1997 Buick CENTURY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
62 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
94,944 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 62 complaints (8.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 14 | 22.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.2% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 5 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 5 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | 3 |
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 5; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 5; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 4; Air Bags: 3; Steering: 3; Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack: 3; Tires: 3; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 40 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 5; 2002: 9; 2003: 6; 2004: 14; 2005: 7; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10003645 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED BOTH SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT WOULD NOT LATCH.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005824 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
STARTED CAR AND BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE. STEERING WHEEL WOULD HARDLY TURN WHEELS TO THE LEFT; NO POWER ASSIST. STARTED MOVING FORWARD AND TURNING RIGHT, THEN POWER ASSIST RESUMED. ALSO, STEERING SHUDDER OCCURS AFTER ROUNDING CORNERS AND ACCELERATING. LOCAL DEALER SERVICE REP STATES CAR NEEDS NEW RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY AND IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN CENTURIES AND REGALS 4-5 YEARS OLD.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007346 · 2002-08-11 (August 11, 2002)
SEAT BELTS WON'T WORK AND CAN ONLY SIT GRANDSON IN CENTER SEAT IN ORDER TO PUT RESTRAINT ON HIM. RIGHT SIDE REAR HASN'T WORKED IN OVER 1 1/2 YEARS. LEFT SIDE HASN'T WORKED RIGHT SINCE WE GOT THE CAR AND NOW DON'T WORK AT ALL. OUR GRANDSON LIVES WITH US, HE IS FOUR YEARS OLD AND IT IS THE LAW THAT HE IS TO BE IN A CAR SEAT AND RESTRAINED. THE CAR IS ONLY USED SIX MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, HASN'T BEEN ABUSED. I FEEL THAT DEALER OR MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE, SINCE WE HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR VERY LONG AND IS A SAFETY ITEM. *AK *PH *NLM **DIMS…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007346 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011758 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
THE COVER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS POPPED OPEN ABOUT AN INCH ALONG THE FRONT AND SIDES. THE DEALER FORCED IT CLOSED, BUT IT OPENED AGAIN. MR SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013643 · 2003-03-29 (March 29, 2003)
I HAVE A 1997 BUICK CENTURY WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS. BY WAY OF HISTORY, I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO THE SHOP TWICE (AND I BELIEVE POSSIBLY A THIRD TIME) BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. EACH TIME, THE PROBLEM RELATED TO SOME FITTING THAT HAD TO BE RETIGHTENED (I WAS NEVER SHOWN THE PRECISE PART BY THE REPAIR PERSONNEL). NOW, ALTHOUGH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK PROPERLY IN THE RAIN, WHEN THEY ARE TURNED OFF, THEY GO TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION, OBSCURING THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE LEARNED TODAY, FROM THE NHTSA WEB…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014574 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COVER WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER INSTALLED A "CLIP" TO SECURE THE COVER AND ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THE FIX IS AN APPROVED REMEDY. THE CLIP BROKE OFF AND THE CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE AIR BAG. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040513 · 2003-09-24 (September 24, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING A 1997 OR 1998 VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED RACK AND PINION, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040513 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048062 · 2004-01-06 (January 6, 2004)
HEADLIGHTS HAVE AN ACCUMULATION OF CONDENSATION BUILDING UP INSIDE THE LENS. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048062 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.
98V102000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 1998-05-15 (May 15, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OWNER MANUALS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIREMENT INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING DEVICE. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED AN OWNER MANUAL'S INSERT WHICH CONTAINS THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V348000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages
Reported: 1999-12-16 (December 16, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY STOP WORKING DUE TO A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE DRIVE PIN AND CRESCENT IN THE CRANK ARM ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF A PLASTIC WATER DEFLECTOR AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CRANK ARM AND INSTALL A WATER DEFLECTOR. ON VEHICLES RECEIVING A REPLACEMENT CRANK ARM AND NEW WATER DEFLECTOR, DEALERS WILL ALSO APPLY ADDITIONAL SEALING MATERIAL TO IMPROVE WATER DEFLECTION AWAY FROM THE CRANK ARM ASSEMBLY AND WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WIPER PARK MECHANISM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