Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 54 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
17 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
54 reports
230,000 miles · Mar 14, 2011
Electrical SystemFireInjury
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10390033
16,000 miles · May 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 …
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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
NHTSA ODI #10065319
Mileage unknown · Dec 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
NHTSA ODI #10051900
Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT MORE THAN THE AVERAGE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #756488
Mileage unknown · Sep 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.
NHTSA ODI #9003914
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2001
Equipment
SHIFT CABLE HAS WORN A HOLE IN AIR CONDITONER AND LOST FLUIDS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #886581
Mileage unknown · Mar 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 …
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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
NHTSA ODI #884229
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2000
Seat BeltsStructure
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
NHTSA ODI #737569
Mileage unknown · Oct 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
NHTSA ODI #873277
Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH THIS VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BUICK HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
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