1998 Buick Century complaints

INITITIALLY THE PROBLEM WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, ALONG WITH CLUTCHES THAT WERE BURNED UP. I PICKED THE CAR UP AND DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND AT 30 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED THE CAR TO THE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, BRACEY'S AUTO REPAIR WHO DOES THE WORK FOR R.E. DAVIS AND MR. BRACEY CHECKED THE PRESSURE ON THE MODULATOR AND REPLACED THE MODULATOR. HE THEN DID A TEST WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PRESSURE WASN'T WHERE IT SHOULD BE. HE KEPT THE CAR ANOTHER DAY BECAUSE HE NEEDED TO MAYBE REPLACE A PISTON. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP HE DISCOVERED A PIN HOLE IN THE DRUM THAT WAS FROM A POOR WELD DURING ASSEMBLY. MR. BRACEY GAVE ME THE PART WITH THE POOR WELD AND IS WRITING A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM FOR ME.*AK

CONSUMER HAD ON/OFF SWITCH INSTALLED BY AIRBAG SYSTEM OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AIRBAG INDICTOR LIGHT ON DASH STAYED ON AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WITH SWITCH TURNED ON OR OFF. A RECALL WAS ISSUED 00E01000, BUT MANUFACTUER WILL NOT REPLACE SWITCH, AND DENIED DEFECT. SWITCH WAS INSTALLED ON 1998, BUICK, CENTURY.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE COMPANY TO START THE ENGINE 200 TIMES AND THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF, BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN. *YH

RIGHT FRONT CONTINENTAL SPORT CONTAC TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION AT 45 MPH WITH DRIVER AND ONE PASSENGER. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P205/70R15, DOT# UNAVAILABLE. *AK THE OTHER 3 TIRED WERE CUPPING. *SLC

I AM UNCLEAR WHETHER I SHOULD ONLY REPORT "SAFETY" PROBLEMS TO YOU, AND AM NOT SURE THIS WOULD BE SUCH A PROBLEM. THE DESIGN OF THIS VEHICLE IS SUCH THAT THERE IS A BLACK PLASTIC PART WHICH HANGS DOWN BELOW THE FRONT BUMPER (LOOKS LIKE A MUD FLAP BUT IT IS STIFF). A BUICK DEALER REPAIR FACILITY TOLD ME THIS FLAP IS FOR ADEQUATE AIR FLOW TO THE ENGINE. THE FLAP IS SO LOW THAT NORMAL DRIVING (HITTING THE SMALLEST BUMPS IN THE ROAD, GOING UP OR DOWN DRIVEWAY ENTRANCES OR ANY UNEVEN SURFACE CAUSES THE FLAP TO SCAPE ON THE PAVEMENT MAKING A LOUD GRIDING SOUND. IT IS ANNOYING TO SAY THE LEAST, AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT WERE TO HIT AT HIGH SPEED. WOULD IT JUST CRACK OFF? BE DRIVEN INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT? I BELIEVE THIS IS A POOR (IF NOT UNSAFE) DESIGN AND THAT A REMEDY SHOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. A DAY DOES NOT GO BY WHERE IT DOES NOT SCRAPE. IF THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN RELATE TO GM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO I CAN CONTACT THEM DIRECTLY. THANK YOU.

UPON ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS HORN IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION HORN FAILED TO SOUND WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, ONE HAD TO APPLY AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO SOUND OFF HORN. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

POWER STEERING MECHANISM MOANS, GRAONS, AND SHUDDERS, STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN AND FLUID LEVELS DROP. ACCORDING TO THEIR SERVICE MANAGER, THE POWER STEERING PUMP SYSTEM HAS A FACTORY DEFECT. ENGINEERS HAVE BEEN TRYING FIVE YEARS TO RESOLVE, THEY CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. BRAKE SYSTEM HAS ABNORMAL WEAR FOR AGE OF CAR, ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED AND GROUND TWICE IN 18 MONTHS. FRONT-END COMPONENTS HAVE BROKEN NAMELY ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLY IN FIRST 100 MILES AND REMAINED BROKE FOR 28,000 MILES. NUTS AND BOLTS HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE FRONT END SUSPENSE SYSTEM. (TIRESIZE: P205/70R15) (TIRESIZE: P205/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )

HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO LUMINATE IN THE DARK WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER WOULD HAVE POOR VISIBILITY DUE TO A LACK OF LIGHTING. TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, AND PARTS WERE REPLACED. HEADLIGHTS WERE REAIMED. PROBLEM OF POOR VISIBILITY STILL EXISTS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS WAITING ON AN INSERT TO BE SENT TO HER PER THE RECALL NOTICE, DEALER REFUSES TO PERFORM RECALL 98V-102 BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY WANT THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. *SLC

LOW BEAN FROM THE HEAD LIGHTS DOES NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LIGHTING, THE LIGHT DOES NOT SHINE 50 FEET IN FRONT OF VEHICLE CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY..

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE CONSUMER PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. NLM

HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH WHICH CAUSES VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, CONDENSATION COLLECTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOWS REDUCING VISIBILITY THROUGH THESE WINDOWS TO NEAR ZERO AND MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE APPROACHING TRAFFIC. THE GLAZING MATERIALS AROUND BOTH WINDOWS (WEATHERSTRIPPING) DO NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE OF THE WINDOWS DURING RAISING OR LOWERING. THEREFORE, THE CONDENSATION CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE WINDOWS WITHOUT EXITING THE CAR AND MANUALLY CLEANING THE SURFACE. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE CONDENSATION COLLECTS WHILE I AM TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, IT IS NECESSARY FOR ME TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, GET OUT OF THE CAR, AND CLEAN THE SURFACE OF BOTH WINDOWS IN ORDER TO PROCEED SAFELY. THE DEALER WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT WITHIN 60 DAYS OF MY PURCHASE. AT THAT TIME, I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP THAT THE WINDOWS WERE NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY AND THAT ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SHOP REPORTED THAT THE CORRECTIONS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THE DEFECT, BUT THE DEFECTB WAS NOT CORRECTED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO OTHER DEALERS AND RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE DEFECT CORRECTED. EACH TIME I HAVE RECEIVED A DIFFERENT RESPONSE. IN SEPTEMBER 1999, I NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER (BUICK DIVISION OF GM) OF THIS AND OTHER SAFETY DEFECTS, BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. LATE LAST MONTH I RETURNED AGAIN TO BROWN'S BUICK TO SEEK REPAIRS, AND I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THE WINDOWS ARE OPERATING AS

HORN FAILS TO SOUND AT ANY SPEED, ANY TIME OF DAY. HAVE HAD THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES & THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM,, LIVE WITH IT!

HEAD LIGHT IS POORLY DISTRIBUTED ON ROAD AND HAS HUNGE DARK SPOTS DIRECTLY IN THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO IT DOES NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT TO SAFELY MAKE A TURN INTO DRIVE WAY. *YH

BRAKE SHOES SQUEAK IN AM SOMETIMES IN THE EVENING, TOOK IT TWO TIMES TO THE INSPECTOR THEY SAID IT WAS ACCOUNT OF ASBESTOS IN BRAKE SHOES. *ET

WHEN BACKING VEHICLE UP WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE IT SUDDENLY TOOK OFF. HAS HAPPENED 8 DIFFERENT TIMES. TOOK TO DEALER AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT & THE MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE EACH TIME. *AK *ML

I AM NOT REPORTING A "FAILURE" PER SE. I AM EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN SB606088, DESCRIBED AS "STEERING SHUDDER OR VIBRATION AT LOW SPEED (REPLACE POWER STEERING LINES)." HOWEVER, THE DEALER DESCRIBED REFUSES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, CLAIMING INABILITY TO VERIFY THE PROBLEM. AS I EXPLAINED, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, SO THERE IS NO REASON TO EXPECT THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE VERIFIED ON ANY PARTICULAR OCCASION. CAN YOU HELP IN GETTING THE DEALER TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT? *AK

