Buick Century Complaints

1,816 consumer complaints on file.

#10181135January 30, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE 2002 BUICK CENTURY THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE OF MILES THE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GARAGE WHICH PERFORMED A PRESSURE TEST AND FOUND A HOLE IN THE MANIFOLD. THE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING COOLANT. UPDATED 02/22/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179195January 19, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL* - THE CONTACT PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2002 BUICK CENTURY, FROM BUICK LANDMARK AUTOMOBILE OF TUSCALOOSA ON 10/22/2002 WITH 24733 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IN JUNE 2006 THE CONTACT SAID THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE CLICKING NOISES WHEN TURNING RIGHT. IN 6/7/2006 A GOODYEAR STORE REPLACED THE RF HUB ASSEMBLY AND THE RF OUTLET TIE ROD AT A COST OF $542.91. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS WAS VIBRATING CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO COME ON WHEN IN SLOW SPEED LEFT TURNING. TWO DAYS AFTER THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME NOISES. THE ABS LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LEIGH BUICK OF TUSCALOOSA ON 7/6/2006 LOCATED AT 3200 SKYLAND BLVD TUSCALOOSA AL 35405 TEL.205-556-1111. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT HUB, AT A COST OF $456.92. TWO DAYS LATER THE CONTACT BEGAN TO HEAR THE SAME NOISE AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE LEFT FRONT HUB WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE A FEW DAYS AFTER, BUT NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE AND BEGAN TO VIBRATE VERY HARD MAKING THE CAR UN-DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON A FLATBED TRUCK ON 8/21/06. ON 8/23/06 THE DEALER REPLACED 2 BULBS AND THE THIRD BRAKE, THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY. SHORTLY AFTER, WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE CONTACT COULD NOT APPLY THE BRAKE AT ALL WHILE TURNING. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT TURNED ON, BUT IT TURNED OFF WHEN COMPLETING THE TURN. THE CONTACT ALSO SENSED A BURNING SMELL. THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE PUMP VALVE BLOCK REPLACED AND THE ABS PUMP MOUNT FLUID. THE TWO REAR POWER WINDOWS DO NOT CLOSE, THE DIGITAL ODOMETER AND DIGITAL PANELS ARE NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT CAN NOT TELL THE MILEAGE, SPEED OR GEAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WANTS TO MAKE A COMPLAINT SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES. *NM UPDATED 2/21/2007 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179007January 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NOTICE COOLANT IS LEAKING AROUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AREA ON 3.1L V6 ENGINE OF MY 1999 BUICK CENTURY. LOCAL MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. DEALER IS ASKING APPROXIMATELY $900.00 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE IF THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. A GOOD ENGINE SHOULD NOT FAILED LIKE THIS IN MY OPINION. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THE ENGINE, BUT POOR ENGINEERING OF THE ENGINE. DEALER SHOULD PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177435January 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE DIES WHILE DRIVING, LOSING BOTH STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE PAST FOUR WEEKS. TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS, NONE BEING ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXTREME HAZARD, NOT ONLY TO MY DAUGHTER WHO IS THE PRINCIPLE DRIVER, BUT ALSO TO ALL DRIVERS/CARS DRIVING NEARBY, AS IT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175967December 12, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAMS WOULD RANDOMLY TURN OFF LEAVING NO VISIBILITY FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THIS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. SWITCHING BACK TO LOW BEAMS PROVIDED LIGHT. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO GM DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT A REMEDY MIGHT BE TO REPLACE THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH OR BLINKER SWITCH. THIS REPLACEMENT WAS DONE ON 12/11/06 AT A COST OF $682.02. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175710December 10, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2000 BUICK CENTURY WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES AND IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING IT HAS DONE THE OTHER THREE TIMES. IT WAS REPAIRED ALL THREE TIMES AT THE GM DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. EACH TIME IT HAS COST OVER $600 TO REPAIR IT. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN GEARS AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE ALMOST STOPS MOVING IN TRAFFIC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175665December 9, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
