IllustrationCONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM PROBLEM. THERE WAS 50,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEFECT WAS THE RESULT OF POOR GAS THAT WAS USED IN ARIZONA. CONSUMER HAD THE FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED AND FLUSHED. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
1998 Buick Century
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Century years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Buick Century are substantially higher than the model-year median of 28.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Century years →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
80–25K
1425–50K
1550–75K
1175–100K
10100–150K
1150K+
59 reports with mileage · 159 unknown
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 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
10 reportsSINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR I HAVE HAD REPEATEDLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS. IN THE BEGINNING WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THE INJECTORS WERE REPLACED AFTER THE THIRD TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THEY JUST CLEAN INJECTORS NOW AND IT'S CAUSED BY BAD GASOLINE. IN ALL MY OTHER CARS I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM USING STANDARD OIL GAS. EVEN T…
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SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR I HAVE HAD REPEATEDLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS. IN THE BEGINNING WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THE INJECTORS WERE REPLACED AFTER THE THIRD TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THEY JUST CLEAN INJECTORS NOW AND IT'S CAUSED BY BAD GASOLINE. IN ALL MY OTHER CARS I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM USING STANDARD OIL GAS. EVEN THE DEALER BUYS THE SAME GAS AT THE SAME STATION FOR ALL THERE CARS. LATELY WHEN I HAD THE INJECTOR PROBLEM AGAIN THEY QUOTED ME $140 TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHEN I SAID I HAD IT DONE THE OTHER TIMES FOR LESS THEY AUTOMATICALLY REDUCED THE PRICE TO $64. THIS MAY SEEM FAIR TO SOME BUT WHY THE DIFFERENCE IN PRICE AND WHY CAN'T THEY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE THE SAME ENGINE AND DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
MY CAR HAS HAD A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL INJECTIONS, SPECIFICALLY INJECTIONS 3 AND 4. NUMBER 3 HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND 4 ONCE. THIS STARTED 11/14/2001 WITH THE MOST CURRENT HAPPENING ON 11/12/2003 AFTER SUPPOSEDLY BEING REPAIRED ON 11/5/2003 AND 10/17/2003. I HAVE SPOKE TO GM ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH THE SAME RESP…
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MY CAR HAS HAD A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL INJECTIONS, SPECIFICALLY INJECTIONS 3 AND 4. NUMBER 3 HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND 4 ONCE. THIS STARTED 11/14/2001 WITH THE MOST CURRENT HAPPENING ON 11/12/2003 AFTER SUPPOSEDLY BEING REPAIRED ON 11/5/2003 AND 10/17/2003. I HAVE SPOKE TO GM ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH THE SAME RESPONSE. BECAUSE MY CAR NOW HAS 98,200 MILES ON THEY CAN'T HELP ME. THE FIRST TIME THAT THE INJECTIONS STARTED TO GIVE ME A PROBLEM IT WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND AT THAT TIME I ONLY HAD 64,047 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE THAT THE INJECTIONS ARE PRODUCING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS BUT TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL DONE. I'M SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT APPARENTLY CAN'T BE FIXED. I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *LA
HOSE DISCONNECTED FROM THE GAS FILTER CAUSED GASOLINE TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE.*MR THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RECONNECT THE HOSE TO THE FILTER WHICH TEMPORARILY REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. AT A REPAIR SHOP, A NEW FILTER WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE MECHANIC INSTALLED THE FUEL FILTER. CONSUMER NOTICED THE CONNECTION FROM THE RUBBER HOSE TO THE …
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HOSE DISCONNECTED FROM THE GAS FILTER CAUSED GASOLINE TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE.*MR THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RECONNECT THE HOSE TO THE FILTER WHICH TEMPORARILY REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. AT A REPAIR SHOP, A NEW FILTER WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE MECHANIC INSTALLED THE FUEL FILTER. CONSUMER NOTICED THE CONNECTION FROM THE RUBBER HOSE TO THE FILTER WAS ONLY A PLASTIC SNAP AND NOT A SOLID CONNECTION LIKE THE OTHER END OF THE FILTER THAT GOES TO THE ENGINE. CONSUMER FELT THE PLASTIC SNAP COULD SNAP AGAIN AND CAUSE SERIOUS OR DEADLY INJURIES. *PH *JB
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS. ONE YEAR AGO SHE HAD THEM REPLACED BY THE LOCAL MECHANIC, THEN TWICE THEY WERE CLEANED BY THE DEALER. AFTERWARDS, SHE HAD TO HAVE 3 OF THEM REPLACED. ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STATING THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE SERVICED SOON. ALL OF T…
