RoadVitals

1989 Buick Century Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
40
Latest Mar 26, 2004
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.
8
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 22, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 40 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Buick Century. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 40 · page 1 of 2

Engine
Filed Mar 26, 2004

CAR SOLD TO ME IS A LEMON. THE MOTOR WENT OUT IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10063977
Incident
Mar 16, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Feb 3, 2004

A TECHNICIAN SERVICED VEHICLE. TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THAT ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10057422
Filed Jan 19, 2003

THE PAINT HAS BEGUN TO PEELING OFF THE CAR. THE PRIMER IS STILL THERE, HOWEVER. THE CAR HAS BEEN OWNED BY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS SINCE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN 1989 AND HAS BEEN KEPT UNDER A CARPORT/GARAGE FOR ALL OF ITS OWNERSHIP. I OWN A 5-YR OLDER FORD THAT IS NOT GARAGED, AND THE FINISH IS STILL LIKE NEW.

NHTSA ID
10002938
Incident
Oct 28, 2002
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 2, 2001

DOOR HINGES SPLIT IN HALF, CAUSING DOOR TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
884775
Incident
Mar 29, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 3, 2001

WHEN GETING ON TO THE HIGHWAY THE SEAT BACK FELL IN TO THE BACK SEAT MAKING ME UNABLE TO SEE ANY TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME.*AK

NHTSA ID
741864
Incident
Mar 2, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 9, 2001
Crash reported

PE00 048; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A FUNNY NOISE, AND THEN TREAD CAME OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS. AND RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK DUNLOP SP 40 P195/70R14 DOT DB R W 466047 ( 006677 ) CONSUMER ADDED IT WAS A HOT DAY

NHTSA ID
877791
Incident
Jul 11, 2000
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 18, 2000
Crash reported

CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 ACCIDENTS RELATING TO ENGINE ACCELERATION. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED THE SAME WAY. CONSUMER HAS A VERY STEEP DRIVEWAY. ON SEPT. 11-2000, VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE & IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AT A MAXIUM SPEED. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THERMOSTAT RING GASKET, IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE & COMPUTER SCAN WERE THE CAUSES. *AK

NHTSA ID
870808
Incident
Sep 23, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Jul 21, 2000

RIGHT FRONT CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED AND PULLED THROUGH THE FRAME WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION. VEHILCE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 97V058000. DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT BOLTS AND WASHER. *AK

NHTSA ID
865833
Engine
Filed Jun 7, 2000

INTERMITTENT STALLING WHILE TRAVELING/APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, OR APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN / OUT OF INDEPENDENT SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
863183
Incident
Apr 15, 1996
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 21, 2000
Crash reported

CONSUMER STARTED UP VEHICLE AND ENGINE WAS RUNNING A LITTLE FAST. CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON BRAKE , PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR AND IT TOOK OFF WHILE FOOT WAS ON BRAKE. VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP UNTIL THEY ENDED UP IN A CREEK. CONSUMER'S INSURANCE COMPANY CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
860709
Incident
Apr 16, 2000
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 17, 2000
Crash reported3 injuries reported

WHILE ENGINE IDLED HIGH, CONSUMER SHIFTED VEHICLE OUT OF PARK INTO DRIVE WITH BRAKES DEPRESSED, AND VEHICLE DROVE OFF OUT OF CONTROL, RUNNING INTO A CREEK. *AK

NHTSA ID
860440
Incident
Apr 16, 2000
Suspension
Filed Jul 19, 1999

CRACKED REAR TRACKING BAR DETECTED ON 7/18/99. CHECKED UNDER CAR BECAUSE OF POOR STEERING AND HANDLING AND FOUND THE BAR WAS CRACKED IN HALF. WE HAD IT REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE ON 7/19/99. WE LOOKED FOR PREVIOUS RECALLS FOR THIS, BUT WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND THE INFORMATION. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $144.45.

NHTSA ID
708822
Incident
Jul 17, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 26, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE GEAR, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. MJS

NHTSA ID
545198
Incident
Jan 3, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 14, 1998
Crash reported9 injuries reported1 death reported

LISTED VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN 10-CAR CRASH AT INTERSECTION IN OUR JURISDICTION AFTER ACCELERATOR ON VEHICLE STUCK, FOLLOWING VICTIM'S USE OF CAR WASH. VICTIM GOT INTO VEHICLE AFTER CAR WASH, PUT VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY, REACHING A MAXIMUM SPEED OF APPROX. 90 MPH BEFORE CRASHING INTO A LARGE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CRASH LISTED ABOVE. THE DRIVER OF THE BUICK IN THIS LISTED QUESTIONNAIRE DIED DUE TO INJURIES RECEIVED.

NHTSA ID
700603
Incident
Mar 25, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Nov 6, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELT TRACKS AND ANCHORS. SEAT BELTS SLIDE BACK AND FORTH. IN ADDITION, TO CRACKS IN SEAT BELT BUCKLES. *AK

NHTSA ID
830350
Incident
Sep 8, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Nov 6, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. SEAT BELTS LATCH, AND TRACKS AND ANCHORS, ARE BROKEN. THE WHOLE SEATBELT SYSTEM IS SLOWLY DETERIORATING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. THE DEFECTS ARE RELATED TO PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH RECALL NUMBER 95V173000. *AK

NHTSA ID
830335
Incident
Sep 5, 1995
Steering
Filed Feb 20, 1998

STEERING WHEEL FAILED.

NHTSA ID
530982
Incident
Jan 30, 1998
Suspension
Filed Dec 15, 1997

FRONT END SHAKES WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH.

NHTSA ID
526902
Incident
Aug 1, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Oct 21, 1997

BOLT FAILED CAUSING BODY TO SEPARATE FROM FRAME.

NHTSA ID
604802
Body & structure
Filed Oct 16, 1997

PAINT WOULD NOT STAY ON VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA ID
604754
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 8, 1997

STARTER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604663
Brakes
Filed Oct 4, 1997
Crash reported

CONSUMER'S MOTHER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WITH THE RED BRAKE LIGHT ON FOR A MONTH. DON COLLINS, BUICK FRANCHESE OWNERS, SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS KNOWN ABOUT BRAKES SINCE JANUARY1997, AND HAS NOT CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM AS REQUESTED BY MRS. JUDSON/HER HUSBAND OR MRS. PELUSO. ON OCTOBER 1-, 97, MRS. PELUSO'S MOTHER CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE WITH LIGHT ON UNTIL ONE DAY SHE WAS TURNING INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND THE BRAKES FAILED. SHE COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, CRASHED INTO HER GARAGE DOOR, DAMAGING THE GARAGE AND THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LARRY MENKE BUICK DEALERSHIP IN THE AUTO CENTER, TOWN OF SEASIDE, CA. MENKE'S # 408-394-3374. *AK

NHTSA ID
816882
Incident
Oct 1, 1997
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 5, 1997

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE SEATBACK FALLS INTO THE RECLINING POSITION. COSNUMER HAS YET TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
815063
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 9, 1997

WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
813993
Incident
Jul 1, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Mar 5, 1997

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS NOT RELEASING DUE TO A RETRACTOR PROBLEM OF THE SEAT BELT. DEALER WON'T FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SEAT BELT PARTS FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
809731
Incident
Dec 15, 1996

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .