24 of the
278 complaints about the 1998 Buick Century are about the
steering — 9% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
72,000 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, THE BRAKES AND STEERING COLUMN SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS, A CONCUSSION, AND SEVERAL UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09E005000 (STEERING) AND 03V527000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA complaint #10913581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesLincoln, RI
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAINED CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10479331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 132,500 milesCrum Lynne, PA
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED HE INTERMITTENTLY HAD TO APPLY HEAVY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE FAILURE WAS RESULTING FROM THE LOWER PINION BEARINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
NHTSA complaint #10393554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesNorton, MA
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE POWER STEERING ON MY BUICK ONLY HAS POWER ASSIST WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT THE STEERING BINDS.
NHTSA complaint #10151813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 107,000 milesAntioch, IL
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
1998 BUICK CENTURY STEERING FAILED & CANNOT TURN LEFT EVENT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED IN PARKING LOT AND NO DAMAGE RESULTED. DEALER WILL NOT COVER REPAIR OF VEHICLE WITH A 'W' DESIGNATION. ALTHOUGH THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THEY TO HAVE SAME STEERING RELATED DEFECTS AS CARS THAT RECEIVED RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN.
NHTSA complaint #10129635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 51,000 milesInverness, FL
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THIS MADE IT HARD TO STEER AND TURN THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC
NHTSA complaint #10062973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,000 milesCullman, AL
STEERING
WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #10061600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 47,000 milesValhalla, NY
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. CURRENTLY, POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED.
NHTSA complaint #10057807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 72,000 milesAkron, PA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
STEERING RACK SEPARATED WHEN TURNING LEFT. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THIS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK INCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION WITH AN APPROACHING VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10057233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bridgeport, CTCrash1 injured
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT. *NM THE CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT BUT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10054110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 84,650 milesPortage, IN
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING AT EITHER SLOW SPEED, AND/OR FAST SPEED, IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY AS WELL AS MAKING SLOW TURNS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE MADE SURE MY POWER STEERING LEVEL IS FULL TO THE PROPER LEVEL SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAVE ADJUSTED IT AT ONCE.
NHTSA complaint #10045832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,000 milesBayonne, NJ
STEERING
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BIND. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *NLM *TS *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10040635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,100 milesStaten Island, NY
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISES FROM REAR SUSPENSION. *AK THE ROD SPINDLE ROD SHEARING CAUSED BY CHATTING AGAINST RIGHT STABILIZER SHAFT MOUNTING BOLT STOP. (INBOARD SIDE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION SUPPORT) THE RIGHT SIDE HAD INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10034361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,126 milesMechanicsburg, PA
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
RACK AND PINION STEERING PROBLEM. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND HAD FOUND THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ALSO THERE WAS A RECALL ON DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS WITH SAME PROBLEM; BUT, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. TS...
NHTSA complaint #10001541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mechanicsburg, PA
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#02V286000 POWER STEERING. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED. TS
NHTSA complaint #8024069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MT Morris, MI
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
CONSUMER STATES WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN WITHOUT ANY INDICATION STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING CONSUMER UNABLE TO STEER. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
NHTSA complaint #8020488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,696 milesMadeira Beach, FL
STEERING
THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT, NOISES SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN COMING FROM THE STEERING, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP, THE RACK AND PINION HAD GONE OUT AND LEAKED, THE A/C CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE SEAT BELT BUTTON LATCH HAD FALLEN AND THE BUTTON WAS MISSING, THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS OUT OF SPECIFICS, THE DRIVER DOOR WAS HARD TO OPEN, THE PANEL HAD MOVED WHEN THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN, THE POWER WINDOW(S) WERE INOPERATIVE, THE SHIFTER GOES IN AND OUT, THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR EXTERIOR TRIM WAS HARD TO OPEN, THE PASSENGERS SEAT COUSHIN WAS TOO SOFT AND HAD COLLAPSED, AND THE DOOR'S MIRROR WAS LOOSE. THE SERVICE DEALER HAD FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. SCC
NHTSA complaint #566331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cypress, TX
STEERING:LINKAGES
POWER STEERING MECHANISM MOANS, GRAONS, AND SHUDDERS, STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN AND FLUID LEVELS DROP. ACCORDING TO THEIR SERVICE MANAGER, THE POWER STEERING PUMP SYSTEM HAS A FACTORY DEFECT. ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN TRYING FIVE YEARS TO RESOLVE, THEY CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. BRAKE SYSTEM HAS ABNORMAL WEAR FOR AGE OF CAR, ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED AND GROUND TWICE IN 18 MONTHS. FRONT-END COMPONENTS HAVE BROKEN NAMELY ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLY IN FIRST 100 MILES AND REMAINED BROKE FOR 28,000 MILES. NUTS AND BOLTS HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE FRONT END SUSPENSE SYSTEM. (TIRESIZE: P205/70R15) (TIRESIZE: P205/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )
NHTSA complaint #734680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walnut, CA2 injured
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
STEERING FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. YH
NHTSA complaint #609323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oceanside, CA
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
STEERING OIL PUMP FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #606009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Commerce Twp., MICrash
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THIS IS THE 2D TIME THIS COMPONENT HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED--
NHTSA complaint #709417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Verne, CA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE INDICATORS ON THE STEERING WHEEL BECOME VERY WARM.
NHTSA complaint #607636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boynton BE, FL
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL IS DIFFICULT TO TURN.
NHTSA complaint #544940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Commerce Township, MICrash1 injured
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 15 MPH DOWN DRIVEWAY AT WORK-CAR OVERSTEERED CRASHING INTO SIDE OF BUILDING-IMPACT SO INTENSE MY HEAD HIT REARVIEW MIRROR, BREAKING IT AND WINDSHIELD. ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF CAR (FRAME, TIE ROD, SUSPENSION,ETC.) IS DAMAGED. NATIONWIDE INS. INVESTIGATOR PROVIDED ME WITH A COPY OF GM MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ISSUED 11/17/97 REGARDING POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK FROM MAGNASTEER ACUTATOR PIGTAIL AREA FOR 1998 W,C,G &H BODY VEHICLES. THE LEAK ORIGINATES FROM THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE MAGNA STEER ACTUATOR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERSTEER. THE CORRECTION SUGGESTED IS TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR AND FOLLOW UP WITH VME PRODUCT REPORT. MY CAR HAS BEEN AT COOK BUICK EVERY 3000 TO 3500 MILES FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING FLUID LEVEL CHECKS, AND THIS WAS NEVER CAUGHT. ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR, MY CAR HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS. HAD I BEEN GOING ANY FASTER WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TO TELL YOU THIS! I COMPLAINED TO BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE - REFERENCE NO. 980168019 AND I GOT NOWHERE. THEY SAY THE LEAK IN THE RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR WAS CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT! MY INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR HAS PICTURES THAT PROVE OTHERWISE.
NHTSA complaint #700288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.