1990 Buick Century

Routine

Owners filed 33 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seat belts › front › anchorage. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure3
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner3
001
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly3
101
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage3
000
Seats2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
000
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1
000
Tires1
000
Structure › Frame and Members1
000
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage95V173000
Filed Sep 15, 19952,216,325 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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.

Remedy. 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.

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner92V124000
Filed Sep 1, 1992319,181 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE POWER SEAT OR RECLINER WIRING HARNESS CAN BE PINCHED OR CAN CHAFE ON THE SEAT FRAME OR SPRING SUPPORT ROD, WEARING THROUGH THE WIRE INSULATION AND CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Risk. THE HIGH CURRENT CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SHORT WELDS THECIRCUIT BREAKER ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN THE CLOSED POSITION, LEAVING THE CIRCUITUNPROTECTED AND GENERATING SUFFICIENT HEAT TO BURN THE WIRE INSULATION ANDIGNITE THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL.

Remedy. REPAIR ANY ABRADED WIRING AND REROUTE THE WIRING HARNESS USING A WIRING HARNESS CLIP.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering › Column
Filed Nov 5, 2003IL

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S STEERING.*MR STIFFNESS IN STEERING, SOMETIMES CONSUMER HAVE TO STEER IN NEUTRAL AS IT DOESN'T COME BACK BY ITSELF. SOMETIMES IT SQUEAK WHILE TURNING, NO LOCK UP HAS OCCURRED YET. *PH

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed Oct 11, 2002WI

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE BLEW AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

Structure
Filed Aug 7, 2002IN

ON WEDNESDAY 6/13/2002 MY 1990 BUICK CENTURY LOST STEERING CONTROL DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE CRADLE BOLTS.I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED.I HAVE FOUND THE FOLLOWING RECALL WHICH INCLUDES THE 1990 BUICK REGAL, NHTSA RECALL NO. 97V058/GM RECALL NO. 97016. MY VEHICLE IS A 1990 BUICK CENTURY WITH 3300 V6 AND IS NOT LISTED IN THIS RECALL.I BELIEVE THE CRADLE BOLT'S IN 1990 BUICK CENTURY'S ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO FAILURE, CAUSING THE SAME SAFETY RELATED ISSUE MOTIONED IN THIS RECALL.MY VEHICLE DOES HAVE 202000 MILES ON IT, BUT THIS IS THE KIND OF FAILURE SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. I BELIEVE BUICK SHOULD REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT THEIR COST. I HAVE FOUND TWO OTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I TRIED TO ISSUED A COMPLAINT THE HNTSA ON 6/21/2002 OVER THE PHONE BUT IT FAILED TO GET ENTERED SO HERE A TRY BY EMAIL. HOME EMAIL [email protected], WORK EMAIL [email protected], HOME PHONE 765-447-2782, WORK PHONE 765-429-1387. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring1 injured
Filed Apr 25, 2002OH

CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR SEAT IN FUSE COMPARTMENT OVERHEATED, CAUSING POWER SEATS AND POWER DOOR TO BE INOPERATIVE. DRIVER IS UNABLE TO REPLACE FUSE BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT, IT BURNED. *AK. CONSUMER STATES WHEN HE TOUCHED THE CORRECT FUSE HE WAS BURNED LEAVING A BLISTER ON HIS FINGER AND THUMB, CONSUMER STATES HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER THE DEALER KNEW OF THE CAMPAIGN BUT COULD NOT FIND CONSUMERS VEHICLE IN THE SYSTEM.*JB

Structure
Filed Jul 14, 2001MN

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT OF CAR LURCHED AND THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION CHANGED. PULLED CAR TO SIDE AND SAW THAT PART OF FRAME WAS HANGING DOWN. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT THE CRADLE BOLT HAD PULLED THROUGH THE SUPPORT AND WAS HANGING DOWN. WHY WASN'T MY CAR ON THE RECALL CAMPAIGN AS THE REGAL WAS? I AM AFRAID THAT THE OTHER BOLTS WILL PULL THROUGH AND I WILL LOSE MY DIRECTIONAL STEERING ABILITY. I HAVE KEPT ALL DEFECTIVE PARTS FOR THE NHTSA REVIEW. IT APPEARS THAT THE METALS FUSSED OR MIGRATED TOGETHER. DID BUICK USE THE TWO WRONG METALS IN THIS AREA, CAUSING THIS PROBLEM? IS THEIR AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN FOR THE CENTURY? PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Feb 8, 2001IL

MOTOR FELL TO GROUND WHILE PULLING OUT. THIS DAMAGED STEERING AND CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed May 30, 2000NY

NONE OF THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD OPEN OR CLOSE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. TWO BROKEN WIRES WERE RECONNECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Structure
Filed May 23, 2000OH

WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD NOTICED VEHICLE PULLING A SHARP LEFT. LOOKED AT THE CRADLES, AND THE RETAINER WASHER BROKE/WAS RUSTED THROUGH. REPLACED IT. ALSO, OTHERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, RACK & PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY IS CONNECTED TO ENGINE CRADLE FRAME AND THE STEERING SHAFT, DROPPED. THIS MAY CAUSE ERRATIC STEERING PROBLEMS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Oct 27, 1999PA

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALL OF SUDDEN THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF WHEN MAKING A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG ON THE DIAGNOSIS MACHINE. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner1 injured
Filed Aug 25, 1999MI

DURING ACCIDENT FRONT BENCH SEAT LATCH FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE, RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT ALSO BECAME UNLATCHED, RESULTING IN INJURY. NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Oct 22, 1998PA

BRAKES FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Apr 5, 1998NY

PAINT STARTED PEELING AWAY SINCE 1993 AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Oct 20, 1997TX

THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SPLIT SEAT IS COMING LOOSE FROM THE FLOOR. HAS NOT SEEN DEALER. *AK

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Oct 10, 1997PA

VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ALTERNATOR.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Jun 27, 1997TX

SEAT BELTS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *AK

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Jan 13, 1997IL

EVERY SIX MONTHS THE ELECTRICAL BATTERY RUNS DOWN, HAVE TO REPLACE IT . *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan
Filed Dec 30, 199600

RADIATOR COOLING FAN REPLACED.

Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights
Filed Oct 21, 1996NY

REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED TWICE.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Sep 23, 1996VA

RECALL ON THE SEAT BELT DENIED DUE TO WRONG INFORMATION (VIN #) ON THE MAIL OUT .

Fuel System, Gasoline › Carburetor SystemFire
Filed Sep 10, 1996TN

CARBURETOR BACKFIRED STARTING A FIRE, THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP CONTINUES TO PUMP FUEL, CAUSING THE CAR TO COMPLETELY BURN.

20 of 33 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200519200Routine
200439200Routine
2003127220Routine
2002154240Routine
2001145520Routine
2000193710Routine
1999235540Above average
1998218400Above average
1997106410Routine
199680210Routine
199599110Routine
1994106641Fatalities reported
199354230Routine
199245321Fatalities reported
199138220Routine
1990 — this page33230Routine

Compare every Century year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 15, 1995. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.