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: 22 of 106 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.
Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
106 reports
104,990 miles · Jan 21, 2004
Steering
1997 BUICK CENTURY, WHILE DRIVING TO A SOCCER GAME I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AFTER THE GAME I TURNED LEFT TO EXIT MY PARKING SPOT AND WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL STRAIGHT. I TOOK THE VEHIC…
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1997 BUICK CENTURY, WHILE DRIVING TO A SOCCER GAME I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AFTER THE GAME I TURNED LEFT TO EXIT MY PARKING SPOT AND WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOCKED. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE WHEEL STRAIGHT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY FRIEND WHOM IS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC (BUT NO LONGER WORKS FOR GM) AND HE ADVISED ME THAT THE LOWER PINION WAS DESTROYED WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE GEAR ASSEMBLE AND POWER STEERING PUMP. I HAD HIM REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS AT A COST OF $800 PLUS DOLLARS. SUBSEQUENT TO THIS TIME I AM NOW AGAIN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT LOSS OF STEERING. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ITS POSSIBLE THAT THE REBUILT STEERING GEAR PLACED IN MY REPAIR CONTAINS THE SAME DEFECTIVE PINION BEARING BECAUSE GM MAY NOT HAVE COMMUNICATED THE FAULTY PROBLEM TO THE PART SUPPLIERS WHOM REBUILD THE GEAR ASSEMBLIES. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT NEWS ABOUT GM STEERING GEAR PROBLEMS AND PENDING RECALLS FOR CAR MODELS OTHER THAT THE BUICK CENTURY I WISH TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH GM TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE INITIAL REPAIR AND THE SUBSEQUENT FOLLOW-UP REPAIRS THAT I WILL NEED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10054623
16,215 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Steering
THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE STEERING RACK AND PINION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10054138
65,000 miles · Jan 6, 2004
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS HAVE AN ACCUMULATION OF CONDENSATION BUILDING UP INSIDE THE LENS. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10048062
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2003
Steering
WHILE DRIVING A 1997 OR 1998 VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED RACK AND PINION, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10040513
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2003
Air Bags
THE COVER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS POPPED OPEN ABOUT AN INCH ALONG THE FRONT AND SIDES. THE DEALER FORCED IT CLOSED, BUT IT OPENED AGAIN. MR SCC
NHTSA ODI #10011758
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2003
Visibility
I HAVE A 1997 BUICK CENTURY WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS. BY WAY OF HISTORY, I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO THE SHOP TWICE (AND I BELIEVE POSSIBLY A THIRD TIME) BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. EACH TIME, THE PROBLEM RELATED TO SOME FITTING THAT HAD TO BE RETIGHTENED (I WAS NEVER SHOWN THE PRECISE PART B…
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I HAVE A 1997 BUICK CENTURY WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS. BY WAY OF HISTORY, I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE TO THE SHOP TWICE (AND I BELIEVE POSSIBLY A THIRD TIME) BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. EACH TIME, THE PROBLEM RELATED TO SOME FITTING THAT HAD TO BE RETIGHTENED (I WAS NEVER SHOWN THE PRECISE PART BY THE REPAIR PERSONNEL). NOW, ALTHOUGH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK PROPERLY IN THE RAIN, WHEN THEY ARE TURNED OFF, THEY GO TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION, OBSCURING THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE LEARNED TODAY, FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND SIMILAR SOURCES, THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE WELL KNOWN TO BUICK. UPON REFLECTION, AND WITH 20-20 HINDSIGHT, I BELIEVE IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE EXCESSIVE TORQUE GENERATED BY THE WIPER MOTOR AT ITS HIGHEST SETTING (WHEN SET AT THE TOP SETTING, THE WIPERS GENERATE SO MUCH FORCE, THEY CAUSE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE TO SHAKE). *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10013643
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2003
Air Bags
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COVER WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER INSTALLED A "CLIP" TO SECURE THE COVER AND ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THE FIX IS AN APPROVED REMEDY. THE CLIP BROKE OFF AND THE CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE AIR BAG. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10014574
38,120 miles · Feb 13, 2003
Steering
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…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10005824
Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2003
Seat Belts
CONSUMER STATED BOTH SEAT BELTS IN THE FRONT WOULD NOT LATCH.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10003645
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2002
Exterior Lighting
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR *JB
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY STOP WORKING DUE TO A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE DRIVE PIN AND CRESCENT IN THE CRANK ARM ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF A PLASTIC WATER DEFLECTOR AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CRANK ARM AND INSTALL A WATER DEFLECTOR. ON VEHICLES RECEIVING A REPLACEMENT CRANK ARM AND NEW WATER DEFLECTOR, DEALERS WILL ALSO APPLY ADDITIONAL SEALING MATERIAL TO IMPROVE WATER DEFLECTION AWAY FROM THE CRANK ARM ASSEMBLY AND WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WIPER PARK MECHANISM.
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
4
EA03019 · 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.
1997 Buick Century Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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