1997 Buick Century Visibility Problems

WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE BEEN STANDING STRAIGHT UP WHEN IN AN OFF POSITION FOR 6 OR 7 YEARS. FOUND THE CAMPAIGN AND THEN THE RECALL AND TRIED TO GET A REMEDY FROM THE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AS WELL AS GM ,TO NO AVAIL..I WAS MADE TO BUY A MOTOR FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THAT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THEN LAST SUMMER OR FALL I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE NOW THE ISSUE LOOKED TO BE A RECALL, AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS, BUT NOT FOR MY VIN#, AND I WAS MADE TO PAY $70 FOR THE ADJUSTMENT..IT IS NOW NOT WORKING AGAIN ,AND I AM VERY FRUSTRATED. IT IS A 1997 BUICK CENTURY. I HAVE TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON IN THE DELAY MODE ALL THE TIME, RAIN OR SHINE IN ORDER TO NOT HAVE THEM STAND STRAIGHT UP AND BLOCK MY VISION..I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS, BUT THAT THE DEALER AND GM WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE I FOUND THE INFORMATION ON MY PROGRESSIVE CAR INSURANCE SITE. THEY ALWAYS BRING UP RECALLS FOR YOUR CARS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10186993

Incident

Nov 9, 2000

Mileage

36,000 mi

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. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152401

Incident

Mar 9, 2006

Mileage

124,636 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V348000 CONCERNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGES. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10145599

Incident

Dec 14, 2005

Mileage

118,900 mi

THE WIPER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD STOPPED OPERATING DURING INCLEMENT CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10108787

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. RECALL 99V348000 WAS ISSUED, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10067132

Incident

Apr 12, 2004

Mileage

49,400 mi

I HAVE A 1997 BUICK CENTURY WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS. BY WAY OF HISTORY, I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO THE SHOP TWICE (AND I BELIEVE POSSIBLY A THIRD TIME) BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. EACH TIME, THE PROBLEM RELATED TO SOME FITTING THAT HAD TO BE RETIGHTENED (I WAS NEVER SHOWN THE PRECISE PART BY THE REPAIR PERSONNEL). NOW, ALTHOUGH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK PROPERLY IN THE RAIN, WHEN THEY ARE TURNED OFF, THEY GO TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION, OBSCURING THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE LEARNED TODAY, FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND SIMILAR SOURCES, THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE WELL KNOWN TO BUICK. UPON REFLECTION, AND WITH 20-20 HINDSIGHT, I BELIEVE IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE EXCESSIVE TORQUE GENERATED BY THE WIPER MOTOR AT ITS HIGHEST SETTING (WHEN SET AT THE TOP SETTING, THE WIPERS GENERATE SO MUCH FORCE, THEY CAUSE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO SHAKE). *NLM

NHTSA ID

10013643

Incident

Feb 1, 2003

WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE OPERATING ON DELAY SPEED AND THE WIPER SWITCH IS TURNED TO OFF POSITION, WIPER BLADES WILL STOP IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD, BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER. DEALERSHIP PREVIOUSLY SERVICED VEHICLE FOR RECALL 99V348000 IN DECEMBER OF 2000, BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK *SCC

NHTSA ID

8003404

Incident

Dec 1, 2000

POWER WINDOWS INTERMITTENTLY DON'T GO UP OR DOWN. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO COVER WINDOW DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER. THE DELER HAS FOUND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

895066

Incident

Aug 13, 2001

RECALL 99 V 348 000 / WINDSHIELD WIPERS: WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP DURING OPERATION OR REMAIN IN UP RIGHT POSTION, INSTEAD OF THE DOWN POSTION. DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *SLC

NHTSA ID

891733

Incident

Mar 1, 1999

WHILE DRIVING IN A VERY HEAVY RAIN FALLWINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED WORKING. HAD TO PULL OVER AND ASK ASSISTANCE FROM A PASSING MOTORIST. THEY GOT IT RESTARTED, BUT CONSUMER IS AFRAID THA TIT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE RAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

848114

Incident

Sep 19, 1999

DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW BECOMES INOPERATIVE (IN UP POSITION). THE DEALERS HAVE STATED "NO PROBLEM FOUND" EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN IN FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2 YEARS. THE INOPERATIVE WINDOW WILL LAST FOR DAYS ON TRIPS OR WEEKENDS WHEN IT CAN NOT BE TAKEN IN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CLAIMS THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE ADDRESSED UNLESS THEY EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM AND CAN DIAGNOSE WHAT PART IS DEFECTIVE. THIS HAS BEEN A SAFETY CONCERN IF AN EMERGENCY ARISES AND THE WINDOW CAN NOT BE LOWERED, IT ALSO PROVIDES HUGE ISSUES A US CUSTOM'S BORDER CROSSINGS AND TOLL BOOTHS.

NHTSA ID

710437

Incident

Aug 1, 1997

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THE NUTS WERE LOOSE IN THE WIPERS. CONSUMER THEN TIGHTENED THE NUTS, BUT THEY WILL NOT STAY TIGHTENED. *AK

NHTSA ID

831982

Incident

Dec 6, 1998

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN STORMS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE INOPERATIVE WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE BEEN TWICE REPLACED. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

815007

Incident

Jul 4, 1997

DRIVER GETS A CONSTANT REFLECTION IN THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE SEAM IN THE DASHBOARD IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

522668

UPON TURNING ON DEFROSTER SYSTEM BUTTON BROKE IN DRIVER'S HAND DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *AK

NHTSA ID

814279

Incident

Jun 19, 1997

CONSUMER HAS A CONSTANT REFLECTION OF CURVED DASHBOARD IN WINDSHIELD WITH OR WITHOUT SUNLIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID

812067

Incident

Feb 28, 1997