1989 Buick Century
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
Vehicles › Buick › Century › 1989
These records cover every 1989 Buick Century. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1989 Buick Century. Newest first.
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."
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Owner complaints
40 complaints8 involved a crash14 injuries1 deaths
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Car sold to me IS a lemon. The motor went out in less than 30 days.*ak
- Structure › Frame and members
A technician serviced vehicle. technician inspected the engine and determined that engine cradle was rusting. *Ak
- Unknown or other
The paint has begun to peeling off the car. the primer IS still there, however. the car has been owned by immediate family members since originally purchased in 1989 and has been kept under a carport/garage for all of its ownership. I own a 5-YR older ford that IS not garaged, and the finish IS still like new.
- Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and attachments
Door hinges split in half, causing door to separate from vehicle. dealer has been notified. *ak
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
When geting on to the highway the seat back fell in to the back seat making me unable to see any traffic ahead of me.*ak
- Tires › Tread/belt
PE00 048; consumer was traveling about 65mph on highway and heard a funny noise, and then tread came off. he was able to pull over to shoulders. and right rear tire tread separated, and tire was still inflated. there were no injuries. *Ak dunlop sp 40 p195/70r14 dot db r w 466047 ( 006677 ) consumer added it was a hot day
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module · Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly · Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
Consumer has had 2 accidents relating to engine acceleration. Both times this happened the same way. consumer has a very steep driveway. On sept. 11-2000, vehicle was in reverse & it accelerated backwards at a maxium speed. Mechanic found that thermostat ring gasket, idle air control valve & computer scan were the causes. *ak
- Structure
Right front cradle bolts rusted and pulled through the frame which could have resulted in a collision. Vehilce not included in recall 97v058000. dealer replaced the right front bolts and washer. *Ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Intermittent stalling while traveling/approaching a stop sign, or applying accelerator pedal from a stop position. Vehicle has been in / out of independent shop on several occasions, and nothing could be done to correct the problem. *ak
- Vehicle speed control
Consumer started up vehicle and engine was running a little fast. Consumer had foot on brake , put vehicle in gear and it took off while foot was on brake. Vehicle didn't stop until they ended up in a creek. Consumer's insurance company contacted dealer. *ak
- Vehicle speed control
While engine idled high, consumer shifted vehicle out of park into drive with brakes depressed, and vehicle drove off out of control, running into a creek. *ak
- Structure › Body
Paint would not stay on vehicle. nlm
- Suspension › Rear
Cracked rear tracking bar detected on 7/18/99. Checked under car because of poor steering and handling and found the bar was cracked in half. We had it replaced with a new one on 7/19/99. We looked for previous recalls for this, but weren't able to find the information. The cost of the repair was $144.45.
- Vehicle speed control
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration when shifting from park to drive gear, resulting in accident. Mjs
- Structure › Frame and members
Bolt failed causing body to separate from frame.
- Vehicle speed control
Listed vehicle was involved in 10-car crash at intersection in our jurisdiction after accelerator on vehicle stuck, following victim's use of car wash. Victim got into vehicle after car wash, put vehicle's transmission into drive, and vehicle accelerated rapidly, reaching a maximum speed of…
Listed vehicle was involved in 10-car crash at intersection in our jurisdiction after accelerator on vehicle stuck, following victim's use of car wash. Victim got into vehicle after car wash, put vehicle's transmission into drive, and vehicle accelerated rapidly, reaching a maximum speed of approx. 90 mph before crashing into a large commercial vehicle, causing the crash listed above. The driver of the buick in this listed questionnaire died due to injuries received.
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage · Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
The consumer has been experiencing problems with seat belt tracks and anchors. Seat belts slide back and forth. in addition, to cracks in seat belt buckles. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
The consumer has been experiencing problems with seat belts. seat belts latch, and tracks and anchors, are broken. the whole seatbelt system IS slowly deteriorating. the manufacturer has yet to be contacted. the defects are related to problems associated with recall number 95v173000. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
Water pump failed.
- Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
Steering wheel failed.
- Suspension › Front
Front end shakes while driving at 55 mph.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Consumer's mother was driving vehicle with the red brake light on for a month. Don collins, buick franchese owners, service department has known about brakes since january1997, and has not corrected this problem as requested by mrs. Judson/her husband or mrs. Peluso. On october 1-, 97, mrs.…
Consumer's mother was driving vehicle with the red brake light on for a month. Don collins, buick franchese owners, service department has known about brakes since january1997, and has not corrected this problem as requested by mrs. Judson/her husband or mrs. Peluso. On october 1-, 97, mrs. Peluso's mother continued to drive vehicle with light on until one day she was turning into her driveway and the brakes failed. She could not stop the vehicle, crashed into her garage door, damaging the garage and the vehicle. Vehicle was towed to larry menke buick dealership in the auto center, town of seaside, ca. Menke's # 408-394-3374. *ak
- Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
When driving and upon hitting a bump in the road the seatback falls into the reclining position. Cosnumer has yet to have the problem corrected. Please provide further details. *ak
- Vehicle speed control
When backing out of garage with foot on the brake, the car surged out of the driveway and the brake did not stop the car. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Driver's side seat belt IS not releasing due to a retractor problem of the seat belt. dealer won't fix this problem because there are no seat belt parts for this vehicle. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Sticking throttle
There is no summary currently available
Every Buick Century model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.