

THE REAR UNI-BODY SNAPED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THEN 1 MILE LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE SNAPED, BOTH SIDES SNAPED IN THE FRONT HALPH, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE JUNK YARD SO I DONOT HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART ANY MORE
NHTSA complaint: Structure

THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE ON APPLYING BREAKS. THE ENGINE/MOTOR KEEP ON PUSHING THE VEHICLE AND I FAILED TO STOP ON STOP LIGHT. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE ON THE MAIN STREET IN THE PATH OF RUNNING TRAFFIC. TH
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

DT: THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY CINCHED. IT STARTS TO LOOSEN, AND THE CAR SEAT JUST FLOPS OVER. THE BUCKLE NEVER OPENS.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 Buick Century. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Seat belts:front:anchorage 95V173000

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."

Risk: 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 OCCUP

Fix: 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.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	78	good
Longevity est.	77	good
Maintenance	78	good
Depreciation	54	average
Performance	54	average
Efficiency	38	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 38% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 49% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 61% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 30% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 78: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 77: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1995 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 78: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1995 Buick Century?

Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 19 of them (16%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1995 Buick Century reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1995 Buick Century last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1995 Buick Century?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.