Safety ratings
1994 Buick Century 4-DR.
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.
Recalls (6)
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHCampaign 94V159000 · 31/08/1994
WATER INTRUSION CAN CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY.
Risk: A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER DOOR LOCK RELAY AND ANY CORRODED TERMINALS. IN ADDITION, THE NEW RELAY WILL BE RELOCATED TO AN AREA WHERE WATER INTRUSION IS LESS LIKELY.
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCampaign 93V162000 · 27/09/1993
THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CONDUIT END FITTING WHILE ENGAGED AND ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD BE LOST.
Risk: LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL MAY NOT REDUCE ENGINE SPEEDTO A LEVEL ANTICIPATED BY THE DRIVER. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN STILL BE STOPPEDWITH THE SERVICE BRAKE, LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE.
- SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGECampaign 95V173000 · 15/09/1995
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGSCampaign 94V008000 · 12/01/1994
IN THE EVENT OF A PRIMARY ACCELERATOR CONTROL SPRING FAILURE, THE SECONDARY (BACK-UP) ACCELERATOR CONTROL RETURN SPRING WILL NOT RETURN THE THROTTLE TO THE FULLY CLOSED POSITION, AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM."
Risk: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY THROTTLE RETURN SPRING.
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLESCampaign 94V021000 · 08/01/1994
DURING ASSEMBLY, WATER MAY HAVE ENTERED THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT CAUSING IT TO DEVELOP A HIGH EFFORT AND/OR BINDING CONDITION IN VERY COLD WEATHER.
Risk: HIGH EFFORT OR BINDING CONDITIONS CAUSE LOSS OF NORMALTHROTTLE CONTROL OR THE THROTTLE MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Fix: THE DEALER WILL PURGE THE THROTTLE CABLE OF ANY INTERNALLY TRAPPED WATER, IF IT IS PRESENT.
- STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARMCampaign 94V189000 · 04/10/1994
THE RIGHT HAND SPINDLE NUT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY. THIS CAN CAUSE PREMATURE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AND OVER TIME, THE SPINDLE CAN FRACTURE.
Risk: THIS WOULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE AND RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE RIGHT HAND FRONT SPINDLE NUT. IF THE SPINDLE NUT IS UNDERTORQUED THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT HAND FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY AND THE SPINDLE NUT WILL BE REPLACED.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- SERVICE BRAKES15
- HYDRAULIC15
- AIR BAGS13
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL13
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING12
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
- SEAT BELTS10
- STEERING8
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/10/1996· AIR BAGSCrash
DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT AT 25 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
- 12/10/1994· SEAT BELTS
SHOULDER BELT DESIGN ON DOOR/WINDOW CREATES BLIND SPOTS. *SKD
- 12/08/1995· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS ONTO HOT ENGINE. *AK
- 12/06/1994· POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES CONSIDERABLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL IN 3RD/4TH GEAR. *AW
- 12/02/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE NOISE ON START UP.
- 12/02/1994· VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. *AK
- 12/02/1994· POWER TRAIN
NOISE WHEN SHIFTING LEVER IS MOVED FROM DRIVE TO PARK. *SKD
- 11/30/1995· SEAT BELTSCrash
THE DRIVERS SEATBELT BUCKLE CAME APART AND CAUSED THE OCCUPANT TO GET HURT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
- 11/28/1994· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LOCATION AND SIZE OF HORN BUTTON CAUSES DIFFICULTY ACCESSING DURING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. *SKD
- 11/27/1996· TIRES
TIRES REPLACED.
- 11/26/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE MOUNTS AND SUPPORTS ARE CORRODED AND COMING APART WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE ENGINE TO DROP. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
- 11/23/1999· SEATS
DRIVER SEAT FELL BACKWARD AND COULD NOT BE PUT UP RIGHT. YH
- 11/23/1998· WHEELS
5 LUGS/BOLTS BROKEN CAUSING WHEEL TO FALL OFF.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
- 11/19/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
- 11/15/1999· SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AT POSTED SPEED OF 45 MPH ON ROUTE 12 IN THE VINCINITY OF HINTZ ROAD CAR MADE A LOUD SOUND AND SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE LEFT. I QUICKLY TRIED TO CORRECT TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC ONLY TO FIND OUT I COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE . BY LUCK, I DID NOT HIT ANYONE BEFORE I STOPPED BUT MOST CERTAINLY COULD HAVE KILLED MYSELF AND/OR SOMEONE. AFTER PULLING CAR OFF OF ROAD, I FOUND THAT RIGHT REAR SUPPORT BRACKET FOR THE AXEL HOUSING (CALLED "TRAILER ARM?") HAD COMPLETELY FRACTURED IN HALF. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO TOWED ME TO JOE MITCHELL BUICK IN MOUNT PROSPECT, IL ALSO OBSERVED THE FAILURE. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY FAILURE SINCE IT CAUSED SUDDEN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.*AK
- 11/14/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PUT GEAR SELECTOR INTO DRIVE AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AT GREAT SPEED NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK CONSUMER STATESTIRED TO BRAKE AND TIRES WERE SQREACHING AND SQUEALING, CONSUMER TRIED STOPPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN CASE IT WAS STUCK, NOTHING SEEMED TO WORK, THEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL THAT DID NOT WORK AND IMMEDIATELY PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND REMOVED THE KEYS, CONSUMER THEN HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THAT DID NOT WORK , THEN FINALLY CONSUMER HAD LAST STEERING AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND CAR FINALLY STOPPED ONE FOOT FROM A BRICK BUILDING, DEALERSHIP COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT HTEY DID REPLACE THE IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR.*JB
- 11/13/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WILL STALL BETWEEN 40 TO 45 MPH, WITH CAUSE UNKNOWN. DICKENSON BUICK, DODGE HAD TWICE FOR (2) WEEK PERIOD STILL UNABLE TO RECREATE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
- 11/10/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, THERE IS AN UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, IT CLATTERS AND AS TIME HAS WENT ON, THE NOISE GETS LOUDER, CONSUMER FEELS THIS HAD TO DO WITH THE SERVICE BULLETIN 57-61-24, DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM, ONE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE BELT TENSION PULLEY AND REPLACED IT, HOWEVER PROBLEM DID NOT CEASE. *SLC
- 11/08/1996· SUSPENSION
VEHICLE VIBRATION AT 70 MPH.
- 11/03/1994· STRUCTURE
POWER DOOR LOCK RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS. (94V-159) *AW
- 11/02/1998· SUSPENSION
DEALER CLAIMS INCORRECT TIRES, CAUSING FRONT END TO SHIMMY/VIBRATE, BUT DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING.CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK
- 10/31/2003· AIR BAGSCrash
AIR BAGS ON LOW MILEAGE 1994 BUICK CENTURY DID NOT DEPLOY DURING HEAD ON CRASH. *LA
- 10/29/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH TWO EMPTY VEHICLES, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMERS. MJS
- 10/28/1998· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE LOOSE FITTED CARPET WORKED FREE AND WAS BUNCHED UP UNDER THE FOOT BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PREVENTING THEIR USE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.
- 10/27/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON THE AUTO RACES AND DOES NOT STOP UNTIL IT IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. TT *JB
- 10/26/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD START TO SLOW DOWN. ABS BRAKES FELT LIKE A SHORT DELAY BEFORE KICKING IN STO STOP. ABS BRAKES ALSO FELT LIKE THEY WERE SLIPPING. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER'S MECHANIC & A PRIVATE MECHANIC TO CHECK OUT ABS BRAKES. IN BOTH INSTANCES, NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG. *AK
- 10/26/1994· STRUCTUREFire
VEHICLE FIRE ORIGINATING FROM UNDER THE DASH, PRIOR TO POWER DOOR LOCK RECALL, ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT. (94V159) *TW
- 10/25/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE PULSATES, BUT NO CHANGE IN THE BRAKE PERFORMANCE. ALSO, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED ON. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
- 10/24/1994· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
NOISY CARBURETOR. *AK
- 10/22/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55-60 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN CONSUMER NEEDED; CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO EMERGENCY LANE AND TURNED OFF IGNITION SWITCH WHICH CAUSED CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE. DEALER/MFR. NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
- 10/21/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VALVE BENT.
- 10/21/1994· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INTERMITTENT STALLING. *SKD
- 10/07/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE VEHICLE HAS A LEAKING HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
- 10/05/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ENGINE INJECTOR FAILURE. *BF THE CONSUMER HAS 5 INJECTORS ON THE VEHICLE AND SO FAR ONLY 1 HAS FAILED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT EVENTUALLY THE REMAINING INJECTORS WILL HAVE TO REPLACED. THE CONSUMER THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR YEARS AS FAR AS 1994. THE INJECTOR PROBLEM HAS CAUSED ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE SUCH AS ENGINE HESITATION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE FOR A NUMBER OF SECONDS UNTIL THE PEDAL IS ALMOST FLOORED. *JB
- 10/05/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HIGH ACCELERATION WHEN CONSUMER ENGAGED SPEED CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFOMRED CONSUMER THAT A ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE WAS IN THE MULTIPLE FUNCTION LEVER. *AK
- 10/02/2000· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
CONSUMER HAS REQUESTED DEALER TO PERFORM RECALL 94V159000 DUE TO FAULTY LOCKS, DEALER IS REFUSING TO DO RECALL UNTIL SOMEONE GIVES HIM AUTHORIZATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S CONSUMER'S CAMPAIGN NUMBERS DIDN'T MATCH HIS RECALL NUMBERS. *SLC
- 09/29/1999· AIR BAGS
THE OWNER HAS AN ON/OFF SWITCH THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED, AND WHEN IT IS IN THE OFF POSITION,THE AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS STILL ON. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
- 09/29/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
- 09/24/1996· SEATS
FRONT SEATS CAME LOOSE IN REAR END COLLISION, CAUSING INJURIES.
- 09/23/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE ABS BRAKES QUIT WORKING. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED ON. HAD APPLIED THE ABS BRAKES & THE SYSTEM DIED OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC ENTIRE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACING. *AK
- 09/19/1996· POWER TRAIN
DRIVESHAFT FAILED, CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OVER 55 MPH. *AK
- 09/17/1998· SEAT BELTS
FRONT SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AFTER PUTTING IT ON. *AK
- 09/10/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
- 09/07/1999· POWER TRAINCrash
REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 30 MPH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT GUARDRAI.; NO INJURY RECEIVED. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NO RECALL ON VEHICLE. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
- 09/02/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS LIGHT WOULD STAY ON & THEN WOULD GO OUT AFTER AWHILE. CAN HEAR A CLICK SOUND WHEN ABS BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WOULD SLOW DOWN, BUT DOES NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY. PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR WHEN ABS BRAKES MAKE CLICKING SOUND. PEDAL WOULD POP UP & WOULD HAVE BRAKING ABILITY AGAIN. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER.*AK
- 08/26/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. THE WIRES FROM THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENSORY BURNED AND MELTED. ELECTRICAL SHORT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. *AK
- 08/20/2001· AIR BAGSCrash
DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. *YH
- 08/19/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ANTI LOCK BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, SEVERAL COMPONENTS REPLACED, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE VIBRATION/GRINDING. MJS
- 08/17/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND BEFORE THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, AND THEN THEY BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING SOUND. EVENTUALY BRAKES COME BACK UP AND CONTINUE NORMAL OPERATIOS. *AK
- 08/15/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURY.