Buick Century Complaints

1,816 consumer complaints on file.

#10218760February 21, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CORROSION (RUST THROUGH/FAILURE) OF FRONT/RIGHT METAL BRAKE LINE IN 1999 BUICK CENTURY (9 YR OLD CAR, 96K MILES). THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY MUSHY AND WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE GROUND. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS IT WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION/RUST THROUGH. THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AT SOME TIME DURING MY MANEUVER TO AVOID A COLLISION, BUT I DIDN'T NOTICE IT UNTIL AFTER THE INCIDENT, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT CONTRIBUTED TO THE VERY MINOR CONTACT CAUSED BY THE OTHER VEHICLE ENTERING MY LANE WITHOUT WARNING, BUT I WILL CHECK THE "CRASH" BOX BELOW BECAUSE BRAKE LINE FAILURE HAPPENED SOME TIME DURING A VERY MINOR CRASH (TOUCHING OF TWO CARS). IN THE SEARCH FOR MY NEXT CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY AND COROLLA AS WELL AS HONDA ACCORD APPEAR TO USE "COATED" BRAKE AND GAS LINES TO PREVENT CORROSION FAILURES (COULD SEE A BLACK COATING AND NOT JUST BARE STEEL). FROM NOW ON, I WILL NEVER BUY A VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT HAVE COATED LINES (OR STAINLESS STEEL). COATING THESE LINES (OR USING STAINLESS STEEL) IS SUCH AN EASY SAFETY PRECAUTION. MOST MUFFLER PIPES ARE NOW STAINLESS STEEL, SO WHY IS THE NHTSA NOT MAKING IT MANDATORY FOR MANUFACTURERS TO COAT OR USE S.S. FOR BRAKE LINES AND GAS LINES? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214572January 12, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
ODOMETER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE,CANNOT TELL WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN OR MILEAGE ON CAR. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER,THAT THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM WITH THE CENTURY MODEL,AND WOULD COST BETWEEN 250-1000. DOLLAR TO REPAIR ,PLUS DEALER COULD NOT GIVE A TIME FRAME OF HOW LONG VEHICLE WOULD BE IN SHOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215009January 11, 2008
SEATS
2003 BUICK CENTURY UNDER SEAT BRACKET INJURED THE CHILD. CONSUMER STATES THAT HER DAUGHTER CUT 90% OF HER ACHILLES TENDON ON THE BRACKET. SHE WAS SHOCKED TO FIND SUCH A SHARP AND DANGEROUS EQUIPMENT IN HER VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER HAD TO HAVE SURGERY THE SAME DAY OF THE INCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10213384January 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RAIN WOULD LEAK BEHIND THE DASHBOARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE WOULD NOT OCCUR IF PARKED AT AN ANGLE OR ON A HILL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,200, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,800. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED A POOL OF WATER WAS ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO RAINWATER LEAKING FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213053December 28, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE EVENING RECENTLY, I ATTEMPTED TO DIM MY LIGHTS FOR AN ONCOMING VEHICLE AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND I HAD NO LOW BEAMS. I ONLY HAD HIGHBEAMS. HAD TO REPLACE THE DIMMER SWITCH, WHICH OF COURSE OPERATES EVERYTHING ELSE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY LIGHTS WENT OUT FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS, THEN NO PROBLEMS UNTIL I LOST MY LOW BEAMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212320December 19, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
AT TIMES WHEN USE THE DIMMER SWITCH ON MY 2003 BUICK CENTURY, THE HEAD LIGHTS GO OUR COMPLETELY. WHEN I REFLICK THE DIMMER SWITCH, THE LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON, THIS PROPOSES A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESP. IF ONE DOESN'T KNOW THAT REFLICKING THE SWITCH WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE SITUATION IS EVEN MORE DANGEROUS IN THE LATE TWILIGHT, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED W/ MY WIFE. SHE DROVE SEVERAL MILES BEFORE ARRIVING HOME, COMPLETELY UNAWARE THAT SHE WAS DRIVING W/O HEADLIGHT. I JUST RETRIEVED MY BUICK FROM THE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY INSTALLED AN ENTIRE UNIT FOR ME AT A COST OF 500.00. MORE THAN LIKELY THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER CENTURY OWNERS. THE REPAIR COST WAS BAD ENOUGH, BUT THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY, IF I HAD NOT DETECTED THE PROBLEM AND HAD IT REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211936December 14, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:LUBRICANT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE 2003 HAS A NUMBER OF ISSUES. 1. THE LIGHTS TURN OFF AT RANDOM IN THE DARK. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. 2. THE BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED ROUGHLY EVERY 8 MONTHS. MY MECHANIC SAID THE BUICK CENTURY HAS BRAKES THAT ARE NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR. COSTLY! 3. OIL SYSTEM LEAKS, COMPLETE BREAKDOWN. $1200 TO REPLACE THE SYSTEM. 4. THE DIALS ON THE TEMP CONTROL COME OFF. I AM TRADING THIS POS OFF BEFORE IT COSTS ME MORE MONEY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211755December 12, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS ON MY 65,000MI 2002 BUICK CENTURY JUST QUIT AND THEN COME BACK ON. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 4 FOUR TIMES. THE OTHER TIMES IT APPEARED AS THOUGH I MISCLICKED, BUT THE LAST TIME I HAD TO PULL OVER AND CLICK THE DIMMER SWITCH 30+ TIMES. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AND I BARELY WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME FROM 55 MPH. THE OUTER HEADLIGHTS ARE ONLY ON IN LOW BEAM AND THE INNER ONLY ON HIGH BEAM. THERE ARE 4 HEADLIGHTS THIS CAN'T BE RIGHT ALL 4 SHOULD BE ON IN HIGH BEAM SETTING ON. NEED TO CHECK ON THIS HEADLIGHT OPERATION ISSUE, BUT FELT I SHOULD PASS THIS ON THAT THESE GM MODELS DO THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208750November 13, 2007
