Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Buick Century submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKE INSPECTION. WAS INFORMED THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT. HAD IT REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP ON 03/07/2006. ON 06/28/2010, THE SAME ISSUE SEEMS TO BE RE-OCCURRING. SHOULD AN INTAKE GASKET NEED REPLACING 2X'S UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS? *TR
BUICK CENTURY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL LIST. *TR
ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING, LOSING BOTH STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE PAST FOUR WEEKS. TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS, NONE BEING ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXTREME HAZARD, NOT ONLY TO MY DAUGHTER WHO IS THE PRINCIPLE DRIVER, BUT ALSO TO ALL DRIVERS/CARS DRIVING NEARBY, AS IT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *NM
OVERHEATING ENGINE & TICKING SOUND. TOOK TO DEALER TWICE BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF REPAIR. AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED SAME PROBLEM BUT THEN NEEDED OVER 600.00 IN REPAIRS. LATER SAME PROBLEM 300.00 IN REPAIRS. ALWAYS THERMOSTAT OR WATER PUMP. THE TEMP GAUGE GOES UP AND LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, SAME AS BEFORE, A MECHANIC WAS AT THE CAFE I WORK AT & LOOKED AT THE CAR. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL IN THE RADIATOR & THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM FROM THESE GM PRODUCTS MANY MANY TIMES AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE. ADDED COOLANT & IT LASTED A LITTLE WHILE. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR SECOND OPINION & WAS TOLD THE SAME. THE TEMP LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON BUT THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON. THE TICKING GOT LOUDER AND TOOK TO DEALER FOR THEIR OPINION, ASK THEM TO CHECK THE COOLANT TO SEE IF OIL WAS IN IT. WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM A STUCK LIFTER & THEY PUT IN A HEAVIER WEIGHT OIL & ADDITIVE TO OIL CHANGE & THAT THE FLUIDS LOOKED GOOD. 2 WEEKS LATER LET 4TH MECHANIC LOOK, HE PUT IS FINGER IN RADIATOR & SHOWED ME THE GUNK, SAID I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET & MORE. HE HAS SEEN HUNDREDS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. TOLD THAT GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, THAT THEY KNOW THEIR IS A PROBLEM AND DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND TRY TO COVER IT UP. GM SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE IN THE PAST WEEKS. I DON'T WANT MONEY OR NEW CAR I JUST WANT MINE FIXED BY THE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE. THE DEALER HAS LIED TO ME ABOUT THIS & I AM VERY UPSET, THIS IS WHY MY SON AND I ARE FREEZING TO DEATH IN THE CAR, THE GUNK HAS GUNKED UP EVERYTHING IT HAS COME IN CONTACT WITH, INCLUDING THE HEATING CORE. ACCORDING TO ONE COMPLAINT A VERY GOOD MECHANIC HAS DECIDED THAT THEIR ARE TWO PROBLEMS ONE AFFECTING THE OTHER. A COOLING SYSTEM GROUNDING PROBLEM, ELECTROLYSIS RESULTING IN CORROSION & DISINTEGRATION OF PARTS AND GASKETS & THEN DEXCOOL WHICH IS UNSTABLE IN AN ELECTRICALLY CHARGED ENVIRONMENT & TURNS IT IN TO GOOP. *NM
THE GASKET HAS TO BE REPLACED. ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED FROM THE TOP, AND DRIPPED DOWN ONTO THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE LEAK HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT. *NM THE CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT BUT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. *SC *JB
THE INTAKE GASKET LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE GASKET, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED WITHIN 23,000 MILES. GMC CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. RECALL NOT FOUND IN ARTEMIS. *AK
AFTER NOTICING A FEW DROPS OF DEXCOOL COOLANT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, I CHECKED THE RESERVOIR. IT WAS EMPTY. I CHECKED FOR LEAKY HOSES OR CLAMPS, THEN NOTICED THAT AROUND SOME GASKET I COULD SEE WHERE COOLANT WAS OBVIOUSLY OOZING AND SOME HAD POOLED IN A RECESS IN THE ENGINE MOLD. ANYWAY, I REFILLED THE RESERVOIR WITH DEXCOOL AND TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BEFORE DOING ANY DAMAGE. THE REPAIR BILL CAME TO OVER $900. THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND IT NEEDS A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, HOW ABSURD. AFTER SURFING THE WEB, I FIND THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD FIRES AND BLOWN ENGINES FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WERE LUCKY, BUT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER TRAVEL THE LOCAL HIGHWAYS ALOT, WHAT IF THEY RAN OUT OF COOLANT WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SIEZED, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR AT LEAST STRANDING THEM. (3.1L V6)
UPON STARTING ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STARTED TO DRIVE 5 MPH AND VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE DID RESTART WITH NO PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED.*AK ENGINE STALLED WHILE GOING AROUND A CORNER. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *PH
I OWN A 1998 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM THAT I PURCHASED NEW. MY HUSBAND AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF OUR CARS; ALWAYS DO ALL THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. IN FEBRUARY, OUR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK AND THE CAR ONLY HAD 76,000 MILES ON IT. THIS COST US OVER $900. MY HUSBAND HAS SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER BUICK AND GM PRODUCT OWNERS. MANY ARE FORMING GROUPS AND FILING PETITIONS AND CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS. MY GRANDFATHER AND UNCLE WERE CAR REPAIRMEN IN THE '70'S. EVEN BACK THEN, IT WAS UNHEARD OF TO HAVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS REPLACED. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT GM NEEDS TO OWN UP TO. PLEASE PURSUE GM THROUGH WHATEVER CHANNELS YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT. I HAVE HEARD OF A FEW LUCKY FOLKS WHO ARE GETTING REIMBURSED, IT SHOULD BE FOR ALL OF US. *LA
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS. ONE YEAR AGO SHE HAD THEM REPLACED BY THE LOCAL MECHANIC, THEN TWICE THEY WERE CLEANED BY THE DEALER. AFTERWARDS, SHE HAD TO HAVE 3 OF THEM REPLACED. ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STATING THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE SERVICED SOON. ALL OF THIS STARTED WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK, AND SHE HAD IT CHECKED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HELP WITH ALL OF THIS SERVICING.*AK
I OWN A 1998 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND AM VERY GOOD ABOUT PROPER MAINTENANCE. LAST WEEK MY HUSBAND NOTICED A FEW DROPS OF COOLANT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. HE CLEANED IT UP AND AGIN THE NEXT DAY, A FEW MORE DROPS. HE CHECKED THE HOSE CLAMPS AND HOSE CONDITIONS, THEY WERE FINE. HE CHECKED THE RESERVOIR WHERE YOU PUT IN DEXCOOL, IT WAS DRY. HE FILLED THE RESERVIOR AND DROVE THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC SO WE WOULD NOT DO ANY ENGINE DAMAGE. AFTER 2 DAYS AND $800, THE CAR HAS BEEN FIXED. NOW I NOTICE WHEN SEARCHING THE WEB, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS VERY SIMILAR TO MINE. UNFORTUNATELY, I ALSO NOTICED MANY WHERE THERE WERE FIRES OR ACCIDENTS. GM HAS TO FIX THIS AND AT LEAST PARTIALLY REIMBURSE THOSE LIKE ME WHO HAVE HAD TO PAY MAJOR REPAIR BILLS.
COOLANT USED BY DEALER IS TURNING INTO SLUDGE IN RADIATOR, WHICH CAN GET TO THE ENGINE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *YH
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON DASHBOARD. CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE, AND DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT 5TH FUEL INJECTOR WAS DEFECTIVE, AND A SPARK PLUG WAS INOPERATIVE. ON SECOND OCCURRENCE, WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND FOUND 4TH FUEL INJECTOR TO BE DEFECTIVE. HAD TO CHANGE OIL BECAUSE FUEL LEAKED INTO T CRANK CASE. *AK *SLC
ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WHEN OIL FILTER FELL(?) OFF THE ENGINE AND CAR WAS DRIVEN 2+ MILES WITH NO OIL IN ENGINE. CAR STALLED AND WAS RESTARTED 3 TIMES. AT NO TIME DID THE OIL WARNING LIGHT INDICATE A PROBLEM! DEALER SAID ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND MUST BE REPLACED BUT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATED WITHOUT OIL. IT COST ME ABOUT $4,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN REVERSE OR DRIVE ARE SELECTED UNTIL THE SELECTOR IS MOVED IN AND OUT OF OTHER POSITIONS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ANNOYANCE ONLY. *AK
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. YH
OIL IS LEAKING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE TOWARDS THE FIREWALL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, AND RESEALED OIL PUMP WHICH HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE HAS ONGOING PROBLEM WITH STALLING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND PARTS REPLACED. HOWEVER, STALLING STILL OCCURS. DEALER INFORMED, PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND. *AK
VEHICLE HAS ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED/REPLACED SOME PARTS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. DEALER INFORMED, THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
BRAKES OVERHEAT ON OCCASIONS.
TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE ENGAGING INTO REVERSE GEAR.
VEHICLE STALLS IN REVERSE FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE ALSO SHIFTS ERRATICALLY WHEN PUT IN ANY GEAR. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN ANY FORWARD GEAR AND UPON STOPPING AND PUTTING THE SHIFT LEVER INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE IS NOT ENGAGED IN REVERSE AND DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER AROUND AND BACK INTO REVERSE FOR IT TO ENGAGE, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND THE DEALER HAS WORKED ON THIS PROBLEM 3 TIMES, JUST RECENTLY THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE AND EVERYTHING SEEMS OKAY FOR RIGHT NOW. *SLC
IDLE SURGE AFTER RELEASING BRAKE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE OXYGEN SENSORS.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .