1990-1996 Buick Century Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our in-depth review covers everything you need to know about this generation Buick Century. Get the latest news, find a local dealer, and get a free price quote for this generation Buick Century.

1990-1996 Buick Century Review

Introduced in 1982, like the related Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, Chevrolet Celebrity, and Pontiac 6000, Buick's version of the front-wheel drive intermediate was a longer, plusher derivative of GM's ill-fated X-car family. Facelifted a bit in '89, the Century came in coupe, sedan, and station wagon form. The Custom series included all three body styles, while the more costly Limited skipped the coupe. Air conditioning was standard.

Year to Year Changes

1991 Buick Century: A new grille, turn signals, and front-end trim gave the Century a fresh front-end look.

1992 Buick Century: Only detail changes were evident in the Century coupe, sedan, and wagon. In addition to the Custom and Limited, a Special series went on sale for a lower price. By now, the related Pontiac 6000 and Chevrolet Celebrity were gone, leaving only the Century and Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera.

1993 Buick Century: A driver-side airbag was added for '93 (optional on the Special, standard on Custom and Limited). A new 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine replaced the 2.5-liter. Fuel tanks grew from 15.7 to 16.4 gallons, and rub strips and side moldings were now body colored.

1994 Buick Century: A driver-side airbag went into all Century models for '94, along with antilock braking. Loss of the Limited sedan and Custom coupe and wagon left only four models: two sedans, two wagons, and no coupes. A 120-horsepower 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine replaced the short-lived 110-horsepower version. Also new: a 3.1-liter V6, delivering the same 160 horsepower as its 3.3-liter predecessor. The grille was new, too.

1995 Buick Century: A new backlit instrument cluster and new seats were the only significant changes for 1995.

1996 Buick Century: Engine coolant now was intended to last 5 years or 100,000 miles, spark plugs expected a 100,000-mile life, and a new stainless-steel exhaust system was supposed to be more durable. Otherwise, the Century showed little change for its final outing in this form. All models now had V6 engines except the Special sedan, in which the V6 was optional.

1990-1996 Buick Century Road Test

Pros	Cons

Passenger and cargo room	Acceleration (4-cylinder)

Antilock brakes (later models)	Ride

Acceleration (V6)	Handling (base suspension)

Quietness (V6)

Visibility

Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation

The rough 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine is barely adequate for sedans, and weaker yet in the heavier station wagon. A smooth, responsive 3.3-liter V6 delivers ample power at low speeds and a surprisingly strong kick under heavy throttle for brisk highway passing. That engine also is fairly quiet, unlike the noisy standard four. Also, the 2.5-liter four did not prove to be trouble free, and fuel mileage wasn't much better than the V6. We averaged nearly 20 mpg with a 3.3-liter V6 in mixed city/suburban driving. A four gets only about two mpg more. The 2.2-liter four that replaced the 2.5-liter in 1993 isn't much improvement, lacking the power to move a car this size with any authority. Adding 10 horsepower to the four for '94 didn't make it a tempting choice, either. The 3.1-liter V6 installed in more recent models delivers ample power for passing and spirited takeoffs. Century's Dynaride suspension delivers a soft and reasonably good ride, but handling won't win any awards. The base suspension and narrow standard tires are fine for gentle commuting, but spirited cornering causes the narrow tires to lose their grip. That suspension absorbs most bumps easily, but the front end bounces over wavy surfaces for a floaty, poorly controlled ride. An optional Gran Touring Suspension, with fatter tires, improves cornering ability but results in a harsh ride. Six adults will fit inside, but four will be far more comfortable. Head and leg room are adequate all around, but three cannot fit across without squeezing. Luggage space is ample, with a deep, wide trunk that has a flat floor. Wagons have an optional rear-facing third seat, for 8-passenger capacity. Front brakes tend to wear out quickly. Many early problems, including trouble with the rack-and-pinion power steering system, were eventually corrected on the later models.

Value for the Money
Nothing flashy here, but Century can be a sensible choice for families on a budget. Forget the 4-cylinder models and look for a livelier, quieter V6. That shouldn't be difficult, as most late Centurys were sold with the V6 engine.

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Buick Century Special sedan	Rating

Performance	5

Fuel Economy	5

Ride Quality	6

Steering/Handling/Braking	4

Quietness	5

Controls/Materials	5

Interior Room	6

Room/Comfort (rear)	4

Cargo Capacity	4

Value within Class	6

Total:	50

Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room, Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.

