Buick Century Complaints

1,816 consumer complaints on file.

#10158499May 29, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I NEVER KNEW SUCH A PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY CAR & NEVER INFORMED BY GM OR MY DEALER. NOW, I'VE HAD NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF NEAR MISSES. NEVER BEEN TAKEN SO BADLY IN MY LIFE. I PAID 28,000 FOR A CAR WORTH BARELY 3K NOW, WHAT A JOKE! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154944April 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A FAULTY CAM SHAFT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154914April 9, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
SUBJECT OF COMPLAINT IS THE POWER WINDOWS ON OUR 2001 BUICK CENTURY. I'M A MECHANIC AND DO MY BEST TO KEEP THIS CAR IN TOP SHAPE. BUT GM USED SOME VERY CRAPPY MATERIALS WHEN BUILDING THE POWER WINDOW REGULATORS. THE SYSTEM WORKS FINE UNTIL A SMALL PLASTIC PART THAT HOLDS THE OPERATING CABLES TOGETHER BREAKS. THIS PIECE PROBABLY COST THE GENERAL ABOUT $.05 TO MAKE AND IS NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH GM DEALERS. INSTEAD YOU HAVE TO BUY A COMPLETE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR ASSY. WITH MOTOR FOR BETWEEN $ 325.00- $400.00 DEPENDING ON WHICH DEALER YOU TALK TO. I'M NOW REPLACING THE THIRD REGULATOR ASSY. ON THIS CAR WITH ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT AND ALL WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME WAY. ALL ON DIFFERENT DOORS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153853March 27, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES OUT OF CONTROL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING IS TO MANUALLY TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER; UPON INSPECTION THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE AT THE THROTTLE BODY CAME LOOSE. THE CABLE WAS RECONNECTED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED TEMPORALLY. THE VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE WITH THE ACCELERATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. UPDATED 04/11/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153535March 23, 2006
STRUCTURE
MY 2003 BUICK CENTURY'S WINDSHIELD LOWER SEAL FAILED AROUND THE CABIN-FILTER AREA AND ALLOWED WATER TO RUN DOWN THE FIREWALL AND INTO MY CAR UNDER MY CARPETING AND POOL ON THE FLOOR. THIS CORRODED THE WIRES LEADING TO MY POWER DRIVER'S SEAT. THESE WIRES ALSO LEAD TO A DEVICE THAT CONTROLS THE AIRBAGS (A SENSOR?). GM TOOK MY SEATS, CONSOLE AND CARPETING OUT TO FIX THE WIRING. HAD THE AIRBAG NEEDED TO DEPLOY, I DOUBT IT WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE CONDITION OF THE WIRING, AND/OR IT CERTAINLY WOULD MOST LIKELY CORRODE THAT SENSOR SOONER OR LATER, RENDERING IT AND THEREFORE THE AIRBAG, USELESS. THE GM MECHANIC SAID THAT,"THIS HAS BEEN A DESIGN FLAW BY GM FOR MANY YEARS WITH THE BUICK CENTURY" -- I THINK HE MENTIONED 2002 TO 2004 MODELS. HE SAID HE'S SEEN THIS MANY TIMES. THE MANAGER AT THE BUICK DEALER SAID THAT HE TOLD THE GM REPRESENTATIVE FROM THEIR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE OFFICE THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT DUE TO ME AS THE OWNER, WAS NOT DUE TO THE AGING OF THE CAR, AND THAT HE HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM MANY TIMES. GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DANGER TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. GM ALSO REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THIS IS THEIR DESIGN FLAW, DESPITE THEIR OWN SERVICE MANAGERS AND MECHANICS SAYING THAT IT IS. GM REFUSES TO PAY FOR ANY PART OF THE REPAIRS. GM SAYS YOU HAVE TO BE THE ORIGINAL OWNER, GET IT SERVICED AT THIS PARTICULAR GM DEALER REGULARLY, AND BECAUSE IT HAS 73,000 MILES ON IT THEY "CAN NOT HELP". WHAT DIFFERENCE DO THESE VARIABLES MAKE? MY CARPET IS NASTY (COST TO REPLACE "JUST THE CARPET" -- $500.00), MY POWER SEAT WILL PROBABLY WORK NOW, I'M OUT $500.00+ FOR LABOR, AND I CAN'T COUNT ON MY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH. IN MY OPINION, THE 2003 BUICK CENTURY IS DANGEROUS GM'S FAILING TO FIX OR ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT FAILURE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. AND IT'S COSTING ITS CONSUMERS $100.00'S OF DOLLARS TO FIX ON OUR OWN, AND WHO KNOWS HOW MANY LIVES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153089March 18, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO CONSUMER COMPLAINT # ODI CASE NUMBER 10061519. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME COMPLAINT OF THE SLOSHING OF THE GAS WITHIN THE TANK, BUT MY COMPLAINT GOES ONE STEP FURTHER , THERE IS A CLUNK CLUNK ASSOCIATED WITH THE SLOSHING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153049March 17, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAY STRAIGHT UP/DOWN. THEY DON'T REST IN THE PROPER PLACE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152401March 10, 2006
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, VISIBILITY: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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152209March 8, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SWITCHING THE HEADLIGHTS FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM THEY TEMPORARILY GO OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND OFFERED TO REPLACE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DECLINED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152187March 8, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 BUICK CENTURY WITH 78,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND HAVE NO CURRENT WARRANTY. RECENTLY, THE LOW COOLANT DASH LIGHT BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE, WHICH PROMPTED ME TO CHECK THEE COOLANT LEVEL AND SEARCH THE UNDERNEATH OF MY VEHICLE. THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS