1994 Buick CENTURY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
56 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
88,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 56 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 8.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.8% |
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 | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 50 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 | 18 |
| 1996 | 18 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1995: 18; 1996: 18; 2000: 5; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 5; 2006: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 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 501554 · 1996-01-04 (January 4, 1996)
BRAKES NOISY. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504631 · 1996-05-22 (May 22, 1996)
DRUMS WARP AND PADS WEAR OUT TOO QUICKLY, REAR BRAKES MISADJUSTED, ALSO CAR CAN'T BE STOPPED QUICKLY AND VEHICLE JERKS UNTIL STOPPED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 490477 · 1996-03-12 (March 12, 1996)
STEERING COLUMN VIBRATES AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH AND ABOVE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501351 · 1996-02-07 (February 7, 1996)
NOISE FROM STEERING WHEEL. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504374 · 1996-05-13 (May 13, 1996)
FUEL TANK LEAKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 857532 · 2000-02-24 (February 24, 2000)
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHENEVER FOOT WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP POSITION. VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIRS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 857532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 987193 · 1996-07-22 (July 22, 1996)
WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE ODOR COMING FROM VENT, SUDDENLY DASH CAUGHT FIRE, DUE TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING SHORT IN DASH. *AK VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL RELATED PROBLEMS, BATTERY FAILED, BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF EVEN AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DEALER FOUND AN OPEN CIRCUIT STOP AT LAMP SWITCH, WINDSHIELD WIPER FUSE BLEW MANY TIMES EVEN AFTER DEALER REPLACED TERMINALS AT FUSE PANEL, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE STALLED, DEALER REPLACED ALTERNATOR, DEALER FOUND A SHORT IN THE COLUMN HARNESS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 987193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 987233 · 1996-07-23 (July 23, 1996)
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 987233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096884 · 2004-10-05 (October 5, 2004)
ENGINE INJECTOR FAILURE. *BF THE CONSUMER HAS 5 INJECTORS ON THE VEHICLE AND SO FAR ONLY 1 HAS FAILED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT EVENTUALLY THE REMAINING INJECTORS WILL HAVE TO REPLACED. THE CONSUMER THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR YEARS AS FAR AS 1994. THE INJECTOR PROBLEM HAS CAUSED ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE SUCH AS ENGINE HESITATION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE FOR A NUMBER OF SECONDS UNTIL THE PEDAL IS ALMOST FLOORED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 93,597 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096884 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 490944 · 1995-12-08 (December 8, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS ONTO HOT ENGINE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490944 at NHTSA ↗