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1987 Buick Century

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1987 Buick Century do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 28.

About this comparison →
28Owner complaints

Model-year median: 28

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

5Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
8
19847
198522
198628
198716
198840
198933
1990
Compare all Century years →

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

What owners reported most

Steering
8Electrical System
3Engine And Engine Cooling
3Power Train
3Seat Belts
2
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Child Seat
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seats
1Suspension
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
1Wheels
1

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: 1 of 28 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.

  • Steering. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Child Seat complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2000
Child Seat

PROBLEM WITH CENTURY OVATION CAR SEAT. MY 2 YEAR OLD SON PULLED THE T-BAR SHIELD OUT OF THE BUCKLE AREA 2 TIMES. IT WAS PROPERLY SECURED. WE TOOK THE CAR SEAT OUT AND TRIED IT OURSELVES. WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT AT ALL, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL IT OUT 7 OUT OF 10 TRIES. IT SEEMED TO UNLATCH WHEN THE T BAR WAS PUSHED SLIGHTLY IN ONE …

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PROBLEM WITH CENTURY OVATION CAR SEAT. MY 2 YEAR OLD SON PULLED THE T-BAR SHIELD OUT OF THE BUCKLE AREA 2 TIMES. IT WAS PROPERLY SECURED. WE TOOK THE CAR SEAT OUT AND TRIED IT OURSELVES. WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT AT ALL, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL IT OUT 7 OUT OF 10 TRIES. IT SEEMED TO UNLATCH WHEN THE T BAR WAS PUSHED SLIGHTLY IN ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER. IF MY 2 YEAR OLD WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OUT, I AM CONVINCED THIS IS NOT A SAFE SEAT. MANUFACTURER HAS REQUESTED I SEND THE SEAT BACK TO THEM SO THEY CAN "TAKE A LOOK AT IT". IF YOU NEED ANY OTHER INFORMATION FROM ME, PLEASE E-MAIL ME OR CALL ME. THANK YOU, JENNIFER CANNON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722935

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

5

EA92024 · Sticking Throttle

Opened Jun 26, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

EA89026 · Loss Of Power Steering

Opened Jun 12, 1989 · Closed Oct 9, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

SUMMARY: THE COMPLAINTS DESCRIBE A FAILURE OF THE PRESSURE HOSECONNECTED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP.USED ONLY ON THE 4 CYL MODELS.THIS PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AND EACH GM DIVISION HAS ISSUED ASERVICE BULLETIN.WARRANTY CLAIMS AND PARTS SALES ARE VERY HIGH.===

PE89105 · Power Steering Hose Fails

Opened Mar 20, 1989 · Closed Jun 12, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

===

EA89010 · Brake Ineffectiveness

Opened Jan 17, 1989 · Closed May 8, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

EA87022 · Stalling

Opened Aug 27, 1987 · Closed Nov 27, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

SUMMARY:THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT STALLING IS DUE TO VARIOUS FAULTYCOMPONENTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION AND/OR IGNITION SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWINGMODELS ARE INVOLVED:BUICK ELECTRA, LESABRE, RIVERA, CENTURY; OLDS CUTLASSCIERA, 88, 98, TORONADO; PONTIAC BONNEVILLE.STATUS:THIS INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.WE ARE CONTINUING TO ANALYZEINFORMATION PROVIDED BY GM AND ARE PREPARING AN ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONREQUEST TO GM TO CLARIFY CERTAIN TECHNICAL ITEMS.===