FaultScore

1997 Buick Century seat belt problems

15 of the 132 complaints about the 1997 Buick Century are about the seat belts — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 43,000 miles.

B

15

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Retractor 8 53.3%
Rear/Other 3 20.0%
Front 2 13.3%
Seat Belts 1 6.7%
Buckle Assembly 1 6.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Branchville, NJ

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DT: 1997 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONSUMER HAS BEING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS JAMMING. THIS OCCURRED FOR 7 YEARS. T 2 OUT OF 4 SEAT BELTS WORK. THE 2 SEAT BELTS BACK SEAT WILL NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10137616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Londonderry, NH

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

BOTH REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO PULL OUT THE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT BOTH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10111736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTS AFTER CLICKING THE SEAT BELT IN TO STAY CONNECTION. THE PASSENGER WOULD HOLD THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO TIGHTEN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT RECALLED FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ADJUSTED IT TWICE BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *NM *SC

NHTSA complaint #10091607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles Bitely, MI

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

SEAT BELTS WON'T WORK AND CAN ONLY SIT GRANDSON IN CENTER SEAT IN ORDER TO PUT RESTRAINT ON HIM. RIGHT SIDE REAR HASN'T WORKED IN OVER 1 1/2 YEARS. LEFT SIDE HASN'T WORKED RIGHT SINCE WE GOT THE CAR AND NOW DON'T WORK AT ALL. OUR GRANDSON LIVES WITH US, HE IS FOUR YEARS OLD AND IT IS THE LAW THAT HE IS TO BE IN A CAR SEAT AND RESTRAINED. THE CAR IS ONLY USED SIX MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, HASN'T BEEN ABUSED. I FEEL THAT DEALER OR MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE, SINCE WE HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR VERY LONG AND IS A SAFETY ITEM. *AK *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**765493

NHTSA complaint #10007346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pickerington, OH

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

CONSUMER STATED BOTH SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT WOULD NOT LATCH.

NHTSA complaint #10003645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bitley, MI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

BOTH LEFT/RIGHT REAR SHOULDER BELTS FAILED TO EXTEND, ENABLING OWNER FROM USING DUE TO ROLLERS GETTING OFF CENTER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #8017153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cocoa, FL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #566718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Flushing, OH

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

BOTH REAR SEATBELTS ARE INOPERABLE. THEY WILL NO LONGER PULL OUT, STOPPED WORKING IN A 3 DAY PERIOD.

NHTSA complaint #890598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bastrop, LA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

TOW BACK SEATBELTS LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES ARE JAMMED IN RETRACTOR, CONSUMER HAS KIDS, AND CAN'T RESTRAIN THEM.

NHTSA complaint #875839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arcadia, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

ALL SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AT TIMES. YH

NHTSA complaint #608959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lompoc, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

SEAT BELT.

NHTSA complaint #609538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Westminste, CA

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

REAR SEAT BELT FAILURE.MGM

NHTSA complaint #606913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Claremont, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

BELT RETRACTORS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #607041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mansfield, OH

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT FULLY RETRACT, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO GET CAUGHT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SEAT BELT. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #824135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Evansville, IN 1 injured

SEAT BELTS

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG IN ACCIDENT, CAUSING BRUISES.

NHTSA complaint #527882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Buick Century problems

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