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.
1996 Buick Century brakes problems
13 complaints (16% of all complaints for this car). 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 13
- of this car's complaints
- 16%
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip6
- Foundation components2
- Foundation components: drum: drum1
- Foundation components: disc: rotor1
- Foundation components: disc: pads1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Buick Century brakes problems in other years
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 1996 Buick Century owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
Excessive vibration when applying brakes.
The ABS brakes do not operate properly, they locked up causing vehicle to go through a red light. Nlm
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.
Anti-lock brake light keeps coming on. Consumer is afraid that ABS brakes may not work properly.
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.
Alternator went out 3 times . Abs warning lights come on when this happened. Dlr has replaced alternator.
When brakes are applied a grinding noise is heard in the right rear . The dealer has changed rear brake drums twice.
Anti lock brakes loosen when high pressure is applied.
Questions about the 1996 Buick Century brakes
Does the 1996 Buick Century have brakes problems?
Owners have filed 13 complaints about the brakes of the 1996 Buick Century, 16% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 1996 Buick Century brakes problems start?
Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Buick Century brakes?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Buick Century have bad brakes?
The Buick Century model years with the most brakes complaints are 2000 (31 complaints), 1998 (29 complaints) and 1999 (29 complaints).
Other 1996 Buick Century problems
Fuel system 11Steering 10Engine 9Acceleration 8Body 8Visibility 8Suspension 7Transmission 7Electrical 6Airbags 5Lights 4Locks 2Seat belts 2
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