1991 Buick CENTURY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
45,083 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 19 complaints (26.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 21.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 10.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Child Seat | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Child Seat: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1; Engine: 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 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 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 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 | 6 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 4; 2000: 2; 2001: 4; 2004: 1; 2014: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 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 10069978 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
TRANSMISSION DOESNT WANT TO GO IN GEAR AFTER MAKING A TURN. HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR REPAIRED BECAUSE THE VALUE OF IT IS APPROX. $2,725 ONLY. HAVE ONLY HAD AN ESTIMATE. THE REPAIR-MAN SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS A SPRAGUE. DONT KNOW IF THIS IS CORRECT SPELLING. I REALIZE THE CAR IS OLD, BUT THE MILEAGE IS LOW FOR THIS MANY YEARS. NOW, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON AFTER CAR WARMS UP- AND STAYS ON- TRANSMISSION MAN SAID DIDNT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE TRANS. HAVE NOT HAD A COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10664561 · 2014-12-16 (December 16, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 BUICK CENTURY (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10664561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10949171 · 2017-02-02 (February 2, 2017)
I PUT THE KEY IN I TURN IT AND OUT CRANKS BUT WON'T TURN OVER.STATIONARY
Owner-reported narrative. 165 miles reported. Look up ODI 10949171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482599 · 1995-02-21 (February 21, 1995)
DIFFICULTY FASTENING CHILD SAFETY SEAT BUCKLE. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503263 · 1996-05-20 (May 20, 1996)
BRAKES FAILED 5 TIMES. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504524 · 1996-05-14 (May 14, 1996)
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550450 · 2000-01-18 (January 18, 2000)
WHILE IN THE OFF POSITION THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, ACCELERATING THE ENGINE, THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND IN THE PARK POSITION. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 555749 · 2000-10-02 (October 2, 2000)
ENGINE BEGAN OVERHEATING, CONSUMER HAD ALL 6 FROST PLUGS REPLACED AND THE WATER PUMP, STARTER, THERMOSTAT, HEAD GASKET AND RESURFACED THE ENGINE HEAD. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 555749 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 ↗