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHEN STARTING OUT IN FORWARD OR REVERSE GEARS, ON ONE OCCASION DAMAGE TO THE TIRE AND RIM WHEN VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB. YH

HAD SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO REVERSE WHEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. WAS UNABLE TO STEER FORWARD OR REVERSE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK. VEHICLE RESET ITSELF. IT'S WAS INTERMITTEN PROBLEM. WOULD HESITATE AT 50-55MPH. AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE WOULD STOP RUNNING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC SUSPECTED ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE & NOTHING FOUND. *AK

THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT LIGHT WHEN LOW BEAM LIGHT WAS ON, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHICH AMOST RESULTED IN 2 ACCIDENTS. DEALER HAS ADJUSTED LOW BEAM LIGHT TWICE, BUT DEFECT STILL EXISTS. *AK

HORN FAILED TO WORK WHEN TRYING TO USE IT WHILE DRIVING. HORN FAILED TO WORK EVEN WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ALSO, FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. LATCH PLATE WOULD NOT GO INTO THE BUCKLE MECHANISM. *AK

THE CLAIM BY THE DEALER PERFORMING THE REPAIRS IS NOT THE DEALER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM . THE DEALER IS NICK ABRAHAM CHRYSLER BUICK JEEP,1111 E. BROAD ST. ELYRIA, OH44035. THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE A MISS IN IDLE , AND PERIODICALLY LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE FOULING OUT OR BECOMING DIRTY DUE TO A CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION ,NOT DIRT OR FOREIGN MATTER BYPASSING THE FUEL FILTER. THE GASOLINE USED IN THIS VEHICLE IS SHELL 87 OCTANE OR SUNOCO 87 OCTANE. A HIGHER OCTANE (89) HAS BEEN USED AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURED. IF IT IS A CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION CAUSING THE INJECTORS TO CONTINUE TO FOUL OUT , I WOULD SUSPECT IT TO BE FROM THE FUEL REACTING WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS AND CAUSING REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALER ONLY TO BE MET WITH THE SAME RESULTS OF BEING TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE OON HOW TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. TAHNK YOU.

WHEN USING DRIVER SIDE SUNVISOR IT COVERS UP 1/3 OF THE REAR VIEW MIROR, BLOCKING DRIVER'S VIEW. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. VALANCE UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR REPEATEDLY HITS BOTTOM AND SCRAPES THE ROAD AT MINOR DIPS. OWNER ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKING WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO PARK. *AK *ML

ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WHEN OIL FILTER FELL(?) OFF THE ENGINE AND CAR WAS DRIVEN 2+ MILES WITH NO OIL IN ENGINE. CAR STALLED AND WAS RESTARTED 3 TIMES. AT NO TIME DID THE OIL WARNING LIGHT INDICATE A PROBLEM! DEALER SAID ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND MUST BE REPLACED BUT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATED WITHOUT OIL. IT COST ME ABOUT $4,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN REVERSE OR DRIVE ARE SELECTED UNTIL THE SELECTOR IS MOVED IN AND OUT OF OTHER POSITIONS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ANNOYANCE ONLY. *AK

THE HORN TAKES EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO GET IT TO SOUND. NLM

WATER CONDENSATION ALWAYS BUILDS UP ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AFTER IT RAINS, THE DEALERSHIP CLIAMS THAT THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AND IS NOT A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS DEGRADES THE LIGHTING INTENSITY AT NIGHT. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN BECAUSE IT ALSO HAPPENS TO MY FRIENDS 2000 BUICK CENTURY. IT CAN BE VAILDATED BY LOOKING FOR WATERMARKS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. *AK

DASHBOARD DESIGN CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY DUE TO THE REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD. THERE APPEARS TO BE TWO(2) DISTINCT SECTIONS AND AN ANGLE TO THE DASHBOARD. *AK

THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY HAS WATER CONDENSATION (WATER DROPLETS) FORMING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY (IF IT RAINS FOR CONSECUTIVE DAYS) CAUSING LOWER VISABILTY AT NIGHT. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM, BECAUSE MY FRIENDS 2000 BUICK CENTURY HAS WATER RESIDUE MARKS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY.*AK

