1987 Buick CENTURY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 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 18 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 5 | 27.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
| Child Seat:Shield Assembly | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Steering:Rack And Pinion: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Child Seat:Shield Assembly: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1; Power Train: 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 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 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: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 17 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 | 8 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
1995: 8; 1996: 3; 2000: 4; 2002: 1; 2004: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Rack And Pinion leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10069540 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND DOESN'T LOCK INTO GEAR. ALSO MAKES CLUNKING SOUND WHEN ACCELERATION IS LET OFF THEN RE-APPLIED. THIS CAR WAS DRIVEN GENTLY THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE BY SENIOR CITIZENS.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10277973 · 2009-07-22 (July 22, 2009)
MY MOTHER HAS A BUICK THAT SHE HAD FIRESTONE RADIAL TIRES INSTALLED ON THE FRONT. THE TIRES, P185/75R14 HAD A BELT BREAK IN THEM WITHIN ONE WEEK OF EACH OTHER. THE DEALER SHE BOUGHT THEM FROM REFUSES TO TALK TO HER ABOUT IT. WHAT CAN SHE DO? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10277973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 478151 · 1995-01-04 (January 4, 1995)
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 478151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480193 · 1995-02-05 (February 5, 1995)
WHEEL CAMBER MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 557898 · 2000-12-05 (December 5, 2000)
WHEN TURNING ON HEATER ENGINE RPM'S GO UP SOMETIMES AND CAN KEEP CAR MOVING AT 45-50 MPH WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GAS, TURNING OFF HEATER CONTROL DOES NOT ALWAYS DROP THE RPM'S, WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK THE ENGINE RACES AT VERY HIGH RPM'S AND CONSUMER MUST TURN OFF ENGINE QUICKLY. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 557898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718182 · 2000-02-01 (February 1, 2000)
VEHICLE STALLED 10 TIMES FROM PURCHASE DATE. HAS BEEN IN THE SAME FAMILY SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS BEEN "REPAIRED" MANY TIMES, BUT NEVER FIXED. IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GET IT FIXED AND CAN THE MANUFACTURER HELP? AFTER SEARCHING YOUR WEB PAGE I NOW KNOW THAT WE WEREN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. HELP! *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719712 · 2000-03-05 (March 5, 2000)
EVEN MECHANICS CAN'T SOLVE THIS; SO IT IS HARD FOR ME TO DIAGNOSE. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722935 · 2000-05-20 (May 20, 2000)
PROBLEM WITH CENTURY OVATION CAR SEAT. MY 2 YEAR OLD SON PULLED THE T-BAR SHIELD OUT OF THE BUCKLE AREA 2 TIMES. IT WAS PROPERLY SECURED. WE TOOK THE CAR SEAT OUT AND TRIED IT OURSELVES. WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT AT ALL, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL IT OUT 7 OUT OF 10 TRIES. IT SEEMED TO UNLATCH WHEN THE T BAR WAS PUSHED SLIGHTLY IN ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER. IF MY 2 YEAR OLD WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OUT, I AM CONVINCED THIS IS NOT A SAFE SEAT. MANUFACTURER HAS REQUESTED I SEND THE SEAT BACK TO THEM SO THEY CAN "TAKE A LOOK AT IT". IF YOU NEED ANY OTHER IN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722935 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.