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1994 Buick Century

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Century years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Buick Century are substantially higher than the model-year median of 28.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 6 of 106 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

24 crash reports4 fire reports17 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

20 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, TWICE WITH ME AND ONCE WITH MY WIFE, THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THEIR HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER OCCASIONS WHERE THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE THE VEHICLE IN A PANIC OR NEAR PANIC SITUATION. THE ANTI-LOCK WORKS FINE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKES WILL …

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ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, TWICE WITH ME AND ONCE WITH MY WIFE, THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THEIR HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER OCCASIONS WHERE THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE THE VEHICLE IN A PANIC OR NEAR PANIC SITUATION. THE ANTI-LOCK WORKS FINE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKES WILL NOT BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT KEEPS ROLLING MANY FEET FARTHER THAN IS SAFE. THE THREE ACCIDENTS OCURRED AT LES THAN 5 MPH. YOU HIT THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE NOT ONLY WON'T LOCK THE BRAKES IT WON'T STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAVE INSTALLED SEMI-METALLIC AND STANDARD BRAKE PADS WITH NO SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT. THE ROTORS ARE FINE AND THE PADS HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED TO WEAR DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS VEHICLES AND ALSO RACED CARS AND THEY ALL STOP IMMEDIATELY FROM 5 - 10 MPH. THIS VEHICLE WILL USUALLY REQUIRE 30 - 40 FEET TO STOP FROM THE TIME THE PEDAL IS PUSHED. I HAVE NOTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER IN THE PAST WITH NO RESULTS. MY WIFE AND I HAVE BOTH RELAYED THE SITUATION TO OTHERS IN THE PAST AND ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS THE OTHER PARTY HAS SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF "OH, I GUESS YOU HAVE A BUICK". SO, THIS PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY NOT ISOLATED TO MY VEHICLE. EVEN AT HIGH SPPED THE BRAKES WORK EXCEPTIONALLY WELL TILL THE LAST FEW FEET WHERE THE BRAKES WILL NOT BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP IN A SATISFACTORY DISTANCE. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY OTHER VEHICLES WITH AND WITHOUT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT THE OPERATOR APPLIES BRAKES DIFFERENTLY WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. I HAPPENED TO GET INTO THIS WEB-SITE TODAY INQUIRING ABOUT ANY POSSIBLE RECALLS ON MY OTHER VEHICLE (2000 VOYAGER) AND FIGURED I WOULD NOTE THIS PROBLEM WHILE I WAS HERE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #748588

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1999
SeatsService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #549657

Mileage unknown · Oct 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

NHTSA ODI #851745

Mileage unknown · Oct 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

NHTSA ODI #851632

Mileage unknown · Sep 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

NHTSA ODI #848583

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 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

NHTSA ODI #846458

Mileage unknown · Aug 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

NHTSA ODI #548043

Mileage unknown · Aug 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

NHTSA ODI #845199

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

ENGINE PULLEY/ EXHAUST SYSTEM/ABS BRAKES AND CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. UNDER 34,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838219

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS LIGHT COMES ON, IT BEGAN WHEN IT RAINED AND NOW AT VARIOUS TIMES. THE SENSOR HAS BEEN WORKED ON BY A DEALER 6 TIMES, IT HAS BEEN CLEANED, CHECKED, REPLACED, REPOSITIONED,TEST DRIVEN, ETC. AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AT THIS DATE.6/3/99.*AK

NHTSA ODI #707203

Official recalls

6

95V173000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 15, 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."

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.

94V189000 · Steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm

Oct 4, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS WOULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE AND RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

94V159000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

Aug 31, 1994

WATER INTRUSION CAN CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: 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.

94V008000 · Vehicle Speed Control:springs

Jan 12, 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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY THROTTLE RETURN SPRING.

94V021000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Jan 8, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL PURGE THE THROTTLE CABLE OF ANY INTERNALLY TRAPPED WATER, IF IT IS PRESENT.

93V162000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Sep 27, 1993

THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CONDUIT END FITTING WHILE ENGAGED AND ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD BE LOST.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.