1992 Buick Century

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 45 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control4
300
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components4
101
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder2
100
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing2
102
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage2
103
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
000
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner2
000
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch2
012
Electrical System › Ignition › Module2
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
100

3 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.

Electrical System › Wiring92V066000
Filed May 11, 199233 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE OPTIONAL REMOTE ENTRY MODULE MAY HAVE A FAULT WHICH CAUSES RANDOM ACTUATION OF INTERIOR LAMPS, DOOR LOCKS, AND/OR TAILGATE RELEASE. THIS ACTUATION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE OR UNATTENDED.

Risk. IF THE TAILGATE RELEASE ACTUATES, THE TAILGATE WILL OPEN.UNRESTRAINED PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEAT AREA COULD FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLEWHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, AND RECEIVE SERIOUS INJURIES.

Remedy. REPLACE THE REMOTE ENTRY MODULE WITH A NEWLY REVISED MODULE TO PREVENT RANDOM ACTUATION.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission91V214000
Filed Dec 6, 199110,141 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THE REVERSE SERVO APPLY PIN MAY BIND IN THE CASE WHICH COULD CAUSE REVERSE BAND DISTRESS (LOSS OR SLIPPING OF REVERSE), REVERSE BAND DRAG IN DRIVE RANGE (POOR PERFORMANCE -- POOR POWER), OR THE TRANSMISSION TO REMAIN IN REVERSE WHILE THE SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL GEAR POSITION.

Risk. IF THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN REVERSE WHILE THE SHIFTINDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AND RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE WHERE REQUIRED.

What owners reported

Newest filings
TiresCrash2 injured
Filed Jun 22, 200594,000 milesPA

DT: ON MARCH 14TH TWO NEW FRONT TIRES WERE PURCHASED AT SEARS. ON APRIL 10TH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO WHEEL WELL, THE PASSENGER DOOR, TIRE AXLE AND THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE. THERE HAS BEEN NO INSPECTION MADE OF THE TIRE AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE OWNER MADE ATTEMPTS TO HAVE SEARS REPLACE THE TIRES AND PAY FOR VEHICLE DAMAGE. THE BLOW OUT RESULTED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES , NEITHER RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT.*AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 200495,000 milesUN

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, BUT WE HAVE IT SERVICED EVERY 5-6,000 KMS. NOTHING SMALL GOES IN THIS VEHICLE. WE BASICALLY DRIVE WITHIN A 55 KM RADIUS. THE TRANNY WOULD NOT SHIFT, THE BODY ROTTED OUT DESPITE RUST PROOFING, NOW THE RAD HAS OIL IN IT, HEAD GASKET, NOT EVEN 160,000 KMS,,,PLEASE WHERE ARE THE OLD FASHION VALUE,

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 10, 2002DE

CONSUMER REQUESTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS MADE TO VEHICLE REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS UNDER RECALL (91V214). CONSUMER FEELS THAT BUICK IS NOT BEING FAIR CONSIDERING THE VEHICLE PROBLEM IS DUE TO A FACTORY OR DESIGN DEFECT, CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. *JG

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock SwitchCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 4, 2001NJ

CONSUMER PLACED VEHICLE IN PARK, AND IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND INTO REVERSE. A 90 YEAR OLD PASSENGER WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT VEHICLE AS IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, AND WAS DRAGGED 36 FEET, CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES WITH STITCHES ON EYEBROW AND FINGERS ON LEFT SIDE. VEHICLE THEN MOVED ANOTHER 86 FEET, AND HIT A TREE TO STOP.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash
Filed Apr 12, 2001CA

STARTING AT A DEAD STOP, DROVE A FEW FEET, AND ALL A SUDDEN GAS PEDAL WENT DOWN AND CAR TOOK OFF. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE KEPT GOING. IT HIT 3 PARKED CARS BEFORE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. *YH

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Apr 12, 2001CA

AUTO ACCELLERATED ON ITS OWN -THROTTLE WENT FROM 0 TO WIDE OPEN. *AK

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Apr 9, 2001NY

AIR CONDITONER HAS FAILED AND LOSING FREON.BUT CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF 3 OTHERS VEHICLE THAT HAD SAME PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Mar 19, 2001PA

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM THE TIME THAT I BOUGHT IT, IT HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE FOR MORE REPAIRS THAT IT HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD, FROM NOT STAYING STARTED DURING THE WARM DAYS TO STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN WEATHER IS HOT. MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND YET NO RECALL ON SOME OF THESE PARTS HAS BEEN DONE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

Interior Lighting
Filed Jan 30, 2001TN

CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY TWICE DUE TO DOME LIGHT IN VEHICLE COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY AFTER ALL DOORS WERE SHUT SECURELY, THUS DRAINING BATTERY. *AK

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Jan 14, 2001IL

WHEN PULLING ON STEERING WHEEL MAKES POPS AND JERKS TOWARDS , AS IF IT IS GOING TO COME OFF IN YOUR HANDS. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Jan 31, 2000CA

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, CAUSING POOR BRAKING WHEN TRAVELING ON WET PAVEMENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE PADS AND ROTORS ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Aug 20, 1999OH

WHILE ENTERING THE CAR AND LOOKING DOWN DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE SEAT CAUSED BY WIRING THAT WAS POORLY INSTALLED.DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *AK

Structure › Body › Hood › Hinge and Attachments1 injured
Filed Aug 17, 1999IL

HOOD HYDRAULIC CYLINDER BROKE, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FALL ONTO THE OCCUPANT WHILE CHECKING THE FLUIDS IN VEHICLE. CURRENTLY CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 24, 1999NJ

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED, RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO VIN #.

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Feb 10, 1999NJ

DUE TO DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION STEERING VEHICLE VIBRATES AND SHAKES WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER NEEDS TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION STEERING. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Nov 6, 1998IL

POOR DESIGN AND LACK OF CLAMPING OF THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY HAS CAUSED THE SHIFT CABLE TO RUB AGAINST THE SUCTION LINE, ALSO CREATING A HOLE WHICH HAS RELEASED THE R12 TO LEAK INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. THERE ARE ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS ALSO CAUSED THE A/C SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND HAS ALSO MADE THE SHIFT CABLE TO WEAKEN. ALTHOUGH THIS AUTOMOBILE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE (GM) BUICK'S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AT THE COMPANY'S / MANUFACTURER'S COST.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation ComponentsCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 1, 1998NJ

DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Aug 19, 1998MA

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND STOPPED ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Aug 6, 1998OH

THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO BE ON AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum
Filed Jul 22, 1998PA

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CAN HEAR A HISSING NOISE INSIDE THE VEHICLE., ALSO WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL WOULD STICK IN PLACE UNTIL THE CONSUMER APPLIES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL,THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD RELEASE ITSELF. *AK THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. *SLC

20 of 45 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
1992 — this page45321Fatalities reported
199138220Routine
199033230Routine

Compare every Century year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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.