1997 Buick Century

106 complaints on file, page 1 of 6.

1. Filed Feb 21, 2017Failure Feb 15, 2017Wilmington, NCElectrical system, EngineFire

   ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

   NHTSA complaint 10956057
2. Filed Jun 25, 2015Failure Jun 22, 2015103 milesAdrian, MITires

   WITHIN 43 DAYS OF PURCHASING COOPER GRAND TOURING CS5 TIRES FOR MY 1997 BUICK CENTURY, ONE DEVELOPED A LARGE SIDEWALL BULGE. THE RETAILER FORCED ME TO BUY ANOTHER NEW TIRE FOR $72. AND COOPER REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT! I HAVE BEEN DRIVING CARS FOR 40 YEARS AN NEVER HAD A NEW TIRE OR ANY TIRE DEVELOP A SIDEWALL BULGE. I HAD A SPIRITED CONVERSATION WITH A COOPER REP AND SHE GOT VERY RUDE WITH ME. THEY HAD ONE RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY. PLEASE HELP!

   NHTSA complaint 10730292
3. Filed Nov 18, 2014Failure Aug 17, 200540,000 milesST Louis, MOManifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS DETERIORATING AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE DEX COOL ANTIFREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/09/15*LJ

   NHTSA complaint 10658881
4. Filed Aug 30, 2014Failure Aug 30, 2014129,300 milesSterling, VASteering

   WHEN I BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE, I TURNED STEERING WHEEL WITH A "HARD LEFT." CAR MADE CLICKING NOISE. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10629567
5. Filed Mar 6, 2013Failure Mar 5, 2013Jacksonville, FLTires

   DRIVING ON I-95 SOUTHBOUND WHEN I EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION TO MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SIGNAL HELP. FORTUNATELY, I ESCAPED THIS FAILURE UNINJURED. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10501846
6. Filed Jul 5, 2012Failure Jul 1, 201189,887 milesSanta ANA, CASwitch

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC WHO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE WIRING OF THE TURN SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,887. ... UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 08/09/12*JB

   NHTSA complaint 10464291
7. Filed May 17, 2011Failure May 14, 2011143,314 milesSolon, MESteering

   I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING LOCKED AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. I WASN'T ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN CAUSING ME TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO A LAWN. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T GO BACK TO THE CORRECT POSITION AND IT SEEMED TO BE IN MANUAL STEERING MODE. I COULD BARELY MOVE THE WHEEL. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AT THIS TIME. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10401262
8. Filed Apr 12, 2010Failure Apr 12, 201075,000 milesMurrieta, CAVehicle speed control

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE RPM'S INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN RESPIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLIANT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

   NHTSA complaint 10325088
9. Filed Dec 2, 2009Failure Nov 1, 2009188,376 milesBlackcreek, WIStabilizer bar

   TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK CENTURY. SHE STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. UPON HAVING HER WHEEL BEARINGS REPAIRED, SHE FOUND THE STABILIZER BAR HAD BROKEN OFF OF THE TIRE. SHE THEN ATTEMPTED TO ORDER THE PART FROM AN AUTOMOTIVE STORE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE REPLACEMENT PART. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 188,376.

   NHTSA complaint 10294254
10. Filed Feb 28, 2009Failure Feb 27, 2009129,100 milesFort Wayne, INSteering

    1) CAR NEEDED TOWED TO GARAGE FOR STARTER FAILURE. AS IT LEFT THE GARAGE THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND SENT CAR ALMOST INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THERE HAD BEEN NO OTHER WARNINGS OF A PROBLEM. 2) IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE STEERING IS TURNED ONE DIRECTION THEN BACK TO THE OTHER. IT DOES NOT JUST COME BACK. ESPECIALLY TO THE LEFT. I ALMOST CRASHED 4 TIMES JUST TRYING TO GET IT HOME. 3) I FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM ON THE TOW COMPANY THINKING THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, THAT NOTHING WAS BENT. AFTER GETTING ON LINE AND INVESTIGATING, I LEARNED OF THIS STEERING PROBLEM. IT MATCHES IT PERFECTLY. I HAD SOMEONE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF MECHANICS LOOK AT THE CAR AND THEY SAID THE STEERING GEAR RACK NEEDS REPLACED AND NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT IS. IT IS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I ALSO JUST HAD NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FROM THE DECOOL PROBLEM GM HAS. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT I CAN'T DRIVE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX. NOBODY ASSUMES LIABILITY AND I THINK GM SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS RECALLED AND CORRECTED. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10260319
11. Filed Apr 4, 2007Failure Nov 9, 200036,000 milesSyracuse, NYWindshield wiper/washer

    WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE BEEN STANDING STRAIGHT UP WHEN IN AN OFF POSITION FOR 6 OR 7 YEARS. FOUND THE CAMPAIGN AND THEN THE RECALL AND TRIED TO GET A REMEDY FROM THE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AS WELL AS GM ,TO NO AVAIL..I WAS MADE TO BUY A MOTOR FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THAT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THEN LAST SUMMER OR FALL I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE NOW THE ISSUE LOOKED TO BE A RECALL, AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS, BUT NOT FOR MY VIN#, AND I WAS MADE TO PAY $70 FOR THE ADJUSTMENT..IT IS NOW NOT WORKING AGAIN ,AND I AM VERY FRUSTRATED. IT IS A 1997 BUICK CENTURY. I HAVE TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON IN THE DELAY MODE ALL THE TIME, RAIN OR SHINE IN ORDER TO NOT HAVE THEM STAND STRAIGHT UP AND BLOCK MY VISION..I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS, BUT THAT THE DEALER AND GM WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE I FOUND THE INFORMATION ON MY PROGRESSIVE CAR INSURANCE SITE. THEY ALWAYS BRING UP RECALLS FOR YOUR CARS. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10186993
12. Filed Mar 10, 2006Failure Mar 9, 2006124,636 milesFairfield, OHEquipment adaptive/mobility, Windshield wiper/washer

    I WAS ON 275W. WHEN MY RIGHT WINDOW WIPER ARM STARTED TO STOP THEN IT DIED, MY HUSBAND TOLD TO SEE WHAT I COULD FIND OUT ON REPAIRING IT AND COST ON THE COMPUTER, I RAN ACROSS THIS LITTLE THING ON THE COMPUTER ABOUT 1997 BUICK CENTURY'S AND THE RIGHT WINDSHIELD {COMPONENT: VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER LINKAGES} WELL WHEN I READ ALL OF IT THAT DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPEN TO MY WIPER. WHEN I CALLED EVERYBODY SAID NO NOT YOUR CAR, AND I SAID I DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THE SAME THING IS WRONG WITH MIND. *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10152401
13. Filed Dec 19, 2005Failure Dec 14, 2005118,900 milesRomulus, MILinkages

    DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V348000 CONCERNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGES. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10145599
14. Filed Sep 26, 2005Failure Oct 25, 1998Branchville, NJBuckle assembly

    DT: 1997 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONSUMER HAS BEING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS JAMMING. THIS OCCURRED FOR 7 YEARS. T 2 OUT OF 4 SEAT BELTS WORK. THE 2 SEAT BELTS BACK SEAT WILL NOT WORK. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10137616
15. Filed Aug 18, 2005Failure Jun 3, 2005102,000 milesCabot, ARRack

    1997 BUICK CENTURY-STEERING LOCKS UP RANDOMLY CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10133290
16. Filed Aug 18, 2005Failure Jun 3, 2002102,000 milesCabot, ARRack

    1997 BUICK CENTURY-STEERING LOCKS UP RANDOMLY CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10133285
17. Filed Feb 18, 2005Failure Jan 27, 2005Tipton, INChild seat

    THE CHILD SEAT BUCKLE FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER'S GRANDSON WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR SEAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *NM *SC *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10113705
18. Filed Feb 17, 2005Failure Jan 20, 2004Londonderry, NHRear/other

    BOTH REAR PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO PULL OUT THE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT BOTH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10111736
19. Filed Jan 25, 2005Failure Jan 15, 2004Canada, 00Windshield wiper/washer

    THE WIPER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD STOPPED OPERATING DURING INCLEMENT CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10108787
20. Filed Dec 15, 2004Failure Oct 8, 2004100,000 milesEastampton, NJTail lights

    TAIL LIGHTS WILL NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY . DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AKI

    NHTSA complaint 10103799