1990 Buick CENTURY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 22 complaints (13.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 5 | 22.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.5% |
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:Buckle Assembly | 3 |
| Structure | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 3; Structure: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Seats: 2; Tires: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 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 | 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: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 22 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 | 6 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
1995: 8; 1996: 6; 2000: 2; 2001: 2; 2002: 3; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10048191 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S STEERING.*MR STIFFNESS IN STEERING, SOMETIMES CONSUMER HAVE TO STEER IN NEUTRAL AS IT DOESN'T COME BACK BY ITSELF. SOMETIMES IT SQUEAK WHILE TURNING, NO LOCK UP HAS OCCURRED YET. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 489266 · 1995-04-12 (April 12, 1995)
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502326 · 1996-01-10 (January 10, 1996)
ALTERNATOR REPLACED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 506544 · 1996-07-15 (July 15, 1996)
DESIGN FLAW IN SEAT BELT THAT ATTACHES TO DOOR, LEAVING OCCUPANT FREE TO FALL OUT OF VEHICLE IF DOOR OPENS IN ACCIDENT. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 506544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 740634 · 2001-02-08 (February 8, 2001)
MOTOR FELL TO GROUND WHILE PULLING OUT. THIS DAMAGED STEERING AND CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 740634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 748451 · 2001-07-14 (July 14, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT OF CAR LURCHED AND THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION CHANGED. PULLED CAR TO SIDE AND SAW THAT PART OF FRAME WAS HANGING DOWN. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT THE CRADLE BOLT HAD PULLED THROUGH THE SUPPORT AND WAS HANGING DOWN. WHY WASN'T MY CAR ON THE RECALL CAMPAIGN AS THE REGAL WAS? I AM AFRAID THAT THE OTHER BOLTS WILL PULL THROUGH AND I WILL LOSE MY DIRECTIONAL STEERING ABILITY. I HAVE KEPT ALL DEFECTIVE PARTS FOR THE NHTSA REVIEW. IT APPEARS THAT THE METALS FUSSED OR MIGRATED TOGETHER. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748451 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 765318 · 2002-08-07 (August 7, 2002)
ON WEDNESDAY 6/13/2002 MY 1990 BUICK CENTURY LOST STEERING CONTROL DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE CRADLE BOLTS.I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED.I HAVE FOUND THE FOLLOWING RECALL WHICH INCLUDES THE 1990 BUICK REGAL, NHTSA RECALL NO. 97V058/GM RECALL NO. 97016. MY VEHICLE IS A 1990 BUICK CENTURY WITH 3300 V6 AND IS NOT LISTED IN THIS RECALL.I BELIEVE THE CRADLE BOLT'S IN 1990 BUICK CENTURY'S ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO FAILURE, CAUSING THE SAME SAFETY RELATED ISSUE MOTIONED IN THIS RECALL.MY VEHICLE DOES HAVE 202000 MILES ON IT, BUT THIS IS THE KIND OF FAILU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 765318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 800742 · 1996-08-12 (August 12, 1996)
FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT, THE SEAT IS RECLINED TO THE BACK POSITION.*AK THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TRAVELS ON RAILS BACK AND FOWARD, WHILE DRVING A METAL BRACKET ON THE LEFT SIDE, THAT ANCHORED THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR BROKE IN HALF, THEREFORE MAKING THE SEAT AS A WHOLE TILT BACKWARD.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 800742 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.
92V124000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
Reported: 1992-09-01 (September 1, 1992)
THE POWER SEAT OR RECLINER WIRING HARNESS CAN BE PINCHED OR CAN CHAFE ON THE SEAT FRAME OR SPRING SUPPORT ROD, WEARING THROUGH THE WIRE INSULATION AND CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence: THE HIGH CURRENT CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SHORT WELDS THECIRCUIT BREAKER ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN THE CLOSED POSITION, LEAVING THE CIRCUITUNPROTECTED AND GENERATING SUFFICIENT HEAT TO BURN THE WIRE INSULATION ANDIGNITE THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL.
Remedy: REPAIR ANY ABRADED WIRING AND REROUTE THE WIRING HARNESS USING A WIRING HARNESS CLIP.
NHTSA campaign record ↗95V173000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1995-09-15 (September 15, 1995)
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