ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 21, 2017
Fire reported
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
- NHTSA ID
- 10956057
- Incident
- Feb 15, 2017
1997 Buick Century Electrical Problems
Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
19
Latest Feb 21, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 106 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0
What this page shows
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Buick Century submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming electrical
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Electrical
Filed Sep 19, 2000
DUE TO DESIGN AND LOCATION OF HORN ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO AIR BAGS, AND UPON ATTEMTPING TO SOUND OFF HORN IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN, BUTTONS ARE HARD TO LOCATE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE WHOLE AIR BAG AND HORN ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED . THE HORN BLOWING IS SLIGHTLY IMPROVED BUT STILL IMPOSSIBLE TO BLOW WHEN TRYING TO TURN. *YH
- NHTSA ID
- 870858
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed May 2, 2000
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ODOMETER LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY BLINKING, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 861216
- Incident
- Nov 15, 1997
Electrical
Filed Feb 24, 1999
HORN TAKES EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO SOUND, DUE TO DESIGN.
- NHTSA ID
- 544045
Body & structureElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed Feb 1, 1999
ALL SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AT TIMES. YH
- NHTSA ID
- 608959
- Incident
- Mar 25, 1998
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+1 more
Filed Feb 1, 1999
FAULTY GENERATOR AND DEFECTIVE BLOWER MOTOR. YH
- NHTSA ID
- 607396
- Incident
- Jul 1, 1998
Body & structureElectricalSuspension
Filed Feb 1, 1999
IGNITION RELAY FAILED.
- NHTSA ID
- 607053
- Incident
- May 29, 1997
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING TRUNCK LOCK, HORN RELAY AND ENGINE TO FAIL. NLM
- NHTSA ID
- 606301
Electrical
Filed Nov 24, 1998
Crash reported
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO HONK THE HORN BECAUSE THE BOTTOM HORN IS SO SMALL AND SO HARD THAT HE COULDN'T OPERATE IT. CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AKTHE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CAR AND THAT THE HORN AREA COULD NOT BE DONE. *ET
- NHTSA ID
- 831329
- Incident
- Nov 24, 1998
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Oct 19, 1998
BATTERY EXPLODED ON TWO OCCASIONS.
- NHTSA ID
- 542040
Electrical
Filed Jul 17, 1998
HORN BUTTON REQUIRES EXCESSIVE PHYSICAL EFFORT TO ACTIVATE, THIS RESULTED IN A COLLISION DUE TO THE DRIVER NOT BEING ABLE TO DEPRESS HORN BUTTON TO WARN OTHER DRIVER.
- NHTSA ID
- 537985
Electrical
Filed Jun 22, 1998
EXCESSIVE PRESSURE NEEDED TO DEPRESS HORN BUTTON.
- NHTSA ID
- 536978
Electrical
Filed Apr 16, 1998
IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO ACTIVATE HORN IN AN EMERGENCY.
- NHTSA ID
- 534610
Electrical
Filed Apr 16, 1998
HORN IS EXTREMELY HARD TO ACTIVATE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
- NHTSA ID
- 534485
Electrical
Filed Apr 15, 1998
THE LOCATION OF THE HORN SYMBOLS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SOUND THE HORN IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 822423
Electrical
Filed Mar 3, 1998
HORN FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
- NHTSA ID
- 531658
Electrical
Filed Mar 2, 1998
DESIGN OF THE HORN/AIR BAG AND STEERING WHEEL CREATES DIFFICULTY IN ENGAGING HORN.
- NHTSA ID
- 531523
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 5, 1998
FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO DEFECTIVE SPARK PLUGS AND AIR BAG COVER. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 523226
- Incident
- Aug 1, 1997
Electrical
Filed Jan 13, 1998
HORN BUTTON IS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS, EXCESSIVE PHYSICAL EFFORT REQUIRED, ALSO BUTTON IS TOO SMALL TO ENGAGE WITHOUT REMOVING EYES FROM THE ROAD.
- NHTSA ID
- 528082
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .