1997 Buick CENTURY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
62 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
94,944 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 62 complaints (8.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 14 | 22.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.2% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 5 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 5 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | 3 |
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 5; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 5; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 4; Air Bags: 3; Steering: 3; Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack: 3; Tires: 3; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 40 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 5; 2002: 9; 2003: 6; 2004: 14; 2005: 7; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10005824 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
STARTED CAR AND BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE. STEERING WHEEL WOULD HARDLY TURN WHEELS TO THE LEFT; NO POWER ASSIST. STARTED MOVING FORWARD AND TURNING RIGHT, THEN POWER ASSIST RESUMED. ALSO, STEERING SHUDDER OCCURS AFTER ROUNDING CORNERS AND ACCELERATING. LOCAL DEALER SERVICE REP STATES CAR NEEDS NEW RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY AND IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN CENTURIES AND REGALS 4-5 YEARS OLD.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054138 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,215 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054138 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054623 · 2004-01-21 (January 21, 2004)
1997 BUICK CENTURY, WHILE DRIVING TO A SOCCER GAME I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AFTER THE GAME I TURNED LEFT TO EXIT MY PARKING SPOT AND WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL STRAIGHT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY FRIEND WHOM IS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC (BUT NO LONGER WORKS FOR GM) AND HE ADVISED ME THAT THE LOWER PINION WAS DESTROYED WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE GEAR ASSEMBLE AND POWER STEERING PUMP. I HAD HIM REPLACE …
Owner-reported narrative. 104,990 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718885 · 2000-02-17 (February 17, 2000)
ENGINE HARD TO START, ROUGH IDLE, LOSS OF POWER, CONTINUOUS MISFIRES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10464291 · 2012-07-05 (July 5, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC WHO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE WIRING OF THE TURN SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,887. ... UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 08/09/12*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 89,887 miles reported. Look up ODI 10464291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 895066 · 2001-08-23 (August 23, 2001)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 895066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 866479 · 2000-08-01 (August 1, 2000)
WHEN GOING BACKWARDS DOWN A SLIGHT HILL CONSUMER FEELS A HESITATION AND BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN MORE THAN NORMAL. CONSUMER CAN STILL HEAR MEDAL SCRATCHING. CONSUMER FEELS ITS UNSAFE BECAUSE VECHICLE WILL NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 866479 at NHTSA ↗