1993 Buick CENTURY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
123,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 36 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 4 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 3; Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 34 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 12; 1996: 7; 2000: 10; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 484809 · 1995-08-06 (August 6, 1995)
FUEL FILTER INSTALLED BACKWARDS, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL/FAIL AND STEERING TO LOCK UP. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719636 · 2000-03-03 (March 3, 2000)
MY CAR DIES WHEN THE GAS TANK BEGINS TO GET $3.50 AWAY FROM BEING FULL. WHEN IT DIES IT WILL NOT RESTART FOR APPROXIMATELY FOR 15 MINUTES. THE GAS GAUGE DIAL BEGINS TO WAVER FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN THE GAS GAUGE IS AROUND $3.50 DOWN FROM BEING FULL. WHEN THE GAS GAUGE BEGINS TO WAVER THAT IS A SIGN TO ME THAT I MUST FILL THE CAR UP AGAIN OR IT WILL SOON STALL. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP OFF AND ON FOR 11 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BUT IT HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. WE LOVE THIS CAR. IT HAS SERVED US WELL AND WE HAVE HAD NO P…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504039 · 1996-05-02 (May 2, 1996)
BRAKES FAILED SIX TIMES. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722129 · 2000-04-30 (April 30, 2000)
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES THREE TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1997. THEY STILL DON'T WORK WELL. THERE MUST BE A FACTORY DEFECT! WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 863347 · 2000-06-09 (June 9, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. TECHNICIAN OPENED THE HOOD, AND FOUND OUT THAT COVER UNDER THE HOOD (LOOKED LIKE A BLANKET FOR NOISE OR FIRE) HAD ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALSO, NO POWER STEERING. PIECES THAT CAME LOOSE WENT DOWN INTO THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING IT TO BURN UP. VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 863347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550675 · 2000-02-01 (February 1, 2000)
TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, SHIFTING PROBLEMS. YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 9000728 · 2000-05-04 (May 4, 2000)
TWO STANDARD TRANSMISSION FAILED
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9000728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051900 · 2003-12-22 (December 22, 2003)
1993 BUICK CENTURY EXPERIENCED VEHICLE FIRE.*MR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR JERKED A LITTLE AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER HEARD A POP AND SAW SMOKE, HE THEN PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FIRE. *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10390033 · 2011-03-14 (March 14, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE DEFROSTER WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT THEN SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE DEFROSTER AREA. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM HIS RESIDENCE AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF BUT THE SMOKE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT THEN OPENED THE HOOD AND A FIRE ERUPTED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A KNEE INFECTION FROM ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM HIS RESIDENCE. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED …
Owner-reported narrative. 230,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10390033 at NHTSA ↗