NOT LOW; HOWEVER, THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF COOLANT ON THE GROUND. I DID EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND IDENTIFIED THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GM VEHICLE OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT SYSTEMS IN THEIR GM VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. GM CLAIMS THAT THE DEX COOL COOLANT, WHICH IS REQUIRED IN THEIR VEHICLES, LASTS FOR 150,000 MILES OF VEHICLE USE WITHOUT NEEDING TO BE CHANGED. HOWEVER, MY INTERNET RESEARCH OF OTHERS'' COMPLAINTS, AND THE SERVICE REPAIRMAN AT MY LOCAL GARAGE, CONFIRMED THAT THE DEX COOL COOLANT THROUGH THE LOWER GASKET AT APPROXIMATELY 70-80,000 MILES, REQUIRING A NEW LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND A COOLANT FLUSH, AS WELL AS A NECESSARY OIL CHANGE BECAUSE THE COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE OIL DUE TO THE FAULTY GASKETS (AND IN TURN CAUSES DECREASED LUBRICATION IN THE ENGINE AND RUINS THE BEARINGS WHICH IS ALSO A COSTLY PROBLEM.) AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR $900, I AM TOLD BY MY SERVICE REPAIRMAN THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AGAIN IN ANOTHER 70-80,000 MILES, SHOULD I OWN THE VEHICLE FOR THAT LONG. THERE ARE SEVERAL PETITIONS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS FAULTY EQUIPMENT, ADVOCATING FOR A GM RECALL. GM, HOWEVER, HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST INCURRED FOR THE REPLACEMENT ON THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON AFFECTED GM VEHICLES, AS THEY CLAIM THE SYSTEM IS GOOD FOR 150,000 MILES WITH THE DEX COOL COOLANT, WHICH IS CLEARLY A FALSE CLAIM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151813March 5, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE POWER STEERING ON MY BUICK ONLY HAS POWER ASSIST WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT THE STEERING BINDS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151785March 4, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
FAILURE OF COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. VEHICLE IS 1999 BUICK CENTURY WITH ONLY 41000 ORIGINAL MILES. ENGINE OIL LEAKED INTO COOLING RADIATOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151594March 2, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE REAR BRAKES MADE A GROANING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE REAR BRAKES. THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED. TOOK VEHICLE TO SCHUMACHER DEALERSHIPIN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA. THEY FOUND THE WHEEL CYLINDERS LEAKING AND BRKAE SHOES SOAKED WITH FLUID, AND THEY REPLACED THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AND BRAKE SHOES. THE TOTAL BILL WAS $735.09 WITH $618.17 FOR TOTAL BRAKE JOB.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151879February 14, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER'S 2001 BUICK CENTURY STALLS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN. *TS *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149628February 7, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELS ALONG 113 IN KANKAKEE IL AT APPROX 55 MPH, AS VEHICLE ENTERED A BEND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLES RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A LEFT SIDE SPIN OVER THE EMBANKMENT AND INTO A FENCE POLL. VEHICLE DID ROLL POSSIBLY TWO TIME. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, IF ANYBODY ELSE WAS IN THE VEHICLE THEY WOULD BE DEAD. DRIVE DID SUFFER MULTIPLE INJURES BUT WAS ALIVE, AS THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPT PUT IT LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THE TIRE IN WHICH THE TREAD SEPARATED WAS A FIRESTONE FR440 DOT #EJTUDJD288. VEHICLE WAS A 94 BUICK CENTURY IN GOOD MECH SHAPE INSPECTED APROX 1,000 MILE PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER STATED THE WAS DRIVING FINE UP TO THE ACCIDENT, NO VIBRATIONS, PULLING, NOISE ETC. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10149410February 3, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
WIPERS HAVE FAILED TWICE DURING MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN. WIPER ARMS GET OUT OF SYNC AND HANG UP TOGETHER IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. DEALER HAS CHARGED TO TIGHTEN NUT ON BLADES, BUT HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A CROWDED BRIDGE AT NIGHT IN THE DRIVING RAIN CREATING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149305February 2, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEAD LIGHT AIMING DEVICE ON THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 99V356000, REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, IT IS STILL HAVING THE TYPE OF PROBLEMS AS BEFORE THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES CONCERNING THE HEADLIGHT AIMING DEVICES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149747January 25, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
CONSUMER TURNED ON HIGH BEAM IN 2001 BUICK CENTURY AND ALL LIGHTING FAILED INSIDE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A SWITCH THAT WAS SHORTENING OUT THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME SHE HAD A SWITCH REPLACED, IT WAS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149754January 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2001 BUICK CENTURY ENGINE PISTON CRACKED DAMAGING THE CYLINDER WALL. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148056January 18, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES TO UNKNOWN SPEEDS. THERE IS NO PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON IS TURNED OFF. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST IT CONTINUES TO WORSEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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