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CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS. ONE YEAR AGO SHE HAD THEM REPLACED BY THE LOCAL MECHANIC, THEN TWICE THEY WERE CLEANED BY THE DEALER. AFTERWARDS, SHE HAD TO HAVE 3 OF THEM REPLACED. ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STATING THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE SERVICED SOON. ALL OF THIS STARTED WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK, AND SHE HAD IT CHECKED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HELP WITH ALL OF THIS SERVICING.*AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON DASHBOARD. CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE, AND DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT 5TH FUEL INJECTOR WAS DEFECTIVE, AND A SPARK PLUG WAS INOPERATIVE. ON SECOND OCCURRENCE, WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, ENGINE SUDDENLY DIE…
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ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON DASHBOARD. CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE, AND DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT 5TH FUEL INJECTOR WAS DEFECTIVE, AND A SPARK PLUG WAS INOPERATIVE. ON SECOND OCCURRENCE, WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THEN, ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND FOUND 4TH FUEL INJECTOR TO BE DEFECTIVE. HAD TO CHANGE OIL BECAUSE FUEL LEAKED INTO T CRANK CASE. *AK *SLC
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 BECOM…
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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.
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON, AND VEHICLE VIBRATED. ALSO, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTORS. *AK
FUEL PUMP FAILED. YH
OIL IS LEAKING ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE TOWARDS THE FIREWALL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, AND RESEALED OIL PUMP WHICH HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Official recalls
299V356000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Dec 17, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE VERTICAL HEAD LAMP ADJUSTING DEVICE MAY NOT BE CALIBRATED PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER VISIBILITY MAY BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPTICALLY AIMING THE HEADLAMPS.
98V102000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
May 15, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OWNER MANUALS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIREMENT INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING DEVICE. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED AN OWNER MANUAL'S INSERT WHICH CONTAINS THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION.
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
4EA03019 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Sep 15, 2003 · Closed Dec 18, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
EA99024 · Windshield Wiper
Opened Aug 20, 1999 · Closed Jan 13, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
BY LETTER DATED DECEMBER 12, 1999, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA OF ITS PLANS TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT CAMPAIGN TO REMEDY 155,149 OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE VEHICLE POPULATION FOR THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDES THE 1997 BUICK REGAL/CENTURY AND PONTIAC GRAN PRIX MODELS BUILT DURING THE PERIOD FROM THE START OF PRODUCTION THROUGH MAY 1, 1997.GM DETERMINED THAT THE WIPERS INSTALLED PRIOR TO THIS DATE COULD STOP WORKING, USUALLY DURING HEAVY LOAD CONDITIONS, DUE TO SEPARATION BETWEEN THE DRIVE PIN AND THE CRESCENT IN THE WIPER CRANK ARM ASSEMBLY.EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 1997,GM CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM IN PRODUCTION BY MODIFYING THE DRIVE PIN AND STRENGTHENING THE CRESCENT.THESE SAME IMPROVED PARTS WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLES TO BE RECALLED.THE SCOPE OF THE CAMPAIGN WILL INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIOR TO THE MAY 1, 1997 CORRECTION (THE OLDSMOBILE INTRIQUE PRODUCTION DID NOT START UNTIL AFTER MAY 1, 1997, AND IS THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED).VEHICLES WITH THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION AND PRODUCED AFTER MAY 1, 1997, CONTAIN THE MORE ROBUST CRESCENT AND IMPROVED PIN DESIGN AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINT REPORTS ON THE VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER MAY 1, 1997 AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.BASED ON GM'S RECALL ACTION (ODI 99V-348) THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
PE99028 · Windshield Wiper
Opened Apr 16, 1999 · Closed Aug 20, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
INCIDENTS OF WIPER FAILURE (OWNER REPORTS AND WARRANTY) ARE VERY HIGH, AND MANY OF THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE FAILURES ARE STILL OCCURRING IN 1999.