1999 Buick Century

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD INTO THE GARAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 102,000. UPDATED 03/19/2010. *LJ UPDATED 07/14/10*JB

ON NOV. 9TH 2001, WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO ATLANTA, THE CRUISE CONTROL FROZE UP AT 70 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE IT OR TURN IT OFF AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND , THEY WERE LOCKED UP ALSO. THINKING THAT THE ACCELERATOR MIGHT BE STUCK I TAPPED IT LIGHTLY AND THE CAR SPED UP TO 85 MPH. I WAS IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC AND FINALLY AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO DISENGAGE. THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OFF AND I DECIDED TO TURN IT OFF. IT INSTEAD REENGAGED AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE FOR AWHILE. WE FINALLY GOT ONTO I-285 LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO GET OFF. AS WE GOT UP TO SPEED IT ONCE AGAIN REENGAGED AND IT TOOK ME NEARLY 8 MILES TO GET IT OFF AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES, EACH TIME I WAS NOT ABLE TO EXIT. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF AT THE EXIT TO OUR DAUGHTERS HOUSE AND I UNPLUGGED IT UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN A CAR IN MY LIFE. 85 MPH IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC & NO BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET/BUICK DEALER (BENNETT CHEVROLET/BUICK) ON MONDAY THE 12TH. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CRUSE CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT. I THOUGHT THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL FOR A FATAL CRASH. WE WERE LUCKY, PLEASE SEE THAT THIS HAPPENS TO NO ONE ELSE, THEY MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *AK

THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 55 MPH, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLES SPEED STEADILY INCREASED UNTIL IT APPROACHED 70 MPH IN THE MIDST OF HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS PINCH BY THE STRUT TOWER BOLT CAUSING THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, THE DEALER REPLACED AND RE-ROUTED THE CABLE. NLM

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, VEHICLE BEGAN SLOWING SO CONSUMER ACCELERATED, VEHICLE HESITATED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN TOOK OFF, CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A RAPID RATE, CONSUMER KEPT FOOT ON BRAKE SLOWING VEHICLE, CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF, BRAKES WERE SO HOT THAT FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE WHEELS, CONSUMER THREW SNOW ON TIRES TO EXTINGUISH FIRE ON BOTH TIRES, BRAKE DISCS WERE GLOWING ORANGE, CONSUMER TRADED VEHICLE FOR A 2000 MODEL, HOWEVER WAS $5000 MORE AND FEELS SHE IS ENTITLED TO SOME COMPENSATION. *SLC

WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL, IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, CAUSING UNWANTED ACCLERATION, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED. IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAD TO REMOVE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND PLACE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS ORDERED PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK