FaultScore

Buick Century equipment problems

41 of the 2,393 complaints filed about the Buick Century are about the equipment — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.

41

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

Equipment & Accessories complaints by model year

1989 Century 1 2.4%
1992 Century 2 4.9%
1993 Century 3 7.3%
1994 Century 3 7.3%
1995 Century 1 2.4%
1996 Century 1 2.4%
1997 Century 5 12.2%

Median failure at 124,636 miles

1998 Century 9 22.0%

Median failure at 33,000 miles

1999 Century 6 14.6%

Median failure at 24,000 miles

2000 Century 3 7.3%
2001 Century 2 4.9%

Median failure at 78,850 miles

2003 Century 2 4.9%

Median failure at 66,000 miles

2004 Century 1 2.4%

Median failure at 125,887 miles

2005 Century 2 4.9%

Median failure at 121,000 miles

What owners said

2005 Buick Century at 121,000 miles Bossier City, LA

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

2005 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM. PURCHASED USED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION FROM FORD DEALERSHIP IN 2011. ELECTRIC WINDOWS WORKED FINE, THEN IN 2012, 1 OF THE WINDOWS JUST FELL DOWN THE TRACK. A CPL MONTHS LATER ANOTHER DID THE SAME THING AND THEN A CPL MORE MONTHS A THIRD ONE FELL. I REMOVED THE DOOR PANELS AS THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED AND COULD FEEL A CABLE LAYING LOOSE DOWN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE DOORWELL. I'M NOT SURE IF A "POSSIBLE PULLEY" OR THE CABLES THEIRSELVES BROKE, BUT THIS IS AN OBVIOUS ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL & YEAR FROM WHAT I READ ON CARPARTS.COM. I NOW HAVE PIECES OF 1"X2"'S WEDGED IN TO HOLD THEM UP BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDS. IF THIS IS ACTUALLY A COMMON ISSUE, AS I READ, THEN THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO MAKE IT AS A RECALL. THANK YOU **NOTE - I ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR BETWEEN 50-65 MI. A WEEK ON PAVED ROADS AND NO ROUGH DRIVING AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS EVER. A VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10632989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Buick Century at 138,000 miles Fulton, MO

EQUIPMENT

RACK AND PINIONS NEED REPLACED AFTER I HAD NEW TIE RODS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10407391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Buick Century at 125,887 miles Charlotte, NC

EQUIPMENT

DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH AND THEY CAME BACK ON. IT DID THIS ABOUT THREE TIMES. FOUND OUT THAT IF WE TRIED TO USE THE DIMMER SWITCH THAT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU COULD USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS WAS TO HOLD THE SWITCH. TWO WEEKS LATER WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE TURNED ON THE BLINKER TO TURN AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. HAD TO PULL THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND LUCKILY THEY CAME BACK ON. TONIGHT WE TOOK THE CAR OUT AND THE LIGHTS KEPT GOING OUT. THIS IS ON A 2004 BUICK CENTURY.

NHTSA complaint #10248861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Buick Century at 66,000 miles Jeffersontown, KY

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

MY 2003 BUICK CENTURY DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WHEREIN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS ENERGIZE AT VERY ODD TIMES; I.E. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, WHEN DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED (LOW SPEED IN RESIDENTIAL AREA), WHEN SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN OR TO STOP BUT BEFORE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM MYSTERIOUSLY ACTIVATED AS THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED, MORE DISTANCE WAS USED TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. A MR GOODWRENCH SHOP TRIED TO FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. AT THE SAME TIME THIS WAS HAPPENING, THREE DASH LIGHTS WOULD SOMETIMES COME ON AND STAY ON UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THE THREE LIGHTS WERE CHECK VEHICLE SOON, ANTI-LOCK, AND TRAC OFF. THESE SAME LIGHTS ALSO CAME ONE AND STAYED ON WHEN THE BRAKES SYSTEM WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE SHOP COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM WITH THIS EITHER. INCLUDING PUTTING ON NEW FRONT AND REAR BRAKES (INCLUDING FRONT ROTORS, I SPENT JUST OVER $900.00. THE ONLY THING I REALLY GOT WAS NEW BRAKES WHICH DO NOT NORMALLY COST ANYWHERE NEAR $ 900.00. I HAVE SINCE REMOVED THE FUSE FOR THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS OKAY EXCEPT THAT I NOW HAVE TWO LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME (ANTI-LOCK AND TRAC OFF). ALTHOUGH I SHOW AN INCIDENT DATE BELOW, THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR AT LEAST THREE MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #10195081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Buick Century at 124,636 miles Fairfield, OH

