Total Complaints
32 filings
BUICK CENTURY · model year
1987 BUICK CENTURY
32 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987BUICKCENTURY carries 32 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 CENTURY is steering:rack and pinion with 4 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (3) and electrical system:ignition:module (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1987 CENTURY. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
32
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
| STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20090722TIRES
MY MOTHER HAS A BUICK THAT SHE HAD FIRESTONE RADIAL TIRES INSTALLED ON THE FRONT. THE TIRES, P185/75R14 HAD A BELT BREAK IN THEM WITHIN ONE WEEK OF EACH OTHER. THE DEALER SHE BOUGHT THEM FROM REFUSES TO TALK TO HER ABOUT IT. WHAT CAN SHE DO? *TR
20040422POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND DOESN'T LOCK INTO GEAR. ALSO MAKES CLUNKING SOUND WHEN ACCELERATION IS LET OFF THEN RE-APPLIED. THIS CAR WAS DRIVEN GENTLY THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE BY SENIOR CITIZENS.
Mileage: 90,000
20020402SEATS
WHILE BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT 20-25 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE OFF THE TRACK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
20001219ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN TURNING ON HEATER ENGINE RPM'S GO UP SOMETIMES AND CAN KEEP CAR MOVING AT 45-50 MPH WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GAS, TURNING OFF HEATER CONTROL DOES NOT ALWAYS DROP THE RPM'S, WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK THE ENGINE RACES AT VERY HIGH RPM'S AND CONSUMER MUST TURN OFF ENGINE QUICKLY. NLM
20000531CHILD SEAT:SHIELD ASSEMBLY
PROBLEM WITH CENTURY OVATION CAR SEAT. MY 2 YEAR OLD SON PULLED THE T-BAR SHIELD OUT OF THE BUCKLE AREA 2 TIMES. IT WAS PROPERLY SECURED. WE TOOK THE CAR SEAT OUT AND TRIED IT OURSELVES. WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT AT ALL, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL IT OUT 7 OUT OF 10 TRIES. IT SEEMED TO UNLATCH WHEN THE T BAR WAS PUSHED SLIGHTLY IN ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER. IF MY 2 YEAR OLD WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OUT, I AM CONVINCED THIS IS NOT A SAFE SEAT. MANUFACTURER HAS REQUESTED I SEND THE SEAT BACK TO THEM SO THEY CAN "TAKE A LOOK AT IT". IF YOU NEED ANY OTHER INFORMATION FROM ME, PLEASE E-MAIL ME OR CALL ME. THANK YOU, JENNIFER CANNON. *AK
20000305POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
EVEN MECHANICS CAN'T SOLVE THIS; SO IT IS HARD FOR ME TO DIAGNOSE. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
20000305VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
EVEN MECHANICS CAN'T SOLVE THIS; SO IT IS HARD FOR ME TO DIAGNOSE. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
20000201ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLED 10 TIMES FROM PURCHASE DATE. HAS BEEN IN THE SAME FAMILY SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS BEEN "REPAIRED" MANY TIMES, BUT NEVER FIXED. IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GET IT FIXED AND CAN THE MANUFACTURER HELP? AFTER SEARCHING YOUR WEB PAGE I NOW KNOW THAT WE WEREN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. HELP! *AK
19990901SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM
WHILE TRAVELING UP ON AN INCLINE APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAR BRAKES SEIZED. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THAT REAR BRAKES SEIZED DUE TO REAR BRAKE DRUMS BEING FRACTURED IN THREE DIFFERENT PLACE. ,DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR BRAKE DRUMS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
19990218ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE WARMING THE VEHICLE IT STALLED.
19990203FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER
I FILED A COMPLAINT IN JUNE 1998 WITH NO RESPONSE YET. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF STATUS OF MY COMPLAINT/OUTCOME. INCOMPLETE SUMMARY, NO DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
19990120ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OWNER HAS HAD 3 BATTERIES REPLACED AND 1 NEW ALTERNATOR BECAUSE OF AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER CLAIMS THAT SOMETHING ELECTRICAL STAYS ON IN THE VEHICLE EVEN WHEN IT CUTS OFF. *AK
19990111SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKE SHOES FAILED.
19980622FireSTEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
IN 1992 THE MAXIGUARD ANTI-THEFT AFTERMAKET DEVICE WAS INSTALLED. THE MAXIGUARD ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WIRES CAUGHT ON FIRE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS A SHORT IN THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE. *AK *MJS
19980505CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN PUT INTO GEAR THE CAR ACCELERATED OVER A BANK INTO A BROOK. FOOT WAS NOT ON PEDAL GAS PEDAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
19980301STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
IN COLD WEATHER, POWER STEERING WONT TURN AFTER THE INITIAL START.
19970725SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT CAME OFF AND THE WHEEL SPINNED AROUND. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. *AK
19970717STEERING:RACK AND PINION
'COLD POWER STEERING'.
19960829SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, THE PLASTIC PIECE FELL APART . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
19960628STEERING
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DH
Compare 1987BUICKCENTURY to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 BUICK CENTURY have?▼
The 1987 BUICK CENTURY has 32 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 BUICK CENTURY?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 BUICK CENTURY is STEERING:RACK AND PINION with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE.
Is the 1987 BUICK CENTURY safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.