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1990 Buick Century

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Buick Century do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 28.

About this comparison →
33Owner complaints

Model-year median: 28

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
28
198716
198840
198933
199038
199145
199254
1993
Compare all Century years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
8Electrical System
6Structure
6Engine And Engine Cooling
5Seats
5
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Steering
2Tires
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Power Train
1Suspension
1Visibility
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: 0 of 33 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports3 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2002
Electrical SystemInjury

CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR SEAT IN FUSE COMPARTMENT OVERHEATED, CAUSING POWER SEATS AND POWER DOOR TO BE INOPERATIVE. DRIVER IS UNABLE TO REPLACE FUSE BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT, IT BURNED. *AK. CONSUMER STATES WHEN HE TOUCHED THE CORRECT FUSE HE WAS BURNED LEAVING A BLISTER ON HIS FINGER AND THUMB, CONSUMER STATES HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS A…

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CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR SEAT IN FUSE COMPARTMENT OVERHEATED, CAUSING POWER SEATS AND POWER DOOR TO BE INOPERATIVE. DRIVER IS UNABLE TO REPLACE FUSE BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT, IT BURNED. *AK. CONSUMER STATES WHEN HE TOUCHED THE CORRECT FUSE HE WAS BURNED LEAVING A BLISTER ON HIS FINGER AND THUMB, CONSUMER STATES HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER THE DEALER KNEW OF THE CAMPAIGN BUT COULD NOT FIND CONSUMERS VEHICLE IN THE SYSTEM.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8008637

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 1997
Electrical System

VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA ODI #523665

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 1997
Electrical System

EVERY SIX MONTHS THE ELECTRICAL BATTERY RUNS DOWN, HAVE TO REPLACE IT . *AK

NHTSA ODI #807524

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING, HEARD NOISE, WITHIN MINUTES, ALL POWER STOPPED, BLACK SMOKE POURED OUT FROM UNDERHOOD, FIRE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE, NO WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #986839

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING DUE TO METAL CHIPS FOUND IN PAN/FLUID BURNED. *SD

NHTSA ODI #502326

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 1995
Electrical SystemTires

TREAD SEPARATED ON TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #489266

Official recalls

2

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.

92V124000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

Sep 1, 1992

THE POWER SEAT OR RECLINER WIRING HARNESS CAN BE PINCHED OR CAN CHAFE ON THE SEAT FRAME OR SPRING SUPPORT ROD, WEARING THROUGH THE WIRE INSULATION AND CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE HIGH CURRENT CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SHORT WELDS THECIRCUIT BREAKER ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN THE CLOSED POSITION, LEAVING THE CIRCUITUNPROTECTED AND GENERATING SUFFICIENT HEAT TO BURN THE WIRE INSULATION ANDIGNITE THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL.

Remedy: REPAIR ANY ABRADED WIRING AND REROUTE THE WIRING HARNESS USING A WIRING HARNESS CLIP.

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

1

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