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

I WAS ON 275W. WHEN MY RIGHT WINDOW WIPER ARM STARTED TO STOP THEN IT DIED, MY HUSBAND TOLD TO SEE WHAT I COULD FIND OUT ON REPAIRING IT AND COST ON THE COMPUTER, I RAN ACROSS THIS LITTLE THING ON THE COMPUTER ABOUT 1997 BUICK CENTURY'S AND THE RIGHT WINDSHIELD {COMPONENT: VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER LINKAGES} WELL WHEN I READ ALL OF IT THAT DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPEN TO MY WIPER. WHEN I CALLED EVERYBODY SAID NO NOT YOUR CAR, AND I SAID I DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THE SAME THING IS WRONG WITH MIND.

NHTSA complaint #10152401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Buick Century Glendale, AZ

EQUIPMENT

ON3/25/05 I WENT TO THE [XXX], OFFICE TO REGISTER MY COLORADO TITLED AND REGISTERED 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE AGENTS SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND MY SECOND VIN # FOR VERIFICATION AND I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND PAY $20 FOR A SPECIAL VIN # , I DID. ONMAY 24 I PAID THE $20 AND A REGISTRATION WAS PROCESSED WITH PAYMENT OF $500.51 BY CHECK. AN ARIZONA TITLE WAS ISSUED AND NEGLIGENTLY I DID NOT DOUBLE CHECK THE VIN # THEY ISSUED ON IT AS [XXX]. MY INSURANCE NOTIFIED ME THAT THE # DID NOT CORRESPOND TO THE VIN THEY HAD ON RECORD FROM MY COLORADO ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE NEW FROM MIKE SHAW BUICK IN COLORADO SPRINGS AND SUBSEQUENT POLICIES ISSUED ON THAT VEHICLE. NOW WHEN I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT LIBERTY BUICK IN GLENDALE THE SERVICE MANAGER POINTED OUT THE TWO OBVIOUS VIN NUMBERS POSTED...ONE ON DRIVER'S SIDE ON THE DASH UNDER THE WINDSHIELD AND THE OTHER ON THE TRUNK LID. I JUST VERIFIED BOTH THOSE AS [XXX]. THIS CONFLICT PRESENTS A GENUINE PROBLEM IN MY PROOF OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASED NEW. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10127287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Buick Century Kensington, MD

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

2005 BUICK CENTURY DRIVER'S SEAT SINKS IN THE MIDDLE, AND THE HEAD REST EQUIPMENT IS TOO HIGH.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THE HEAD REST WOULD OBSTRUCT THE CONSUMERS VIEW AND REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE REMOTE FOR THE DOOR DID NOT WORK AS DESIGNED, THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WOULD WORK. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10124782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Buick Century Deltona, FL

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

1998 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM. I BURNED OUT MY 3RD A/C BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR SINCE 2001. THIS TIME THE HARNESS STARTED MELTING EXPOSING BARE WIRES AND SMOKING. AN INSPECTION REVEALED THAT I CAME CLOSE TO HAVING A FIRE. A CALL TO THE GM DEALER FOUND THAT THEY ARE SOLD OUT OF THE PIGTAIL NEEDED FOR REPAIR. THE PART MUST BE IN SUBSTANCIAL DEMAND. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED FROM THE FACTORY. BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO GIVE A TIME FRAME. THEY WERE ALSO AWARE OF THE FREQUENT RESISTOR MODULE BURN OUTS. I HAVE SAVED THE OLD WIRE AND RESISTOR IF NEEDED FOR INSPECTION. I DID NOTICE THAT THE NEWEST MODULES ARE DESIGNED DIFFERENTLY. THIS DID NOT PREVENT THE HIGH SPEED WIRE FROM BURNING.

NHTSA complaint #10088234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Buick Century Lithonia, GA

EQUIPMENT

I HAVE A 1999 BUICK CENTURY , I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A RADIATOR FLUSH AND WAS ADVISED THAT I COULDN'T HAVE THIS JOB PERFORMED DUE TO A LEAK OR CRACK IN THE INTAKE GASKET. AT THIS TIME I WAS VERY SURPRISE TO SEE THE COMPLAINTS AND THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE. THIS SHOULD'VE BEEN DONE BY GENERAL MOTORS.

NHTSA complaint #10073132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Buick Century at 33,000 miles SAN Bruno, CA

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR THE DUAL COMFORTEMP CLIMATE CONTROL HAVE FAILED RENDERING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE TEMPERATURE AND AIRSPEED SETTINGS.

