Buick Century Complaints
1,816 consumer complaints on file.
- #10519430June 12, 2013EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ALL LIGHTS (EXT AND CONTROL PANEL) WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT. IF I QUICKLY FLICK THE LIGHT CONTROL LEVER THEY COME BACK ON. THIS IS AN INTERMITTANT PROBLEM BUT QUITE UN NERVING! I HAVE SEEN NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLITEN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10514484May 31, 2013VISIBILITY/WIPER
AFTER A SNOWFALL, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT PARK, STOOD STRAIGHT UP AND OBSTRUCTED MY VIEW. I CALLED BUICK AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO MY DEALERSHIP AND IT WOULD BE REPAIRED. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S MODEL HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE WIPERS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TWO MECHANICS THAT MY CAR HAS THE EXACT ISSUE AS THE PREVIOUS MODEL. I FIND THAT THIS IS A DANGER TO MYSELF, MY CHILDREN AND OTHER DRIVERS/PASSENGERS AND FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10513393May 24, 2013POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD BECOME HOT, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP BETWEEN GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED OR WHEN IN ANY GEAR. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT OFF AND ALLOW THE ENGINE TO COOL OFF IN ORDER TO TEMPORARILY REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SOLENOID PRESSURE VALVE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10513206May 22, 2013SERVICE BRAKES
WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 YOUNG BOYS, NEEDED TO STOP AND THE BRAKES BECAME VERY SPONGY. PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND A BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10512699May 19, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CAR WILL SPEED UP ON ITS OWN WHILE THE FOOT IS OFF THE PEDAL. ALSO, WHEN I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT A LIGHT, THE CAR WILL START REVVING UP AS IF I HAD MY FOOT ON BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED TO NO AVAIL. WHAT COULD THESE BE? I AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY I WILL GET IN AN ACCIDENT DO TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10511450May 10, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE PANEL LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10510943May 7, 2013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
STARTED CAR AND GASOLINE STARTED GUSHING OUT FROM BENEATH THE CAR BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND THE FRONT WHEEL-WELL. AS THE CAR WAS PARTLY IN THE GARAGE, I DROVE IT OUT OF THE GARAGE AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THIS STOPPED THE FLOW OF GASOLINE. A MECHANIC LATER DETERMINED THAT THE PLASTIC GAS LINE HAD FAILED AND, AFTER CUTTING-OFF THE DAMAGED PART, HE SPLICED THE LINE BACK TOGETHER WITH A BRASS COUPLING. THAT SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM, FOR NOW. THE REALLY SCARY THING IS THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GM CARS "OUT THERE" IN GARAGES AND ON THE ROAD WITH DETERIORATING PLASTIC GAS LINES! PROBABLY SOME OTHER BRANDS, AS WELL. AN ACQUAINTANCE OF MINE HAD THE SAME GAS LINE FAILURE ON HIS 1996 OLDSMOBILE CIERA. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10510816May 6, 2013POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. THE CONTACT TURNED POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 06/17/13 *BF
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10504322March 24, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 BUICK CENTURY HAS A HARD SHIFT CONDITION THAT WAS DIAGNOSED AT 2 DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION SHOPS AS A PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID FAILURE THAT IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS CAR. ONE OF THE SHOPS SAID THE PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR EVEN WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE PART UNLESS A SHIFT KIT IS INSTALLED.AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON LINE IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT THE SHOPS ARE CORRECT IN THEIR DIAGNOSIS. WHY HAS THIS ISSUE NOT BEEN A RECALL! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10501846March 6, 2013TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10501009March 2, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS AN ADDENDUM TO COMPLAINT/ODI #10499646...THIS WAS THE SCARIEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE, DRIVING ALONE IN DARKNESS, AT 55MPH, AND WITHOUT WARNING, HEADLIGHTS & DASH JUST SHUT-OFF !! NO OTHER VEHICLES ON ROAD TO HELP LIGHT MY WAY, COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD & GOT KILLED, ONLY HAD THIS CAR 10DAYS!! THOUGHT I GOT A GOOD DEAL TOO, BUT NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE AT NIGHT. SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH GM CUSTOMER RELATIONS SPECIALIST ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHO SENT ME TO THEIR GM DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. AFTER GM REP SPOKE WITH THEIR DEALERSHIP, THEY DECIDED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, AND MILEAGE, THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO ASSIST!! I CANNOT UNDERSTAND, NOR WILL I ACCEPT, HOW THIS SITUATION COULD BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A "SAFETY ISSUE"!! NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED ON THIS SAME VEHICLE, AND MANY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, JUST FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE, WAITING FOR THE NEXT POOR, UNSUSPECTING BUYER. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GM PRODUCT, AND I WILL ALSO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO DISCOURAGE "ANYONE" I KNOW FROM DOING SO. THEY WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, WHICH IS NOW MY PROBLEM. AS I TOLD THE GM REP, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOT LIVED TO TELL "THEIR" STORY...(NO RESPONSE FROM THEM ON THAT COMMENT). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10499646February 22, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10489152December 18, 2012SERVICE BRAKES
BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY MY BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE BRAKE LINES HAVE COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT CAUSING A REAR BRAKE LINE TO BURST. ALL FOUR BRAKE LINES HAVE NOW BEEN REPLACED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10488788December 14, 2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE HEADLIGHTS STILL DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAD TO BE USED WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN MAY HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,300. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10487959December 11, 2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH FAILED AND THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10487750December 8, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
I HAVE A 2002 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED AND WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE LOW TRAC LIGHT CAME ON, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHUTTERING AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN BRAKING. IT ALSO PULLS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE BRAKES ARE HARD TO PRESS. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND THERE ARE NONE OF THE SYMPTOMS UNTIL THE LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAULTY WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND WAS GOING TO GET IT REPAIRED WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR OVERHEATED. I GET THE CAR SERVICED REGULARLY AND IT HAS NEVER OVERHEATED BEFORE. AFTER HAVING THE THERMOSTAT AND THE WATER PUMP CHANGED I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS EITHER THE INTAKE GASKET OR THE HEAD GASKET. I WAS TOLD THE DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE BREAKS THE GASKETS DOWN AND THE CAR COULD LEAK ANTIFREEZE WITHOUT BEING NOTICED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME WHERE IT'LL HAVE TO SIT UNTIL I CAN AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. I OWN THE CAR AND I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD THE PRICES THAT MECHANICS WANT TO CHARGE TO FIX THE GASKETS. I FOUND INFORMATION ONLINE THAT BUICK KNEW ABOUT THE DEXCOOL AND HAD A RECALL BUT IT'S NO LONGER ACTIVE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY. I THINK THEY SHOULD FIX THEIR MISTAKES AND NOT MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS PAY FOR THEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10484029November 12, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'VE HAD MY BUICK CENTURY FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS NOW, OVER THE YEARS THE QUALITY OF MY CAR HAS SERIOUSLY DETERIORATED. MOST OF MY PROBLEMS ARE ELECTRICAL. WHEN I START MY CAR - NOT ONLY DOES IT LIKE TO TRY AND START ON IT'S OWN WHEN I PUT MY KEY INTO ACCESSORY (BATTERY MODE). THIS HAS MADE ME GO THROUGH ABOUT 3 STARTERS INCLUDING IT'S ORIGINAL, BUT ONCE IT HAS STARTED I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO POWER. EVENTUALLY IT WILL COME ON. DURING THE SUMMER WITH THE HEAT IT SEEMS LIKE IT NEVER WANTS TO WORK. IT WILL USUALLY START WITH NO PROBLEMS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. BUT NOW WITH WINTER COMING I AM SEEING THAT ELECTRICAL ISSUES ARE CONTINUING, WHEREAS THE ELECTRICITY DOES NOT COME ON. I HAVE NO RADIO, NO SPEEDOMETER, NO GAS, NO MILEAGE, NOTHING. MY HEAT IS ALSO NOT COMING ON. THE FUSE BOX SWITCH SEEMS TO BE BLOWN OR SOMETHING EVERY FUSE THAT GOES INTO THE FUSE SOCKET FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR OR RELAY POPS AND NO LONGER WORKS. ALONG WITH THIS I HAD A FUSE FIRE IN MY CAR (I THINK). IT HAPPENED IN MY DOOR WHEN I WAS ROLLING MY WINDOWS DOWN ONE DAY. EVER SINCE THEN MY WINDOWS DO NOT WORK THE SAME, AND OVER TIME THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. I'VE CHANGED THE CONTROLLER TWICE AND IT DOESN'T WORK. ALONG WITH THE WINDOW ISSUES- WHEN MY CONTROLLER DID WORK- MY WINDOWS LIKED TO GET STUCK. YOU COULD ROLL THEM DOWN BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME BACK UP. ONE WINTER I WAS DRIVING HOME I HAD AN HOUR LONG DRIVE AND 5 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW ROLLED DOWN ALL ON ITS OWN AND WAS STUCK. LUCKILY IT WAS JUST VERY COLD AND NOT SNOWING. ALL OF THESE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ADDING ON OVER THE YEARS. THE FIRST PROBLEM THAT I EVER HAD WAS THE FUSE FIRE IN MY WINDOW. MY NEXT ISSUE OF CONCERN IS THE FLOODING THAT IS HAPPENING IN MY CAR. IT ONLY OCCURS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR ON THE FLOOR. THERE SEEMS TO BE ABSOLUTELY NO SOURCE FOR WHERE THIS WATER IS COMING FROM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10481382October 22, 2012VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DRIVERS WINDOW WILL GO DOWN WHEN YOU PUT KEY IN IGNITION RIGHT BEFORE YOU START VEHICLE. AFTER IT GOES DOWN YOU MUST WAIT 10 SECONDS OR SO AND YOU CAN PUT WINDOW UP. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE MY 2007 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER IS BEING RECALLED FOR. BUT THE BUICK CENTURY IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10479331October 9, 2012STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAINED CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10476912September 24, 2012ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,784 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,556.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0