1999 Buick Century

DEC 17,1999 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERN990093 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER99V356 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY THESE VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE VERTICAL HEAD LAMP ADJUSTING DEVICE MAY NOT BE CALIBRATED PROPERLY. SAFETY RISK DRIVER VISIBILITY MAY BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SHIFT GEAR BOARD AND ODOMETER LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOUNTAIN BUICK (8701 S ORANGE BLOSSOM TRAIL A, ORLANDO, FL 32809) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

1) NEED HEADLIGHT ADJUSTMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR A KNOWN RECALL. 2) EVERY DOOR WINDOW MOTOR IN THE BUICK FAILED ON EACH WINDOW PREVENTING THE WINDOWS FROM LOWERING IF IN THE UP POSITION OR PREVENTED THE WINDOWS FROM RAISING IF IN A LOWERED POSITION. THE WINDOWS HAD TO BE DUCT TAPED SHUT IN ORDER TO PREVENT RAIN FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE CAB AND THE FAILURES HAPPENED OVER 2015 TO 2016 AND EACH HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW MOTORS. THERE ARE LARGE NUMBERS OF BUICK OWNERS ACROSS THE INTERNET COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT I DON'T BELIEVE BUICK EVER ISSUED A RECALL BUT I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE. IF THIS ISN'T A RECALL, IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THIS KNOWN FAILURE. THE CLOSEST BUICK DEALER TO US IS SAM LEMAN CHEVROLET BUICK, 1040 WEST CENTER ST., EUREKA, IL. 309-467-2351.

THIS MORNING I STARTED MY CAR TO HEAD TO WORK, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE AND VERY HARD TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL. AS I BACKED UP I NOTICED A LEAK ONTO THE PAVEMENT. I PURCHASED A BOTTLE OF POWER STEERING FLUID WITH STOP LEAK AND PUT IT IN HOPING THAT'S WHAT IT NEEDED. I CONTINUED MY DRIVE TO WORK WITH HESITATION. I WAS STILL UNABLE TO MAKE A SHARP TURN. WHILE AT WORK I RESEARCHED A FEW THINGS AND FOUND IT TO BE THE RACK AND PINION HAS PROBABLY LOCKED UP AND LEAKED. THE PART TO REPLACE WILL COST ME ABOUT $200 AND THE MECHANICS FEES WILL BE MORE, WITH A TOTAL OF AROUND $750-$800. MY CAR IS OLDER AND HAS ME WONDERING IF I CAN AFFORD TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO REPLACING FAULTY PARTS. IF THIS PART ALREADY HAS AN INVESTIGATION ONGOING, I WOULD LIKE TO BE PLACED ON THE LIST TO HAVE THIS ISSUE SOLVED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR DOUGLAS (NA) TIRES, SIZE: 215/70R15/98T XTRAC2 (NA). AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRES, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SIDEWALL WAS UNEVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,803.

I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET TWICE. MECHANIC INDICATED THE FIRST TIME THAT THE COOLANT MIGHT BE THE CAUSE FOR THE GASKET DETERIORATION. WHEN REPLACED THE SECOND TIME, THE GASKET WAS (I BELIEVE) A METAL RATHER THAN PLASTIC OR RUBBER AND THE COOLANT WAS GREEN. SO FAR, SO GOOD. BOTH REPLACEMENTS COST $1000+. RECENTLY HAD BRAKES REPLACED AND WAS TOLD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1100. THE CAR RUNS WELL, BUT HAS SERIOUS RUST ON THE RAIL BELOW THE DOORS. NOT SURE I SHOULD SPEND THAT MUCH ON A 16 YR OLD CAR. I'VE ALSO HAD TO HAVE A MOTOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REPAIRED. THAT SEEMS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL, TOO.