FaultScore

Buick Century tire problems

51 of the 2,393 complaints filed about the Buick Century are about the tires — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2001.

51

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

5

Crashes

2

Fires

Tires complaints by model year

1987 Century 1 2.0%
1989 Century 2 3.9%
1990 Century 2 3.9%
1992 Century 1 2.0%

Median failure at 94,000 miles

1993 Century 1 2.0%
1994 Century 4 7.8%

Median failure at 88,500 miles

1995 Century 3 5.9%

Median failure at 72,528 miles

1997 Century 4 7.8%

Median failure at 103 miles

1998 Century 5 9.8%

Median failure at 63,800 miles

1999 Century 8 15.7%

Median failure at 39,042 miles

2000 Century 3 5.9%
2001 Century 9 17.6%

Median failure at 75,000 miles

2002 Century 2 3.9%
2003 Century 4 7.8%

Median failure at 45,000 miles

2004 Century 1 2.0%
2005 Century 1 2.0%

Median failure at 57,000 miles

What owners said

2002 Buick Century Melbourne, FL

TIRES:BEAD

Right front Cooper GS5 Grand Touring 205/70 R15 96T with only 862 miles on it had a complete air loss/went completely flat when car was turning into a parking lot. This is one of a set of brand new tires on the car. The car was never driven on a highway after these were purchased. Only local driving at 45 to 50 MPH max. Tire was taken to a tire shop in hopes of getting it plugged/repaired. They found nothing had penetrated the tire. They could not pressurize the tire. Air was blowing out all around the outside bead and could not be seated. They put lubricant around the bead inside and out and gave it some rapid shots of air on the machine. It started to hold pressure but immediately had a roughly 4 inch section of the sidewall start to balloon out. Technician said he was afraid it was going to blow up in his face. He chalk marked the defective area on the tire and said the bead and sidewall had failed in that ballooning area and the tire was defective and not repairable.

NHTSA complaint #11522194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Buick Century Melbourne, FL

TIRES:SIDEWALL

Right front Cooper GS5 Grand Touring 205/70 R15 96T with only 862 miles on it had a complete air loss/went completely flat when car was turning into a parking lot. This is one of a set of brand new tires on the car. The car was never driven on a highway after these were purchased. Only local driving at 45 to 50 MPH max. Tire was taken to a tire shop in hopes of getting it plugged/repaired. They found nothing had penetrated the tire. They could not pressurize the tire. Air was blowing out all around the outside bead and could not be seated. They put lubricant around the bead inside and out and gave it some rapid shots of air on the machine. It started to hold pressure but immediately had a roughly 4 inch section of the sidewall start to balloon out. Technician said he was afraid it was going to blow up in his face. He chalk marked the defective area on the tire and said the bead and sidewall had failed in that ballooning area and the tire was defective and not repairable.

NHTSA complaint #11522194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Buick Century at 35,084 miles Green BAY, WI

TIRES

TIRE FAILURE. FAILURE WAS SPONTANEOUS. NEW TIRES LESS THAN 2 MONTHS OLD AND ONLY 200 MILES DRIVEN. BULGING SIDEWALL. IS IN PROCESS OF BEING FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10870389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Buick Century at 60,000 miles South Lyon, MI

TIRES

MULTIPLE CRACKING ON SIDEWALLS OF 4 MICHELIN HARMONY TIRES BEING USED 3000 MILES A YEAR. TIRES BOUGHT IN 2007 AND HAVE 99% OF TREAD STILL PRESENT ON TIRE. FEEL MICHELIN USED INSUFFICIENT UV/OZONE INHIBITOR CHEMICALS IN RUBBER COMPOUND MANUFACTURING THESE TIRES. TIRES MAY BE UNSAFE AND NOT DUE TO CAR OWNER'S FAULT. FEEL MICHELIN SHOULD REPLACE THESE AT THEIR EXPENSE, NOT MY MOTHER'S EXPENSE. TIRES SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 7-8 YEARS AT 3000 MILES A YEAR WHEN 80,000 IS ADVERTISED FOR THESE TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #10788884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Buick Century at 103 miles Adrian, MI

TIRES

WITHIN 43 DAYS OF PURCHASING COOPER GRAND TOURING CS5 TIRES FOR MY 1997 BUICK CENTURY, ONE DEVELOPED A LARGE SIDEWALL BULGE. THE RETAILER FORCED ME TO BUY ANOTHER NEW TIRE FOR $72. AND COOPER REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT! I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CARS FOR 40 YEARS AN NEVER HAD A NEW TIRE OR ANY TIRE DEVELOP A SIDEWALL BULGE. I HAD A SPIRITED CONVERSATION WITH A COOPER REP AND SHE GOT VERY RUDE WITH ME. THEY HAD ONE RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10730292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Buick Century at 71,803 miles Deebe, AR

TIRES:SIDEWALL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR DOUGLAS (NA) TIRES, SIZE: 215/70R15/98T XTRAC2 (NA). AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRES, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SIDEWALL WAS UNEVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,803.

NHTSA complaint #10727013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Buick Century Jacksonville, FL

TIRES

DRIVING ON I-95 SOUTHBOUND WHEN I EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION TO MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SIGNAL HELP. FORTUNATELY, I ESCAPED THIS FAILURE UNINJURED.

