Buick Century Complaints (1998)

218 consumer complaints on file.

#10070033January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AFTER NOTICING A FEW DROPS OF DEXCOOL COOLANT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, I CHECKED THE RESERVOIR. IT WAS EMPTY. I CHECKED FOR LEAKY HOSES OR CLAMPS, THEN NOTICED THAT AROUND SOME GASKET I COULD SEE WHERE COOLANT WAS OBVIOUSLY OOZING AND SOME HAD POOLED IN A RECESS IN THE ENGINE MOLD. ANYWAY, I REFILLED THE RESERVOIR WITH DEXCOOL AND TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BEFORE DOING ANY DAMAGE. THE REPAIR BILL CAME TO OVER $900. THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND IT NEEDS A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, HOW ABSURD. AFTER SURFING THE WEB, I FIND THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD FIRES AND BLOWN ENGINES FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WERE LUCKY, BUT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER TRAVEL THE LOCAL HIGHWAYS ALOT, WHAT IF THEY RAN OUT OF COOLANT WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SIEZED, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR AT LEAST STRANDING THEM. (3.1L V6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069037January 15, 2004
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR THE DUAL COMFORTEMP CLIMATE CONTROL HAVE FAILED RENDERING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE TEMPERATURE AND AIRSPEED SETTINGS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046490December 2, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
UPON STARTING ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STARTED TO DRIVE 5 MPH AND VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE DID RESTART WITH NO PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED.*AK ENGINE STALLED WHILE GOING AROUND A CORNER. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046875November 13, 2003
EQUIPMENT, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
MY CAR HAS HAD A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL INJECTIONS, SPECIFICALLY INJECTIONS 3 AND 4. NUMBER 3 HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND 4 ONCE. THIS STARTED 11/14/2001 WITH THE MOST CURRENT HAPPENING ON 11/12/2003 AFTER SUPPOSEDLY BEING REPAIRED ON 11/5/2003 AND 10/17/2003. I HAVE SPOKE TO GM ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. BECAUSE MY CAR NOW HAS 98,200 MILES ON THEY CAN'T HELP ME. THE FIRST TIME THAT THE INJECTIONS STARTED TO GIVE ME A PROBLEM IT WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND AT THAT TIME I ONLY HAD 64,047 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE THAT THE INJECTIONS ARE PRODUCING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS BUT TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL DONE. I'M SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT APPARENTLY CAN'T BE FIXED. I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045832November 9, 2003
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING AT EITHER SLOW SPEED, AND/OR FAST SPEED, IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY AS WELL AS MAKING SLOW TURNS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE MADE SURE MY POWER STEERING LEVEL IS FULL TO THE PROPER LEVEL SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAVE ADJUSTED IT AT ONCE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040635October 20, 2003
STEERING
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BIND. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *NLM *TS *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034361October 15, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR, STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISES FROM REAR SUSPENSION. *AK THE ROD SPINDLE ROD SHEARING CAUSED BY CHATTING AGAINST RIGHT STABILIZER SHAFT MOUNTING BOLT STOP. (INBOARD SIDE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION SUPPORT) THE RIGHT SIDE HAD INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041343October 6, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 1998 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM THAT I PURCHASED NEW. MY HUSBAND AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF OUR CARS; ALWAYS DO ALL THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. IN FEBRUARY, OUR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK AND THE CAR ONLY HAD 76,000 MILES ON IT. THIS COST US OVER $900. MY HUSBAND HAS SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER BUICK AND GM PRODUCT OWNERS. MANY ARE FORMING GROUPS AND FILING PETITIONS AND CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS. MY GRANDFATHER AND UNCLE WERE CAR REPAIRMEN IN THE '70'S. EVEN BACK THEN, IT WAS UNHEARD OF TO HAVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS REPLACED. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT GM NEEDS TO OWN UP TO. PLEASE PURSUE GM THROUGH WHATEVER CHANNELS YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT. I HAVE HEARD OF A FEW LUCKY FOLKS WHO ARE GETTING REIMBURSED, IT SHOULD BE FOR ALL OF US. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041828September 29, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