THE HOOD WILL NOT LOCK BECAUSE THE LATCH BROKE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PART NEEDED IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. *AK

DRIVER CANNOT SEE ROAD UNLESS THE VEHICLE'S HIGH BEAMS ARE ON. LOW BEAMS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. DEALER HAS TRIED TO ADJUST THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

THE HORN IS DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. EXTREME PRESSURE IS REQUIRED WHEN APPLIED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

AGAIN NEARLY 20 TIMES WHEN REVERSE WHEN ACTIVATED, THE CAR DID NOT GO INTO REVERSE BUT THE ENGINE ROARED LOUDER. UNTIL THE GEARS WERE TAKEN OUT OF REVERSE AND THEN PUT BACK DID IT FINALLY ENGAGED. THIS HAS HAPPENED NEARLY 20 TIMES SINCE AUG 1999. TWICE ON DEC 25,1999, WHEN REVERSE DID NOT ENGAGE, CAR STALLED WHEN TAKING OUT OF REVERSE GEAR. IT HAS NOT REOCCURRED WITH THE STALLING OUT. *AK

WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON WHILE GOING UPHILL AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL STICKS. ALSO WHEN DRIVING FROM 20 TO 30MPH ENGINE WILL CUT OFF, MAKING THE VEHICLE LOSE POWER . DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX IT. *AK

AT 7:00 PM (DARK AND HEAVY RAIN), WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN MOTION AND RIGHT WIPER LOCKED INTO LEFT DURING HEAVY RAIN CREATING ZERO VISIBILITY.

STARTED CAR, PUT IN REVERSE AND VEHICLE DIDN'T MOVE. ALSO, WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE THE GEAR INDICATOR JUMPED INTO NEUTRAL THEN REVERSE. CONTACTED DEALER AND REPAIRED THE MODULAR, BUT STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS AT THE DEALER. PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS GOING UP A STEEP INCLINE, AND TAKING FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, AFTER FULL STOP, TO ACCELERATE, VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER COULD NOT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THIS REPORT WAS GIVEN BY SON. ROSE COLEMAN IS OWNER OF VEHICLE. *AK

RIGHT SIDE POWER LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. MJS

PPG, THE MANUFACTURER OF THE 1998 AND 1999 BUICK CENTURY WINDSHIELDS IS MANUFACTURING THE WINDSHILEDS WITH A LATENT DEFECT, WHICH CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD VIEW TO BE HAZY WHEN DRIVING DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN. IT APPEARS THAT THE LAMINATE LAYERING BETWEEN THE GLASS SHEETS HAS FAILED. I ALSO NOTICED THIS SAME DEFECT ON A 1999 CENTURY AS WELL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THE DEFECT BUT GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER ZONE REP WAS UNWILLING TO PROCEED FURTHER. THE DEFECT WILL PROBABLY NOT CAUSE ANY ACCIDENTS, BUT MAY IMPAIR OR DISTORT A PERSON'S CLARITY OF VIEW, WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN.

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING, THE VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE.

WHEN THE WIINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR COMES INTO THE DRIVER. WHEN THE WINDOW IS ROLLED UP, IT WILL JERK /AM AND PULL THE DOOR TO ITS NORMAL CONDITION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

VALVE UNDERNEATH THE GAS TANK, CANNOT FILL GAS TANK.

SEAT BELTS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE, BRAKE PEDAL MAKES LOUD NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

SWITCH. PART NAME: 10413904.

TRANSMISSION.

LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL COME ON AT RANDOM TIMES.

BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT APPROX 20 MPH EVEN WHEN NOT APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS WHEN SHE WAS BACKING INTO GARAGE AND TAPPPED THE BACK WALL RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES TO THE FACE (SWOLLEN AND BRUISED LIPS, GUMS AND CHIN). *NLM PLEASE REVIEW CLAIM # 990064058 FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. *CB