1998 Buick Century problems
The 1998 Buick Century has 278 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (11%) concerns brakes. After that come electrical system (9%) and transmission (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 278 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 11% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 13 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 12 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 55,000 miles 73 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 | 4 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 12 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 26 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 13 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 6 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 73 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 55,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 58,000 miles (11 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 13 complaints mention a crash; 12 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1998 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 16 model years of the Buick Century with enough data (145 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.
Consumer was involved in a rear end collision and was forced into another vehicle in which neither driver or passenger side air bags deployed, causing injuries to both driver and passenger. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Dealer stated vehicle had over 5000 dollars worth of damage to the front end. *slc
I was driving approx. 15 MPH down driveway at work-car oversteered crashing into side of building-impact so intense my head hit rearview mirror, breaking it and windshield. Entire underside of car (frame, tie rod, suspension,etc.) is damaged. Nationwide ins. Investigator provided me with a copy of GM monthly newsletter issued 11/17/97 regarding power steering fluid leak from magnasteer acutator pigtail area for 1998 w,c,g &h body vehicles.
While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle was hit by another vehicle on the front passenger side. The consumer stated that both frontal air bags did not deploy upon impact. The driver sustained minor injuries as a result. The consumer tried to avoid the accident but the steering wheel locked up and the vehicle shut off.
While driving less than 5 MPH and turning left into a parking space, the vehicle lost power. This made it hard to steer and turn the vehicle. Once the vehicle was inspected, the consumer was informed that rack and pinion steering needed to be replaced.
My vehicle's window controls and lock controls are no longer working, when locking the door or the window will go down but will not come up. The rest of the windows control throughout the car will not work as well. The lighting in the car flickers if you would push the lot or the window control. Anterior light is no longer working. None of this works even when parked or driving down the road.