INTERMITTENTLY THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATE POORLY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME. INDEPENDENT SHOP COULD NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040194September 17, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
THE RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT STOPPED OPERATING DUE TO A FAULTY SOCKET WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040216September 15, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
HOSE DISCONNECTED FROM THE GAS FILTER CAUSED GASOLINE TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE.*MR THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RECONNECT THE HOSE TO THE FILTER WHICH TEMPORARILY REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. AT A REPAIR SHOP, A NEW FILTER WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE MECHANIC INSTALLED THE FUEL FILTER. CONSUMER NOTICED THE CONNECTION FROM THE RUBBER HOSE TO THE FILTER WAS ONLY A PLASTIC SNAP AND NOT A SOLID CONNECTION LIKE THE OTHER END OF THE FILTER THAT GOES TO THE ENGINE. CONSUMER FELT THE PLASTIC SNAP COULD SNAP AGAIN AND CAUSE SERIOUS OR DEADLY INJURIES. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10026657September 4, 2003
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT DIDN'T TIGHTEN OR HOLD IT'S POSITION. THE CAR SEAT MOVED. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033023August 18, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
FAILURE OF BRAKES AND ABS SYSTEM ON MY 1998 BUICK CENTURY. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. I HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CAR WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED IT AND I HAD IT WORKED ON. BUT YET IT HAPPENED AGAIN, DUE TO THE BRAKES FAILING AND NOW I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033977August 14, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS. ONE YEAR AGO SHE HAD THEM REPLACED BY THE LOCAL MECHANIC, THEN TWICE THEY WERE CLEANED BY THE DEALER. AFTERWARDS, SHE HAD TO HAVE 3 OF THEM REPLACED. ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STATING THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE SERVICED SOON. ALL OF THIS STARTED WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK, AND SHE HAD IT CHECKED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HELP WITH ALL OF THIS SERVICING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10027079July 11, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER FELT THAT GM PARTS WERE OF POOR QUALITY, AS HE OWNED A BUICK BEFORE, THAT HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS AT LOW MILEAGE. THE SERVICE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE HOT CLIMATE CAUSED THE RUBBER INSIDE OF THE WHEEL CYLINDERS TO CRACK. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016197April 19, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FRONT DAY-TIME LIGHT/SIGNAL SOCKETS ARE OVERHEATING AND BURNING THE PLASTIC PARTS OF SOCKET & BULB. REPLACED BULB+SOCKET PRODUCED THE SAME RESULTS WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS. DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO INVESTIGATE UNLESS PAID. GM SAYS CAR OUT OF WARRANTY. BURNING SMELL WAS DETECTED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO BUT COULDN'T LOCATE THE SOURCE, ONLY AFTER THE FLASHER FAILED. BULB WAS STILL FUNCTIONING BUT THE ELECTRIC CONTACTS DID NOT FUNCTION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008001February 22, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 1998 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND AM VERY GOOD ABOUT PROPER MAINTENANCE. LAST WEEK MY HUSBAND NOTICED A FEW DROPS OF COOLANT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. HE CLEANED IT UP AND AGIN THE NEXT DAY, A FEW MORE DROPS. HE CHECKED THE HOSE CLAMPS AND HOSE CONDITIONS, THEY WERE FINE. HE CHECKED THE RESERVOIR WHERE YOU PUT IN DEXCOOL, IT WAS DRY. HE FILLED THE RESERVIOR AND DROVE THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC SO WE WOULD NOT DO ANY ENGINE DAMAGE. AFTER 2 DAYS AND $800, THE CAR HAS BEEN FIXED. NOW I NOTICE WHEN SEARCHING THE WEB, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS VERY SIMILAR TO MINE. UNFORTUNATELY, I ALSO NOTICED MANY WHERE THERE WERE FIRES OR ACCIDENTS. GM HAS TO FIX THIS AND AT LEAST PARTIALLY REIMBURSE THOSE LIKE ME WHO HAVE HAD TO PAY MAJOR REPAIR BILLS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009041February 21, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR SHIFT DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC SYSTEM PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001541December 27, 2002
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
RACK AND PINION STEERING PROBLEM. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND HAD FOUND THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ALSO THERE WAS A RECALL ON DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS WITH SAME PROBLEM; BUT, HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. TS...*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8024069December 10, 2002
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#02V286000 POWER STEERING. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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