FaultScore report
Owners have filed 46 complaints about the 1989 Buick Century with NHTSA between 1995 and 2004. The largest single group is the seat belts.
46
Complaints
10
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
1 complaint reports a death.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
1 crashes, 0 fires
5 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 110,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
STICKING THROTTLE
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
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 OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Seats And Restraints
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 210 - SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGE. VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. DURING LOADING, STRESS COULD CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH NEW SHOULDER BOLTS AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL ALSO BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 048; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A FUNNY NOISE, AND THEN TREAD CAME OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS. AND RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK DUNLOP SP 40 P195/70R14 DOT DB R W 466047 ( 006677 ) CONSUMER ADDED IT WAS A HOT DAY
NHTSA complaint #877791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 ACCIDENTS RELATING TO ENGINE ACCELERATION. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED THE SAME WAY. CONSUMER HAS A VERY STEEP DRIVEWAY. ON SEPT. 11-2000, VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE & IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AT A MAXIUM SPEED. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THERMOSTAT RING GASKET, IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE & COMPUTER SCAN WERE THE CAUSES.
NHTSA complaint #870808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 ACCIDENTS RELATING TO ENGINE ACCELERATION. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED THE SAME WAY. CONSUMER HAS A VERY STEEP DRIVEWAY. ON SEPT. 11-2000, VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE & IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AT A MAXIUM SPEED. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THERMOSTAT RING GASKET, IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE & COMPUTER SCAN WERE THE CAUSES.
NHTSA complaint #870808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 ACCIDENTS RELATING TO ENGINE ACCELERATION. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED THE SAME WAY. CONSUMER HAS A VERY STEEP DRIVEWAY. ON SEPT. 11-2000, VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE & IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AT A MAXIUM SPEED. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THERMOSTAT RING GASKET, IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE & COMPUTER SCAN WERE THE CAUSES.
NHTSA complaint #870808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER STARTED UP VEHICLE AND ENGINE WAS RUNNING A LITTLE FAST. CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON BRAKE , PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR AND IT TOOK OFF WHILE FOOT WAS ON BRAKE. VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP UNTIL THEY ENDED UP IN A CREEK. CONSUMER'S INSURANCE COMPANY CONTACTED DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #860709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE ENGINE IDLED HIGH, CONSUMER SHIFTED VEHICLE OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE WITH BRAKES DEPRESSED, AND VEHICLE DROVE OFF OUT OF CONTROL, RUNNING INTO A CREEK.
NHTSA complaint #860440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR SOLD TO ME IS A LEMON. THE MOTOR WENT OUT IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS.
NHTSA complaint #10063977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
A TECHNICIAN SERVICED VEHICLE. TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THAT ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTING.
NHTSA complaint #10057422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PAINT HAS BEGUN TO PEELING OFF THE CAR. THE PRIMER IS STILL THERE, HOWEVER. THE CAR HAS BEEN OWNED BY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS SINCE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN 1989 AND HAS BEEN KEPT UNDER A CARPORT/GARAGE FOR ALL OF ITS OWNERSHIP. I OWN A 5-YR OLDER FORD THAT IS NOT GARAGED, AND THE FINISH IS STILL LIKE NEW.
NHTSA complaint #10002938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DOOR HINGES SPLIT IN HALF, CAUSING DOOR TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #884775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHEN GETING ON TO THE HIGHWAY THE SEAT BACK FELL IN TO THE BACK SEAT MAKING ME UNABLE TO SEE ANY TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME.
NHTSA complaint #741864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00 048; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A FUNNY NOISE, AND THEN TREAD CAME OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS. AND RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK DUNLOP SP 40 P195/70R14 DOT DB R W 466047 ( 006677 ) CONSUMER ADDED IT WAS A HOT DAY
NHTSA complaint #877791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 ACCIDENTS RELATING TO ENGINE ACCELERATION. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED THE SAME WAY. CONSUMER HAS A VERY STEEP DRIVEWAY. ON SEPT. 11-2000, VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE & IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AT A MAXIUM SPEED. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THERMOSTAT RING GASKET, IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE & COMPUTER SCAN WERE THE CAUSES.
NHTSA complaint #870808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 ACCIDENTS RELATING TO ENGINE ACCELERATION. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED THE SAME WAY. CONSUMER HAS A VERY STEEP DRIVEWAY. ON SEPT. 11-2000, VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE & IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AT A MAXIUM SPEED. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THERMOSTAT RING GASKET, IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE & COMPUTER SCAN WERE THE CAUSES.