NHTSA complaint #10501846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Buick Century North Java, NY

TIRES

2004 BUICK CENTURY. PROBLEM WITH SEASON TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #10463682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Buick Century at 96,000 miles WI, WI

TIRES

FIRESTONE FR710 TIRES PURCHASED IN 2011 ARE EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION AROUND THE SHOULDER OF THE TIRE STARTING WITH RIGHT FRONT TIRE. TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES OF MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES. ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED EVERY 6000 MILES OR LESS AND ALL OTHER VEHICLE COMPONENTS SUSPENSION, TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS, AND ALIGNMENT ARE ALL WITHIN SPEC PER. TOOK SAID VEHICLE TO TWO OTHER TIRE SHOPS TO CONFIRM TIRE SHOULDER SEPARATION.

NHTSA complaint #10452068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Buick Century at 57,000 miles Mitchell, IN

TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC COVER LENS CAUSING THE PLASTIC COVER TO FOG. THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE REDUCED VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY AND THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,617. UPDATED 12/21/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, THE ROTORS, TIRES AND SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/3/10

NHTSA complaint #10350759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Buick Century at 90,000 miles Matthews, NC

TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK CENTURY WITH SIGMA SHADOW TIRES, SIZE 195/75/R14. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION SEVEN TIMES WITH THE TIRES. EACH TIME HE EXPEREINCED THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE SPECIALIST AND THE TIRE WOULD BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

NHTSA complaint #10346925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1987 Buick Century Betsy Layne, KY

TIRES

MY MOTHER HAS A BUICK THAT SHE HAD FIRESTONE RADIAL TIRES INSTALLED ON THE FRONT. THE TIRES, P185/75R14 HAD A BELT BREAK IN THEM WITHIN ONE WEEK OF EACH OTHER. THE DEALER SHE BOUGHT THEM FROM REFUSES TO TALK TO HER ABOUT IT. WHAT CAN SHE DO?

NHTSA complaint #10277973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Buick Century at 98,000 miles Wappingers Falls, NY

TIRES:VALVE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE AND THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES BLEW OUT. AFTER A DIAGNOSIS, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE FAULTY. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWO DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO BE REPAIRED AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E089000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA complaint #10239743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Buick Century at 43,000 miles Lake Worth, FL

TIRES

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THERE WERE NO POT HOLES OR OTHER ROAD HAZARDS VISIBLE ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6000 MILES ON THE TIRE AT THE TIME OF THE BLOWOUT. THE TIRE WAS A DOUGLAS TOURING P205/70R15 BW. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD AN ODOMETER READING OF 43000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10185622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Buick Century at 67,600 miles Delray BCH, FL Crash

TIRES

I BRING IN MY TIRES FOR AIR PRESSURE, AND TELL ME " THAT THE TIRES CRACKING".

NHTSA complaint #10173386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Buick Century at 84,000 miles Minooka, IL Crash 1 injured

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELS ALONG 113 IN KANKAKEE IL AT APPROX 55 MPH, AS VEHICLE ENTERED A BEND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLES RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A LEFT SIDE SPIN OVER THE EMBANKMENT AND INTO A FENCE POLL. VEHICLE DID ROLL POSSIBLY TWO TIME. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, IF ANYBODY ELSE WAS IN THE VEHICLE THEY WOULD BE DEAD. DRIVE DID SUFFER MULTIPLE INJURES BUT WAS ALIVE, AS THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPT PUT IT LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THE TIRE IN WHICH THE TREAD SEPARATED WAS A FIRESTONE FR440 DOT #EJTUDJD288. VEHICLE WAS A 94 BUICK CENTURY IN GOOD MECH SHAPE INSPECTED APROX 1,000 MILE PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER STATED THE WAS DRIVING FINE UP TO THE ACCIDENT, NO VIBRATIONS, PULLING, NOISE ETC.

NHTSA complaint #10149628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1992 Buick Century at 94,000 miles Lewisberry, PA Crash 2 injured

TIRES

DT: ON MARCH 14TH TWO NEW FRONT TIRES WERE PURCHASED AT SEARS. ON APRIL 10TH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO WHEEL WELL, THE PASSENGER DOOR, TIRE AXLE AND THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE. THERE HAS BEEN NO INSPECTION MADE OF THE TIRE AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE OWNER MADE ATTEMPTS TO HAVE SEARS REPLACE THE TIRES AND PAY FOR VEHICLE DAMAGE. THE BLOW OUT RESULTED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES , NEITHER RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10126200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Buick Century at 45,000 miles Meridian, MS

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE, PULLED OFF THE ROAD, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DISCOVERED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS ON THE GROUND. THE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY G0NE.

NHTSA complaint #10090289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Buick Century at 75,000 miles Redlands, CA

TIRES

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BEGAN TO PRODUCE A THUMPING NOISE. LATER, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED. *AK THE PROBLEM LEAD TO A UNNECESSARY REPAIR OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10090095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Buick Century at 49,011 miles Boynton Beach, FL

TIRES:SIDEWALL

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10089369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Buick Century problems