1990-1996 Buick Century Reliability

Trouble Spots

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Automatic transmission: 4T60E transmissions may drop out of drive while cruising, shift erratically, or have no second, third, or fourth gear because of a bad ground connection for the shift solenoids. (1994)

Automatic transmission: TH-125 or 440-T4 automatic transmissions may shift late or not upshift at all. The problem is a stuck throttle valve inside the transmission. (1990-94)

Engine misfire: Cars with the 3.1-liter engine may stall, idle roughly, or suffer from tip-in hesitation after extended idling. Additionally, the defroster may not clear the windshield when the temperature is around 40-50 degrees F. The fix is to get a new PROM and a vacuum-hose elbow for the PCV system. (1994-95)

Engine noise: A tick or rattle when the engine is started cold may be due to too much wrist pin-to-piston clearance. (1994-95)

Engine noise: Bearing knock was common on many 3.3- and 3.8-liter engines due to too much clearance on the number one main bearing. (1992-93)

Engine noise: An intermittent rattling noise after starting is often caused by automatic transmission pump starvation or cavitation, or a sticking pressure-regulator valve. (1994-95)

Oil leak: The plastic valve covers on 3.1-liter engines were prone to leaks and should be replaced with redesigned aluminum valve covers. (1994-95)

Steering noise: The upper bearing mount in the steering column can get loose and cause a snapping or clicking, requiring a new bearing spring and turn-signal cancel cam. (1994-96)

Transmission leak: The right front-axle seal at the automatic transaxle is prone to leak and GM issued a revised seal to correct the problem. (1992-94)

Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs

This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.


Item Name	Repair Cost

A/C Compressor	$555

Alternator	$195

Automatic Transmission or Transaxle	$1,095

Brakes	$210

Constant Velocity Joints	$535

Exhaust System	$450

Radiator	$430

Shocks and/or Struts	$825

Timing Chain or Belt	$350

NHTSA Recall History

1990-91 w/six-way power seats or power recliner: Short circuit could set seats on fire.

1990-96: Rear-outboard seatbelt anchors may not withstand required load; in a collision, metal may tear and allow anchor to separate from body.

1992: The reverse servo apply pin may bind causing the transmission to remain in reverse when shifted to neutral.

1993: Right front brake hose on some cars is improperly manufactured and can cause reduced brake effectiveness.

1994: Cruise control cable may separate from the conduit while engaged, resulting in loss of accelerator control.

1994: Improperly tightened spindle nut can cause premature wheel bearing failure.

1994: Secondary accelerator control may not return throttle to the fully closed position and could cause a collision.

1994: Water can cause short circuit in power door-lock assembly.

1990-1996 Buick Century Prices

Prices	Good	Average	Poor

1990
Century	$1,000-1,300	$600-800	$100

1991
Century	$1,100-1,400	$700-900	$100-200

1992
Century	$1,200-1,600	$700-1,000	$100-200

1993
Century	$1,400-1,800	$900-1,200	$200

1994
Century	$1,600-2,000	$1,100-1,300	$200-300

1995
Century	$1,800-2,200	$1,200-1,500	$300

1996
Century	$2,000-2,400	$1,400-1,700	$300-400

This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:

Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.

Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings; engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.

Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo, etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from region to region.

1990-1996 Buick Century Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	2-door coupe	4-door sedan	4-door wagon

Wheelbase, in.	104.9	104.9	104.9

Overall Length, in.	189.1	189.1	190.9

Overall Width, in.	69.4	69.4	69.4

Overall Height, in.	53.7	54.2	54.2

Curb Weight, lbs.	2903	2950	3118

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	16.2	16.2	74.4

Standard Payload, lbs.	--	--	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	16.4	16.5	16.5

Seating Capacity	6	6	8

Front Head Room, in.	38.6	38.6	38.6

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.1	42.1	42.1

Rear Head Room, in.	38.3	38.3	38.9

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	35.9	35.9	34.8

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Powertrain Options and Availability

Engine choices in 1990 included the base 2.5-liter four and an optional "3300" 3.3-liter V6, developing 110 and 160 horsepower, respectively. A 2.2-liter four replaced the 2.5 as base engine during 1993, while a 3.1-liter V6 edged aside the 3.3-liter for '94, driving an electronic 4-speed automatic transmission. A 3-speed automatic was standard on all other models, but the 4-speed unit could be installed on any Century with a V6 engine.

Engines	Size liters / cu. in	Horse- power	Torque	Transmission: EPA city/hgwy	Consumer Guide Observed

ohv I4	2.2 / 133	110-120	130	3-speed automatic: 24/31	3-speed automatic: --

ohv I4	2.5 / 151	110	135	3-speed automatic: 22/31	3-speed automatic: --

ohv V6	3.1 / 191	160	185	4-speed automatic: 20/29	4-speed automatic: 22.3

ohv V6	3.3 / 204	160	185	3-speed automatic: 19/26 4-speed automatic: 19/30	3-speed automatic: -- 4-speed automatic: 19.8

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	1996 Century

Front Impact, Driver	4

Front Impact, Passenger	4

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Built In: USA

Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

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Also in the 1990-1996 Buick Century Review:

Buick Century

Buick Century Road Test

Buick Century Reliability

Buick Century Prices

Buick Century Specs & Safety

Buick Century Photos

Buick Century Full Review