NHTSA complaint #870808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 ACCIDENTS RELATING TO ENGINE ACCELERATION. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED THE SAME WAY. CONSUMER HAS A VERY STEEP DRIVEWAY. ON SEPT. 11-2000, VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE & IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AT A MAXIUM SPEED. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THERMOSTAT RING GASKET, IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE & COMPUTER SCAN WERE THE CAUSES.
NHTSA complaint #870808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
RIGHT FRONT CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED AND PULLED THROUGH THE FRAME WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION. VEHILCE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 97V058000. DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT BOLTS AND WASHER.
NHTSA complaint #865833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT STALLING WHILE TRAVELING/APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, OR APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN / OUT OF INDEPENDENT SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #863183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER STARTED UP VEHICLE AND ENGINE WAS RUNNING A LITTLE FAST. CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON BRAKE , PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR AND IT TOOK OFF WHILE FOOT WAS ON BRAKE. VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP UNTIL THEY ENDED UP IN A CREEK. CONSUMER'S INSURANCE COMPANY CONTACTED DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #860709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE ENGINE IDLED HIGH, CONSUMER SHIFTED VEHICLE OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE WITH BRAKES DEPRESSED, AND VEHICLE DROVE OFF OUT OF CONTROL, RUNNING INTO A CREEK.
NHTSA complaint #860440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
PAINT WOULD NOT STAY ON VEHICLE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #604754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
CRACKED REAR TRACKING BAR DETECTED ON 7/18/99. CHECKED UNDER CAR BECAUSE OF POOR STEERING AND HANDLING AND FOUND THE BAR WAS CRACKED IN HALF. WE HAD IT REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE ON 7/19/99. WE LOOKED FOR PREVIOUS RECALLS FOR THIS, BUT WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND THE INFORMATION. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $144.45.
NHTSA complaint #708822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE GEAR, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. MJS
NHTSA complaint #545198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BOLT FAILED CAUSING BODY TO SEPARATE FROM FRAME.
NHTSA complaint #604802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
LISTED VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN 10-CAR CRASH AT INTERSECTION IN OUR JURISDICTION AFTER ACCELERATOR ON VEHICLE STUCK, FOLLOWING VICTIM'S USE OF CAR WASH. VICTIM GOT INTO VEHICLE AFTER CAR WASH, PUT VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, REACHING A MAXIMUM SPEED OF APPROX. 90 MPH BEFORE CRASHING INTO A LARGE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CRASH LISTED ABOVE. THE DRIVER OF THE BUICK IN THIS LISTED QUESTIONNAIRE DIED DUE TO INJURIES RECEIVED.
NHTSA complaint #700603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. SEAT BELTS LATCH, AND TRACKS AND ANCHORS, ARE BROKEN. THE WHOLE SEATBELT SYSTEM IS SLOWLY DETERIORATING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. THE DEFECTS ARE RELATED TO PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH RECALL NUMBER 95V173000.
NHTSA complaint #830335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELT TRACKS AND ANCHORS. SEAT BELTS SLIDE BACK AND FORTH. IN ADDITION, TO CRACKS IN SEAT BELT BUCKLES.
NHTSA complaint #830350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELT TRACKS AND ANCHORS. SEAT BELTS SLIDE BACK AND FORTH. IN ADDITION, TO CRACKS IN SEAT BELT BUCKLES.
NHTSA complaint #830350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WATER PUMP FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #604663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #530982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END SHAKES WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #526902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER'S MOTHER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WITH THE RED BRAKE LIGHT ON FOR A MONTH. DON COLLINS, BUICK FRANCHESE OWNERS, SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS KNOWN ABOUT BRAKES SINCE JANUARY1997, AND HAS NOT CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM AS REQUESTED BY MRS. JUDSON/HER HUSBAND OR MRS. PELUSO. ON OCTOBER 1-, 97, MRS. PELUSO'S MOTHER CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE WITH LIGHT ON UNTIL ONE DAY SHE WAS TURNING INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND THE BRAKES FAILED. SHE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, CRASHED INTO HER GARAGE DOOR, DAMAGING THE GARAGE AND THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LARRY MENKE BUICK DEALERSHIP IN THE AUTO CENTER, TOWN OF SEASIDE, CA. MENKE'S # 408-394-3374.
NHTSA complaint #816882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.