1993 Buick Century Compact Passenger CAR

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/1994· SUSPENSION

  MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. *AK

• 12/22/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  1993 BUICK CENTURY EXPERIENCED VEHICLE FIRE.*MR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR JERKED A LITTLE AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER HEARD A POP AND SAW SMOKE, HE THEN PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FIRE. *CB *JB

• 12/21/1999· WHEELS

  WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE ALL FOUR TIRES CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE TIRES DUE TO THE STEEL RIMS WHICH WERE TOO CLOSE TO THE HUB, PREVENTING THE TIRES TO BE REMOVED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 12/12/1996· STEERING

  WHILE DRIVING HEARD A THUMPING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS DUE TO LOOSE FRONT INNER TIE ROD; ALSO, REPLACED LEAKING RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK

• 12/09/2000· SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE

  DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FALLS OPEN, EVEN WHEN LOCKED; SEAT BELT TIGHTENS AS IF THERE WAS IMPACT AND PULLS DRIVER TOWARD THE OPEN DOOR. *AK

• 12/06/1995· SEAT BELTS

  THE FRONT SEAT BELTS BLOCK THE VIEW . PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

• 11/27/1995· AIR BAGSCrash

  DURING HEAD ON COLLISION DRIVER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

• 11/18/1999· POWER TRAINCrash

  WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO CROSS TRAIN TRACKS TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE STUCK ON THE TRACKS, AND THE TRAIN RAN INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/10/1999· AIR BAGS

  AIRBAG HOUSING IS SPLITING DOWN THE CENTER. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE . ALSO, MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 11/06/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CLUSTER MODULE 'SILENT SENT' REMOVED, HOWEVER LIGHT STILL COMES ON. *SD

• 10/25/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  OTHER: AIRBAG FAILURE.

• 10/24/1995· AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND PUSHED THE DRIVER TO THE LEFT SIDE AND CAUSED HIM TO BREAK HIS SHOULDER. TT VEHICLE'S ACCELERATOR STUCK CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A WALL, THERE WAS ONE INJURY IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

• 10/18/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THERE WAS A BOOM, WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL, AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT A ROD BLEW. THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN. BUICK HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

• 10/03/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH THIS VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BUICK HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

• 09/30/1996· STEERING

  STEERING CABLE VIBRATING AGAINST AIR CONDITIONING PIPE, CAUSING A HOLE/FREON LEAK.

• 09/11/1995· SEAT BELTS

  CALLER FEELS DOOR MOUNTED SEAT BELTS ARE NOT SAFE, IN CASE OF CAUSE AND DOOR OPENS, IT WOULDN'T PROTECT PASSENGERS. TT

• 09/11/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL WHEN ENGAGED IN DRIVE, REGAIN CONTROL, THEN PUT IT IN PARK AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AGAIN. TT

• 09/10/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  PLASTIC HORN BUTTONS(HALF MOON SHAPE)WILL NOT FIT IN SPACES PROVIDED AS THEY ARE DISTORED DUE TO THE HEAT IN CAR. THESE MUST BE PRESSED TO HAVE HONK THE HORN & CAN'T BE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T FIT.

• 09/09/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  AT 50 MPH , DRIVER HIT CEMENT PILLAR WHICH DAMAGED ENTIRE FRONT END. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. *AK

• 09/02/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ACCELERATOR CABLE FROM FIRE WALL RUNS RIGHT UP A LONG AIR CONDITIONING LINE, CAUSING THE CABLE TO RUB UP AND DOWN RUBBING A HOLE THROUGH THE LINE, SHOOTING FREON IN THE AIR.

• 08/20/1996· POWER TRAINCrash

  W/IGNITION OFF AND KEYS REMOVED TWO YEAR OLD CHILD MOVED GEAR SHIFT LEVER, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL/ACCIDENT.

• 08/18/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  CONSUMER NOTICED WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TECHNICIAN WHO SERVICED VEHICLE REPLACED BRAKES DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

• 08/14/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  DURING A FRONT ACCIDENT AT 35 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

• 08/06/1995· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL FILTER INSTALLED BACKWARDS, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL/FAIL AND STEERING TO LOCK UP. *SD

• 07/31/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  HORN DESIGN DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE EXCESSIVE FORCE NECESSARY.

