14 of the 287 complaints about the 1999 Buick Century are about the throttle and cruise control — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 95,494 miles.
14
Complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY CAR IS NOTHING BUT A PROBLEM AND VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. I LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR AND ALMOST GET INTO ACCIDENT. THE ABS BREAKS IS NOT STABLE,SO MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. POWER WINDOWS IS DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10749945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD INTO THE GARAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 102,000. UPDATED 03/19/2010. *LJ UPDATED 07/14/10
NHTSA complaint #10312744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE TENDS TO HESITATE TO ACCELERATE AT VARIOUS TIMES WHILE ON THE ROAD. THIS OCCURS WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON.
NHTSA complaint #10117639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10007234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE TOOK OFF, WENT INTO TRAFFIC, AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #899977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON NOV. 9TH 2001, WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO ATLANTA, THE CRUISE CONTROL FROZE UP AT 70 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE IT OR TURN IT OFF AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND , THEY WERE LOCKED UP ALSO. THINKING THAT THE ACCELERATOR MIGHT BE STUCK I TAPPED IT LIGHTLY AND THE CAR SPED UP TO 85 MPH. I WAS IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC AND FINALLY AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO DISENGAGE. THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OFF AND I DECIDED TO TURN IT OFF. IT INSTEAD REENGAGED AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE FOR AWHILE. WE FINALLY GOT ONTO I-285 LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO GET OFF. AS WE GOT UP TO SPEED IT ONCE AGAIN REENGAGED AND IT TOOK ME NEARLY 8 MILES TO GET IT OFF AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES, EACH TIME I WAS NOT ABLE TO EXIT. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF AT THE EXIT TO OUR DAUGHTERS HOUSE AND I UNPLUGGED IT UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN A CAR IN MY LIFE. 85 MPH IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC & NO BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET/BUICK DEALER (BENNETT CHEVROLET/BUICK) ON MONDAY THE 12TH. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CRUSE CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT. I THOUGHT THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL FOR A FATAL CRASH. WE WERE LUCKY, PLEASE SEE THAT THIS HAPPENS TO NO ONE ELSE, THEY MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY.
NHTSA complaint #754645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 55 MPH, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLES SPEED STEADILY INCREASED UNTIL IT APPROACHED 70 MPH IN THE MIDST OF HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS PINCH BY THE STRUT TOWER BOLT CAUSING THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, THE DEALER REPLACED AND RE-ROUTED THE CABLE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #562325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, VEHICLE BEGAN SLOWING SO CONSUMER ACCELERATED, VEHICLE HESITATED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN TOOK OFF, CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A RAPID RATE, CONSUMER KEPT FOOT ON BRAKE SLOWING VEHICLE, CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF, BRAKES WERE SO HOT THAT FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE WHEELS, CONSUMER THREW SNOW ON TIRES TO EXTINGUISH FIRE ON BOTH TIRES, BRAKE DISCS WERE GLOWING ORANGE, CONSUMER TRADED VEHICLE FOR A 2000 MODEL, HOWEVER WAS $5000 MORE AND FEELS SHE IS ENTITLED TO SOME COMPENSATION. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #881395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL, IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, CAUSING UNWANTED ACCLERATION, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED. IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAD TO REMOVE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND PLACE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS ORDERED PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #872092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #865003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE & WAS JUST READY TO COMPLETE BRAKE AND TURN OFF ENGINE WHEN MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD AS THOUGH THE GAS WAS FLOORED. IT WAS SO FAST I COULD DO NOTHING! THE CAR WENT BARRELING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING SCRAPING THE WALL & ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A PARKED CAR. THIS CAR DID THIS ALL ON IT'S OWN. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WHEN IT GETS OUT OF REPAIR (GIUFFRE BUICK). THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING BUT I FOUND A COMPLAINT JUST LIKE IT ON YOUR SITE.
NHTSA complaint #717102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE SIDE OF SEARS BUILDING. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES, AND COVER FROM PASSENGER'S SIDE CAUSED FRONT WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #852047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, AND CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WOULD START ROLLING BACKWARDS REAL FAST.
NHTSA complaint #835966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE AT A STOP ON A LAND DECLINE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACK WHEN ACCELERATING WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID IT THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #835460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.