1997 Buick Century problems
The 1997 Buick Century has 132 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (17%) concerns electrical system. After that come wipers, windshield & visibility (12%) and seat belts (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 132 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 17% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 100,000 miles 23 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 2 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 23 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 100,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 2 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 80% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 9th most-complained-about out of 16 model years of the Buick Century with enough data (64 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Vehicle was involved in a broadside collision and neither air bag deployed. Dealer and manufacturer have not been notified at this time. One person was injured in the accident. Jlg
While coming down a steep hill the brakes failed, causing consumer vehicle to run off into someones yard, consumer states she pushed the brake pedal went to the floor, but there waere no brakes. No injuries.
It's very difficult for consumer to honk the horn because the bottom horn is so small and so hard that he couldn't operate it. Causing consumer to have an accident. *akthe service manager told to the consumer that the only way to correct this problem was to replace the entire car and that the horn area could not be done.
Started car and backed out of parking space. Steering wheel would hardly turn wheels to the left; no power assist. Started moving forward and turning right, then power assist resumed. Also, steering shudder occurs after rounding corners and accelerating. Local dealer service rep states car needs new rack & pinion assembly and is a common problem in centuries and regals 4-5 years old.
Windshield wipers have been standing straight up when in an off position for 6 or 7 years. Found the campaign and then the recall and tried to get a remedy from the on several occasions as well as GM ,to no avail..I was made to buy a motor for the windshield wipers and that worked for a little while. Then last summer or fall I went back to the dealer because now the issue looked to be a recall, and they told me there was, but not for my VIN#, and I was made to pay $70 for the adjustment..it is now not working…