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
AT 44,9XX MILES THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW IN MY 2002 BUICK CENTURY FAILED. THE REGULATOR FAILED AND THE WINDOW DROPPED OF IT'S OWN ACCORD. I WAS ON A TRIP AND HAD TO LEAVE MY WINDOW OPEN FOR 2 DAYS UNTIL I RETURNED AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS. IT COST ME A $100.00, (EXTENDED WARRANTY), BUT THE BS WITH HAVING IT FAIL FOR NO REASON, JUST PISSES ME OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208409November 8, 2007
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HIS CHEST CAUSED BY STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,355.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10208212November 7, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 BUICK CENTURY FAILS TO READILY DOWNSHIFT ON DECELERATION, AND BUCKS SEVERELY DURING NORMAL DRIVE AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. REPAIR SHOPS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207543October 31, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 2-20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED EXTREMELY HARD WHEN SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SOLENOID VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE. AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR ON THE CONSISTENT BASIS. UPDATED 12/31/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207044October 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BOUGHT VEHICLE IN 01.20.07 WITH 56,943 MILES (2002 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM). SOMETIME (AROUND 62,000 MILES) NOTICE ENGINE HESITATES, AFTER WARMING UP, HESITATION DISAPPEARS. ASKED MY MECHANIC AND HIS FIRST QUESTION WAS IF WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OFF THE TAIL PIPE, I SAID NO. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER, AT STARTUP (EARLY IN THE MORNING) THE TAIL PIPE SMOKED FOR A GOOD 2 TO 3 MINUTES, AGAIN, ONCE WARMED, STOPPED, AND ENGINE RUN WELL. THIS WENT ON FOR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS, DURING THIS PERIOD I ASKED AGAIN MY MECHANIC, BUT THIS TIME I MENTIONED THE WHITE SMOKE, NO OIL SMELL, HIS RESPONSE WAS I WAS BURNING ANTIFREEZE. WENT BACK TO DEALER TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO TO HELP ME, LEFT THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSIS, THEN THEY OFFER ME A 15% DISCOUNT ON PARTS OF AND ESTIMATED $1500.00 WORK. SINCE THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE, I CALLED BUICK, EXPLAIN SITUATION, AND ALSO MENTIONED FACT THAT AN ENGINE THIS AGE - MILEAGE - THIS KIND OF FAILURE WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. AFTER 4 CALLS FROM BUICK, IT TOOK BUICK 2 WEEKS TO COME BACK WITH HA RESOLUTION: THAT THE BEST THEY COULD DO WAS 15% DISCOUNT ON PARTS AND 15% ON LABOR. AT SOME POINT I WANTED TO PICKUP THE CAR AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. MEANTIME, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT NHTSA DID HANDLE THIS TYPE OF ISSUES. FURTHER RESEARCH IN THE NHTSA WEB SITE SHOWED THAT (LIKE MY MECHANIC TOLD ME) THIS WAS A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON 10.25.07 AT A FINAL COST OF $1,157.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206676October 23, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND MERGING TO THE LEFT, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT MAY HAVE DRIVEN OVER SOMETHING TO CAUSE THE FAILURE. AS OF OCTOBER 23, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207150October 23, 2007
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2002 BUICK CENTURY WITH WINDOW PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATED THAT ONE DEALER GAVE HER AN ESTIMATE $200 MORE THAN ANOTHER DEALER. SHE WENT WITH THE CHEAPER DEALER AND WINDOWS ARE WORKING FINE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE OTHER 2 WINDOWS HAD ALSO FAILED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206038October 4, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
2003 BUICK CENTURY WITH LEAKING BRAKE CYLINDERS. CUSTOMER STATES THE DEALER TOLD HIM THIS WAS CAUSED BY HITTING A POT HOLE. SHE SAYS THE BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE SERVICED OR BE A PROBLEM AT 18,000 MILES. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203164September 17, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT ALL THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY REPLACING ALL OF THE PARTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202519September 11, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AT 61,233 MILES,719 DOLLAR REPAIR. *JB UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB THE LOWER INTAKE MAIFOLD GASKET, THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED AS WELL. UPDATED .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202054September 6, 2007
PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:HYDRAULIC
EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT ENGAGE. VEHICLE ROLLS FORWARD AFTER THE BRAKE HAS BEEN ENGAGED WHEN PARKING ON A HILL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO GET REPAIRED, THE DRUMS WERE TIGHTENED AND CAR STOPPED ROLLING FORWARD. 6 MONTHS LATER THE CAR IS ROLLING AGAIN WHEN PARKED ON A HILL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201820September 4, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED EXTREMELY HARD AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 60 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT A COMPUTER SHOULD DIAGNOSIS THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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