NHTSA complaint #10069037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Buick Century Dawsonville, GA

EQUIPMENT

THE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY MODULE SECOND TIME AFTER REPLACING IN MY 1997 BUICK CENTURY DOES NOT DISPLAY AND THE PART COST $300-500 AND ITS NOT SOMETHING LIKE A BULB AND NOBODY WANT S TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE .

NHTSA complaint #10058279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Buick Century Queen Creek, AZ

EQUIPMENT

MY CAR HAS HAD A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL INJECTIONS, SPECIFICALLY INJECTIONS 3 AND 4. NUMBER 3 HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND 4 ONCE. THIS STARTED 11/14/2001 WITH THE MOST CURRENT HAPPENING ON 11/12/2003 AFTER SUPPOSEDLY BEING REPAIRED ON 11/5/2003 AND 10/17/2003. I HAVE SPOKE TO GM ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. BECAUSE MY CAR NOW HAS 98,200 MILES ON THEY CAN'T HELP ME. THE FIRST TIME THAT THE INJECTIONS STARTED TO GIVE ME A PROBLEM IT WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND AT THAT TIME I ONLY HAD 64,047 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE THAT THE INJECTIONS ARE PRODUCING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS BUT TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL DONE. I'M SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT APPARENTLY CAN'T BE FIXED. I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

NHTSA complaint #10046875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Buick Century at 19,700 miles Flushing, NY

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

WHILE CHANGING A FLAT TIRE THE JACK COLLAPSED WHICH RESULTING IN BODY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER GAVE THE CONSUMER A NEW REPLACEMENT JACK FREE BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR THE BODY DAMAGE. THIS FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTED FOR RESOLUTION. *AK *SCC *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10032149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Buick Century at 24,000 miles Cincinnati, OH

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CONSUMER DISCOVERED CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES DUE TO THEM BEING DRY ROTTED, ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT WAS LUBRICATED, THE BLOWER RESISTOR IN THE AIR CONDITION WAS REPLACED, THE CARPET WAS REPLACED, AND THERE WAS A WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW.TS

NHTSA complaint #8021382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Buick Century Warwick, RI

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT REGULATES THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. THIS PROBLEM IN THE BEGINNING WAS INTERMITTENT BUT WE NEVER REPORTED IT UNTIL SOME TIME BETWEEN JAN. 2002 TO PRESENT. THEY CLAIM THAT THE BOARD IS DEFECTIVE BUT IT WOULD COST US AROUNG $ 500.00 TO BE REPLACED. WE BELIEVE THAT A CAR WITH LESS THAN 35000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #766363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Buick Century Lewisburg, PA

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

A/C COMPRESSOR CLUTCH IS FAILING AT 37865 MILES.MAKES A SEVERE SQUEALING NOISE AND IS GRINDING INTERNAL PARTS INTO PEICES.AT THIS VERY LOW MILAGE I WOULD NOT EXPECT THIS PROBLEM TO OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #761788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Buick Century Linwood, NY

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

THE CAR HAD A FLAT AND WAS BEING CHANGED IN A DRIVE WAY ON A FLAT SURFACE WITH THE JACK THAT CAME WITH THE CAR. ONCE THE CAR WAS JACKED UP AND THE TIRE REMOVED THE JACK BROKE AND THE FRONT END FELL DOWN, NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT SOMEONE CHANGING THE FLAT COULD VERY WELL HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED WHEN THE CAR WENT DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #758774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Buick Century Citrus Heights, CA

EQUIPMENT

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT THE DRINK CUP HOLDER LOCATED IN THE ARM REST IS USELESS.

NHTSA complaint #561276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Buick Century Laplace, LA

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVEN TIMES, AND TRIED TO CORRECT. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN IN REVERSE AND BRAKING, AC IS NOT BLOWING COLD, CONSMER STATES FRONT END IS LOW TO THE BOTTOM MAKES A NOSIE WHENWHEN IN REVERSE, THE BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE RADIO DOES NOT STO ON STATION, CONSUMER STATES IT TAKES TO LONG FOR VEHICLE TO START AT TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #893791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Buick Century Laplace, LA

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVEN TIMES, AND TRIED TO CORRECT. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN IN REVERSE AND BRAKING, AC IS NOT BLOWING COLD, CONSMER STATES FRONT END IS LOW TO THE BOTTOM MAKES A NOSIE WHENWHEN IN REVERSE, THE BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE RADIO DOES NOT STO ON STATION, CONSUMER STATES IT TAKES TO LONG FOR VEHICLE TO START AT TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #893791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Buick Century problems