BRIGHT LIGHTS QUIT WORKING WHEN DRIVING, RESULTING IN TOTAL DARKNESS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, UNTIL DIMMER SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. LOCAL BUICK GARAGE REPLACED ENTIRE DIMMER UNIT FROM STEERING COLUMN. (SWITCH 2.485) *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175478December 7, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AFTER ENTERING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID. HAD TO REPAIR BRAKE LINE AS IT WAS CORRODED AT THE BENDS IN THE LINE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175181December 5, 2006
AIR BAGS
MY PARENT'S VEHICLE, A 2004 BUICK CENTURY, COLLIDED WITH A GUARD RAIL ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO I-81 IN CHRISTIANSBURG, VA. THEY WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS/SHOULDER HARNESS. MAIN IMPACT WAS FRONT LEFT BUMPER, WHICH WAS PUSHED IN ~ 3 FEET IN A NARROW INDENTATION; HOOD WAS CRUMPLED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WERE TAKEN TO LOCAL HOSPITAL'S EMERGENCY ROOM. I SUSPECT THEIR INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVER HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE IS VERY EXTENSIVE. *NM UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10175211December 5, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN A TORRENTIAL RAIN AT 11:30 PM, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED ON STANDING WATER, WENT OFF THE TWO LANE ROAD AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE CONTACT HAD NO INFORMATION AS TO THE SPEED OF TRAVEL AND WOULD NOT OFFER A GUESS. THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN BUT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE, BROKEN RIGHT EYE SOCKET AND MULTIPLE LESIONS FROM THE SEAT BELT STRAP. THE CONTACT WALKED 1/4 MILE FROM THE ACCIDENT TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, THEN WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD. THERE WERE PHOTOS AVAILABLE. UPDATED 1/17/2007 - INSURANCE COMPANY HAS COMPUTER LOG OF ACCIDENT WHICH WAS TAKEN AROUND AUGUST 20, 2006. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10174946December 1, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PADS ON THE VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE. THE BRAKE PADS BEGAN TO SEPARATE AFTER 64500 MILES. THE SERVICE DEALER IDENTIFIED THE SEPARATION. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174950December 1, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 BUICK CENTURY WITH 25,000 MILES, NEEDED TO HAVE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. SOME SLIPPAGE A WEEK BEFORE, THEN TWO STOP SIGNS, SLIPPAGE, THEN HORRIBLE GRINDING. WHEN MECHANIC TORE DOWN TRANSMISSION, SHARDS OF METAL WERE FOUND. WORD FROM THE SHOP WAS THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS MODEL AT 25,000 MILES, USUALLY SEE THIS MODEL AROUND 40,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174654November 29, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR POWER WINDOW FAILED WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WINDOW CONTROL WAS PUSHED BY ACCIDENT AND WHEN PUSHED AGAIN TO BRING WINDOW BACK UP, A LOUD "POPPING" NOISE WAS HEARD AND WINDOW REFUSED TO STAY UP. SERVICE DEPT. AT DEALER DETERMINED A NEW REGULATOR WAS NEEDED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME POWER WINDOWS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE, AS BOTH REAR WINDOWS FAILED WHILE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE VERY RARELY HAS ANY BACKSEAT PASSENGERS, SO THESE WINDOWS GET VERY LITTLE TO NO ROUTINE USE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174477November 27, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, LEAVING THE CONTACT STRANDED WITHOUT LIGHT WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST SIX TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, CURRENTLY HAPPENING ABOUT EVERY OTHER WEEK. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174271November 26, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW REGULATORS, IN THIS LAST TWELVE MONTHS, THE DRIVER, PASSENGER AND TODAY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED. A NYLON CLIP HOLDS THE TWO ENDS OF THE CABLING. THE PART BREAKS, THEN WINDOW DROP TO THE DOWN POSITION. THE ENTIRE WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY & SECURITY RELATED ISSUES AS THE DRIVER IS THEN EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS OR DISTRACTED BY THE PASSENGERS WHO ARE EXPOSED. THE ELEMENTS BEING COLD, RAINS, SLEET, WIND, ETC. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE SECURED WITH THE WINDOW DOWN. THE PART THAT FAILS NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED AND OF MADE OF METAL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173639November 16, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS FELL DOWN AND WOULD NOT STAY UP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE REGULATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173386November 13, 2006
TIRES
I BRING IN MY TIRES FOR AIR PRESSURE, AND TELL ME " THAT THE TIRES CRACKING". *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172408November 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
CAR HEATER WOULD NOT WARM UP. TEMPERATURE WOULD THEN FLUXUATE BETWEEN HOT AND COLD. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. COOLANT MIXED IN WITH OIL IN THE ENGINE. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT REQUIRED TO KEEP CAR OVERNIGHT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NEEDED A RENTAL CAR AND NO LOANER WAS AVAILABLE. GM AGREED TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPAIR 50/50, BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF A RENTAL CAR. EFFECT OF THIS GASKET FAILURE AT THIS TIME IS UNKNOWN AND EFFECT TO ENGINE AND COMPONENTS. CAR HAS 68,500 MILES. ORIGINAL OWNER OFF CAR HAS KEPT UP WITH ALL SCHEDULEED MAINTENANCE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171781October 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
OVERHEATING ENGINE & TICKING SOUND. TOOK TO DEALER TWICE BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF REPAIR. AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED SAME PROBLEM BUT THEN NEEDED OVER 600.00 IN REPAIRS. LATER SAME PROBLEM 300.00 IN REPAIRS. ALWAYS THERMOSTAT OR WATER PUMP. THE TEMP GAUGE GOES UP AND LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, SAME AS BEFORE, A MECHANIC WAS AT THE CAFE I WORK AT & LOOKED AT THE CAR. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL IN THE RADIATOR & THAT HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM FROM THESE GM PRODUCTS MANY MANY TIMES AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE. ADDED COOLANT & IT LASTED A LITTLE WHILE. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR SECOND OPINION & WAS TOLD THE SAME. THE TEMP LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON BUT THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON. THE TICKING GOT LOUDER AND TOOK TO DEALER FOR THEIR OPINION, ASK THEM TO CHECK THE COOLANT TO SEE IF OIL WAS IN IT. WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM A STUCK LIFTER & THEY PUT IN A HEAVIER WEIGHT OIL & ADDITIVE TO OIL CHANGE & THAT THE FLUIDS LOOKED GOOD. 2 WEEKS LATER LET 4TH MECHANIC LOOK, HE PUT IS FINGER IN RADIATOR & SHOWED ME THE GUNK, SAID I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET & MORE. HE HAS SEEN HUNDREDS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. TOLD THAT GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, THAT THEY KNOW THEIR IS A PROBLEM AND DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND TRY TO COVER IT UP. GM SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE IN THE PAST WEEKS. I DON'T WANT MONEY OR NEW CAR I JUST WANT MINE FIXED BY THE COMPANY RESPONSIBLE. THE DEALER HAS LIED TO ME ABOUT THIS & I AM VERY UPSET, THIS IS WHY MY SON AND I ARE FREEZING TO DEATH IN THE CAR, THE GUNK HAS GUNKED UP EVERYTHING IT HAS COME IN CONTACT WITH, INCLUDING THE HEATING CORE. ACCORDING TO ONE COMPLAINT A VERY GOOD MECHANIC HAS DECIDED THAT THEIR ARE TWO PROBLEMS ONE AFFECTING THE OTHER. A COOLING SYSTEM GROUNDING PROBLEM, ELECTROLYSIS RESULTING IN CORROSION & DISINTEGRATION OF PARTS AND GASKETS & THEN DEXCOOL WHICH IS UNSTABLE IN AN ELECTRICALLY CHARGED ENVIRONMENT & TURNS IT IN TO GOOP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171671October 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE'S INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE NON SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE TOP OF THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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