• 07/26/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  CONSUMER WAS PUTTING CAR INTO THE GARAGE AND CAR ACCELERATE . TT

• 07/24/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURECrash

  DRIVING CAR DOWN BLVD, RAINY & SLICK RDS, APPLIED BRAKES WHICH LOCKED UP, REARENDED ANOTHER CAR, BUMPER DID NOT WORK, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

• 07/14/1999· AIR BAGS

  DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING, POSSIBLE FAILURE. *YC

• 07/09/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE THROTTLE STICKS AND CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SURGE UNEXPECTENTLY AND THEBRAKE DOES NOT STOP THE CAR. *AK

• 06/29/1999· AIR BAGS

  DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE CAUSING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. MJS

• 06/26/1996· EQUIPMENT

  ROOF RACK INSTALLED IMPROPERLY, CAUSING RACK PLUS LUGGAGE TO FLY OFF VEHICLE. *DH

• 06/10/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 60MPH WHEN 18-WHEELER TRACTOR TRAILER CROSSED INTO BUICK'S LANE. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE TRACTOR TRAILER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE PICKED UP BUICK. *AK

• 06/09/2000· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,STRUCTURE

  WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. TECHNICIAN OPENED THE HOOD, AND FOUND OUT THAT COVER UNDER THE HOOD (LOOKED LIKE A BLANKET FOR NOISE OR FIRE) HAD ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALSO, NO POWER STEERING. PIECES THAT CAME LOOSE WENT DOWN INTO THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING IT TO BURN UP. VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML

• 06/09/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

• 05/17/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HOSES REPAIRED AFTER RECALL.

• 05/11/2004· SEAT BELTS

  FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE ATTACHED TO THE DOORS, AND WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPENED, THE SEAT BELTS EXTEND FORWARD. CONSUMER FEELS THIS FEATURE POSSES A SAFETY RISK BECAUSE IF THE DOORS FLINGS OPEN IN AN ACCIDENT THEY WILL NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS IN THEIR SEAT. *AK *NM

• 05/04/2000· POWER TRAIN

  TWO STANDARD TRANSMISSION FAILED

• 05/02/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES FAILED SIX TIMES. *DSH

• 04/30/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES THREE TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 1997. THEY STILL DON'T WORK WELL. THERE MUST BE A FACTORY DEFECT! WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? *AK

• 04/26/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  INTERMITTENT STALLING. DEALER REPLACED COMPUTER. HOWEVER, STALLING CONTINUES.

• 04/24/2001· EQUIPMENT

  SHIFT CABLE HAS WORN A HOLE IN AIR CONDITONER AND LOST FLUIDS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

• 04/23/1996· SUSPENSION

  VIBRATION IN FRONT END NEAR THE STEERING. PLS DESCRIBE IN MORE DETAIL. *AK

• 04/07/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCrash

  VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL RESULTING IN A COLLISION.

• 03/26/2001· TIRESCrash

  CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY AND REAR LEFT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIM. VEHICLE WENT INTO A WATER ENBANKMENT OF EIGHT FEET. VEHICLE WAS SUBMERGED UNDER WATER, BUT CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE THROUGH DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW . VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. FIRESTONE TIRES 205-70-R14 S-S60,DOT E2PGF5A44. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

• 03/16/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE POSITION, PUT INTO GEAR, VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION IN REVERSE IMPACT 6:00 POSITION, HIT A PARKED VEHICLE, LOST CONTROL. TT

• 03/14/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE DEFROSTER WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT THEN SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE DEFROSTER AREA. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM HIS RESIDENCE AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF BUT THE SMOKE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT THEN OPENED THE HOOD AND A FIRE ERUPTED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A KNEE INFECTION FROM ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM HIS RESIDENCE. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 230,000. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ THE CONSUMER LISTED WIRING HARNESS AS THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/12/11

• 03/05/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED WITHIN 18,000 MILES. *AK

• 03/03/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  MY CAR DIES WHEN THE GAS TANK BEGINS TO GET $3.50 AWAY FROM BEING FULL. WHEN IT DIES IT WILL NOT RESTART FOR APPROXIMATELY FOR 15 MINUTES. THE GAS GAUGE DIAL BEGINS TO WAVER FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHEN THE GAS GAUGE IS AROUND $3.50 DOWN FROM BEING FULL. WHEN THE GAS GAUGE BEGINS TO WAVER THAT IS A SIGN TO ME THAT I MUST FILL THE CAR UP AGAIN OR IT WILL SOON STALL. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP OFF AND ON FOR 11 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BUT IT HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. WE LOVE THIS CAR. IT HAS SERVED US WELL AND WE HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS TO SPEAK OF UNTIL THIS PROBLEM CAME ABOUT. THE CAR DEALORSHIP KEEPS SAYING THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME. IT CAN DIE ON ME THREE OR FOUR TIMES IN A DAY AND THEN RUN PERFECTLY FOR TWO WEEKS AT A TIME. I LEARNED THAT IF I KEEP THE GAS TANK FULL IT WILL FUNCTION AS CLOSE TO NORMAL AS POSSIBLE. I WILL APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE. *AK

• 02/17/1995· EQUIPMENT

  ROOF RACK SEPARATED FROM ROOF OF VEHICLE. *SKD

• 02/15/1995· AIR BAGSCrash

  ESTIMATED 25 MPN UPON FRONTAL IMPACT HIT ROCK AND ROCK SKID UNDERNEATH VEHICLE, NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. TT