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1996 Buick Century

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Century.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1996 Buick Century appears as a passenger car, with its powerplant calibrated to operate on 4.5 qt of 10W‑30 API oil. During its early years the model recorded 99 owner complaints, most centered on the engine and cooling system, and it was subject to two recall campaigns. This figure places the 1996 model toward the lower end of the vehicle’s historical complaint record, when measured against a peak of 252 complaints in 1999 and the 19 complaints reported in the final 2005 model year.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1996

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

Tire sizeP185-75R14OEM · verified

Wheel / rim5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175
Engine air filter	25043504 alt 25043119
Fuel filter	25121970 discontinued
Spark plug	19301807 alt 19301813
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	10219783 alt 24575894
Thermostat	24577299 alt 24507563

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	189 in
Overall width	69.3 in
Overall height	54.3 in
Wheelbase	104.7 in
Curb weight	3049 lb
Track (front / rear)	58.7 / 56.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	66/34

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Century of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

11.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 11.50 sec — 1986 T-Type Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1986	T-Type Sedan 3.8L V6	11.50 sec	17.60 sec	150 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 10W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	24X Sensor: 8 ft-lbs, 7X Sensor: 6 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	8 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	96 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	81 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	76 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	18.5 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	35 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	11-16 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	44 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	107 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5,000-7,000 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5,000-8,000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	AC 41-908
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.75-2.00 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	GM part number 12345923 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity	9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	75

Service checks

Pressure Test	16; Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	40.5-47

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	38 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.028 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.028 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.972 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

77 ft. lbs., step 2: 90

77 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	long bolts 46 ft. lbs.; short bolts 43 ft. lbs.	46 ft. lbs
2	90

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	33 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
2	turn 90

Engine Valve Cover Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

7.4

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Hood Hinge (lubricate) · Hood Latch (lubricate)
Every 15,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1996 Buick Century appears in the federal record with 99 complaints, 2 recalls, no investigations, and 32 total safety bulletins, a modest drop from the 147 complaints recorded in 1994 and the 120 complaints in 1997. Compared to the 1995 year—117 complaints and only 1 recall—1996’s recall count is similar but its complaint figure is slightly lower, indicating a small improvement in customer reports. The trend from 1994 through 1998 shows a sharp rise in complaints (peaking at 251 in 1998), so 1996 sits near the bottom of that upward trajectory, suggesting it was a comparatively stable model year. In the 1996 model, the top complaint categories—Engine & Engine Cooling (10), Steering (9), Fuel System, Gasoline (9), and Visibility (9)—are all tied, with 6 crash complaints and just 1 fire complaint, indicating no single dominant defect. Overall, 1996 represents a modestly better year within this generation, making it a more favorable purchase than the surrounding years, though potential buyers should still check for these specific complaint areas.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

6 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’94 ’95’96’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 99 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling10

Steering9

Fuel System, Gasoline9

Visibility9

Service Brakes, Hydraulic8

Structure7

Power Train6

Vehicle Speed Control6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07E021000Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief DevicesReported 12/03/2007

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE… Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

95V173000Seat Belts:Front:AnchorageReported 15/09/1995

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." 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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 32 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP4723F	2022-01-14	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D	2020-01-31	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696D	2019-09-05	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696C	2018-05-31	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Century. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 75 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 25043504 Fuel filter 25121970 Spark plug 19301807

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1996 Century take?

4.5 qt of 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1996 Century have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.