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U.S. public vehicle records

Buick CENTURY problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,408 owner complaints analyzed

55 distinct recall campaigns

63,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1973 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 641 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 81 of 1,408 complaints (5.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior23216.5%
Steering behavior14210.1%
Transmission and shifting936.6%
Engine operation584.1%
Electrical and battery issues473.3%
Fuel system concerns241.7%

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.

Electrical System
81
Exterior Lighting
75
Vehicle Speed Control
72
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
67
Engine And Engine Cooling
59
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
51
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
50
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
45
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System81
Exterior Lighting75
Vehicle Speed Control72
Power Train:Automatic Transmission67
Engine And Engine Cooling59
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls51
Exterior Lighting:Headlights50
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip45

Electrical System: 81; Exterior Lighting: 75; Vehicle Speed Control: 72; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 67; Engine And Engine Cooling: 59; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 51; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 50; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 45

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
75
25,000 to 49,999
157
50,000 to 74,999
157
75,000 to 99,999
106
100,000 to 149,999
112
150,000 and above
34
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00075
25,000 to 49,999157
50,000 to 74,999157
75,000 to 99,999106
100,000 to 149,999112
150,000 and above34

Under 25,000: 75; 25,000 to 49,999: 157; 50,000 to 74,999: 157; 75,000 to 99,999: 106; 100,000 to 149,999: 112; 150,000 and above: 34

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (157). 767 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.

1995
100
1996
72
2000
139
2001
109
2002
117
2003
118
2004
161
2005
91
2006
57
2007
60
2008
56
2009
34
2010
63
2011
39
2012
20
2013
25
2014
51
2015
27
2016
18
2017
15
2018
13
2019
5
2020
8
2021
2
2022
3
2023
3
2024
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995100
199672
2000139
2001109
2002117
2003118
2004161
200591
200657
200760
200856
200934
201063
201139
201220
201325
201451
201527
201618
201715
201813
20195
20208
20212
20223
20233
20241
20251

1995: 100; 1996: 72; 2000: 139; 2001: 109; 2002: 117; 2003: 118; 2004: 161; 2005: 91; 2006: 57; 2007: 60; 2008: 56; 2009: 34; 2010: 63; 2011: 39; 2012: 20; 2013: 25; 2014: 51; 2015: 27; 2016: 18; 2017: 15; 2018: 13; 2019: 5; 2020: 8; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 232 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 142 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 93 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 505413 · 1996-06-11 (June 11, 1996)

BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN WET, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505413 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 978467 · 1996-01-31 (January 31, 1996)

THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BRAKE WILL LOCK UP ON SLICK SURFACES OR WHEN THE BRAKES ARE WET. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 978467 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 503597 · 1996-03-28 (March 28, 1996)

POWER STEERING PART WORN, CAUSING LEAK/STEERING DIFFICULTY. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503597 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 802649 · 1996-09-19 (September 19, 1996)

CONSUMER WAS THE THIRD OWNER, THE POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN IN WINTER AND WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN IT IS EVEN HARDER. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802649 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 488079 · 1995-11-11 (November 11, 1995)

TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH LOCKS UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488079 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 894535 · 2001-08-16 (August 16, 2001)

VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON TEN OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK DEALER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL THINGS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT PROBLEM, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, OIL PAN GASKET, INTAKE GASKET, UPPER AND LOWER RADIATOR HOSES, MOTOR MOUNTS, TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, HEATER HOSES, WATER PUMP, AND THERMOSTAT. MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE CREEPS FORWARD WHEN STOPPING. DOOR LOCK REPLACED. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 894535 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 486111 · 1995-05-14 (May 14, 1995)

VEHICLE STALLS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL/NEAR ACCIDENT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486111 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 481500 · 1995-01-14 (January 14, 1995)

VEHICLE FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ORIGINATING IN VICINITY OF BATTERY, OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT. *TW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481500 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 981320 · 1996-03-27 (March 27, 1996)

ELECTRICAL WIRING AROUND ALTERNATOR RUBBED AGAINST EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND MELTED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 981320 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 501598 · 1996-02-12 (February 12, 1996)

PLASTIC BAFFLES INSIDE GAS TANK DETERIORATED, FOULING THE FUEL INJECTORS. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501598 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 981011 · 1996-03-20 (March 20, 1996)

PLASTIC BAFFLES INSIDE THE FUEL TANK DESINTEGRATED AND CONTAMINATED FUEL AND INJECTORS, DEALER REPLACED FUEL TANK AND INJECTORS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 981011 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1989
1
1990
2
1991
2
1992
3
1993
2
1994
6
1995
1
1996
1
1997
2
1998
2
1999
3
2000
5
2001
3
2002
0
2003
0
2004
0
2005
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19891
19902
19912
19923
19932
19946
19951
19961
19972
19982
19993
20005
20013
20020
20030
20040
20050

1989: 1; 1990: 2; 1991: 2; 1992: 3; 1993: 2; 1994: 6; 1995: 1; 1996: 1; 1997: 2; 1998: 2; 1999: 3; 2000: 5; 2001: 3; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 0; 2005: 0

Year-by-year records

Buick CENTURY model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
197303Not available
197402-1
1975020
1976020
197703+1
197806+3
197905-1
1980050
198103-2
198232-1
198301-1
198473+2
198540-3
1986172+2
1987180-2
1988123+3
1989241-2
1990222+1
19911920
1992263+1
1993362-1
1994566+4
1995471-5
19964410
1997622+1
199813420
19992013+1
20001935+2
20011453-2
20021540-3
200312700
20043900
20051900