1996 Buick Century Fuel system Problems

WHILE BACKING INTO MY DAUGHTER'S ATTACHED GARAGE, THE GAS LINE RUPTURED AND LEAKED A LOT OF GASOLINE BEFORE I SHUT-OFF THE IGNITION. I PROMPTLY RE-STARTED THE CAR AND BACKED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE, UNWITTINGLY RISKING IGNITING THE GASOLINE IN THE PROCESS, BUT STILL AFRAID OF THE GAS/FUMES IN THE GARAGE IGNITING AND BURNING US, THE CAR AND THE HOUSE DOWN! WE GOT A WATER HOSE AND BROOM AND SWEPT AS MUCH OF IT OUT OF THE GARAGE AS WE COULD. WE WERE LUCKY. THE POINT OF THIS COMPLAINT IS THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF G M CARS BEING DRIVEN AND PARKED IN GARAGES WITH QUITE OLD, DETERIORATING GAS LINES WHOSE DRIVERS ARE TOTALLY UNAWARE OF IT. OUR EXPERIENCE, ALONE, COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. MY SON-IN-LAW HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 1995 OLDSMOBILE CIERA, ALTHOUGH HE BELIEVES THAT THE SQUIRRELS AROUND HIS HOME LIKE TO CHEW ON THE PLASTIC GAS LINES. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THESE OLD PLASTIC GAS LINES REPRESENT AN ENORMOUS RISK TO THE SAFETY OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHILE THEY'RE NOT EVEN IN OR NEAR THE SOURCE OF IGNITION. THEY COULD, IN FACT, BE IN BED AT THE OTHER END OF THE HOME WHEN IT ALL BLOWS-UP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10606448

Incident

Jul 16, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

STARTED CAR AND GASOLINE STARTED GUSHING OUT FROM BENEATH THE CAR BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND THE FRONT WHEEL-WELL. AS THE CAR WAS PARTLY IN THE GARAGE, I DROVE IT OUT OF THE GARAGE AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THIS STOPPED THE FLOW OF GASOLINE. A MECHANIC LATER DETERMINED THAT THE PLASTIC GAS LINE HAD FAILED AND, AFTER CUTTING-OFF THE DAMAGED PART, HE SPLICED THE LINE BACK TOGETHER WITH A BRASS COUPLING. THAT SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM, FOR NOW. THE REALLY SCARY THING IS THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GM CARS "OUT THERE" IN GARAGES AND ON THE ROAD WITH DETERIORATING PLASTIC GAS LINES! PROBABLY SOME OTHER BRANDS, AS WELL. AN ACQUAINTANCE OF MINE HAD THE SAME GAS LINE FAILURE ON HIS 1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510943

Incident

Mar 30, 2013

Mileage

71,000 mi

ONE OF THE VEHICLE'S FUEL LINES LEAKED. *NM FUEL LINE WAS UNPROTECTED. *TC

NHTSA ID

10095409

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

THE FUEL LINE FAILED. THE DEALER HAD NO IDEA WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10016014

Incident

Apr 16, 2003

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TWO TIMES ENGINE STALLED, AND ONE TIME WHILE STOPPING AT STOP SIGN IT STALLED

NHTSA ID

727683

Incident

Jul 1, 2000

CONSUMER COMPLAINING OF VEHICLE CONTINUALLY SHAKING/VIBRATING AND HESITATING WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THE PROBLEM IS THE CHEAP GAS SHE PUTS INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

824096

Incident

Jun 3, 1998

FUEL INJECTOR #6 FAILED.

NHTSA ID

604977

SHORT IN FUEL PUMP CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL AND LOSS OF BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

519457

Incident

Jun 25, 1997

FUEL PUMP FAILED, CAUSING LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ID

603220

Incident

Aug 26, 1996

AUTO-TRAN: VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING UPHILL OR WHILE PASSING, LURCHES FORWARD WHEN STARTED IN PARK, TRIES TO LURCH BACKWARD WHILE IN REVERSE, JUMPS FORWARD AT HIGH SPEED IN DRIVE POSITION, NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK ALSO WHEN WENT TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED IT WAS FOUND THAT A WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED AND THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK.*JB

NHTSA ID

805121

Incident

Mar 13, 1996

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

NHTSA ID

801100

Incident

Aug 15, 1996