RoadVitals

1988 Buick Century Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Mar 19, 2002
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Buick Century, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Steering630.0%
  • Seat belts315.0%
  • Suspension315.0%
  • Interior & seats315.0%
  • Body & structure210.0%
  • Electrical15.0%
  • Brakes15.0%
  • Transmission15.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAIILED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK AND RESIST ANY TURNS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO UNLOCK THE SEIZED WHEEL. NLM

NHTSA ID 547676 · filed Jul 31, 1999

CHANNEL PLATE (SIDE) ON THE TRANSMISSION IS WARPED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ID 539736 · filed Sep 9, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVER'S SIDE SIT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AND SOMETIMES IT LOCKS YOU IN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID 979806 · filed Feb 27, 1996

FRONT SEAT BELT PLASTIC COVERS BROKE. *SD

NHTSA ID 483191 · filed Aug 17, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FRONT END COLLAPSED BECAUSE ENGINE CRADLE BOLT AND STEERING COLUMN DISINTEGRATED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INCLUDED UNDER RECALL 88 V048 000. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER STATES THIS VIN WAS NOT ON THE RECALL. *YH

NHTSA ID 8005879 · filed Mar 19, 2002

CHANNEL PLATE (SIDE) ON THE TRANSMISSION IS WARPED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ID 539736 · filed Sep 9, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED. PLEASE ADD ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID 898040 · filed Oct 19, 2001

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT FAILURE, SEAT BROKE DOWN. TT

NHTSA ID 976252 · filed Dec 7, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FRONT END COLLAPSED BECAUSE ENGINE CRADLE BOLT AND STEERING COLUMN DISINTEGRATED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INCLUDED UNDER RECALL 88 V048 000. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER STATES THIS VIN WAS NOT ON THE RECALL. *YH

NHTSA ID 8005879 · filed Mar 19, 2002

WELD BRACKET ON BROKE WHEN OPENING THE HATCHBACK. TT

NHTSA ID 969858 · filed Aug 4, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING UNEXPECTENTLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID 972897 · filed Oct 4, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PARKING BRAKE LEVER CAME OFF 4 TIMES. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 479512) *SKD

NHTSA ID 479192 · filed Mar 1, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CHANNEL PLATE (SIDE) ON THE TRANSMISSION IS WARPED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ID 539736 · filed Sep 9, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .