1986 Buick CENTURY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Rack And Pinion is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 17 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 5 | 29.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 23.5% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 11.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 1 |
Steering:Rack And Pinion: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 16 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 | 11 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
1995: 11; 1996: 3; 2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2004: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Rack And Pinion leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10068960 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
STEERING LOCKED AT SLIGHT LEFT TURN COMING OUT OF CURVE AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO STEER LEFT ACROSS CENTER AND OFF ROAD INTO TREES AT 55 MPH. MY SON WAS INJURED, THE CAR TOTALLED.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 479632 · 1995-04-12 (April 12, 1995)
CONTINUOUS INTERMITTENT STALLING AFTER MANY REPAIRS. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 489266) *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 479632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484014 · 1995-07-10 (July 10, 1995)
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487152 · 1995-10-06 (October 6, 1995)
STEERING LOCKED UP PRIOR TO RECALL. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487320 · 1995-09-20 (September 20, 1995)
STEERING RACK AND PINION LOCKS UP. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487651 · 1995-10-20 (October 20, 1995)
CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 488115 · 1995-09-20 (September 20, 1995)
RACK AND PINION STEERING LOCKS UP, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 488426 · 1995-09-26 (September 26, 1995)
SEAT BELTS FAILED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488426 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
85V122000 · Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Reported: 1985-10-04 (October 4, 1985)
THE GENERATOR "BAT" TERMINAL LOCATED ON THE RECTIFIER END FRAME MAY CONTACT THE CARBURETOR FUEL INLET PIPE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE "BAT" STUD MAY RUB THROUGH THE TERMINAL BOOT AND CONTACT THE FUEL PIPE WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE AND CAUSE BURN INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: OBTAIN CLEARANCE BETWEEN FUEL PIPE AND GENERATOR "BAT" TERMINAL BY ROTATING THE RECTIFIER END FRAME.
NHTSA campaign record ↗86V061000 · Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk
Reported: 1986-05-13 (May 13, 1986)
AN INCORRECTLY INDEXED WIRING HARNESS MAY CAUSE THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OR PARKING LAMPS ARE ON. FMVSS 108 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT REQUIRES THAT THIS STOP LAMP BE LIGHTED ONLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ALSO, THE OPERA LAMPS MAY COME ON WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP PROVIDES ADDITIONAL WARNING THAT THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING OR STOPPING. IF THIS LAMP MALFUNCTIONS, IT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A REAR END ACCIDENT.
Remedy: CORRECTLY INDEX WIRING HARNESS TERMINALS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