BUICK CENTURY · model year

1994 BUICK CENTURY

144 NHTSA complaints, 29 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994BUICKCENTURY carries 144 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 29 crashes, 7 fires, 25 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1994 CENTURY is air bags:frontal with 13 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (13) and vehicle speed control (12). 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 1994 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.

144
Complaints
29
Crashes
7
Fires
25
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

144 filings

Crashes Reported

29 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL13
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP13
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
SUSPENSION:FRONT4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER3
SEATS3
TIRES3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY2

Recent Complaints

20100226EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

SINCE 1990 AUTO HAVE COME WITH PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES. AFTER ABOUT TWO YEARS THEY BECOME CLOUDY AND RESTRICT THE RANGE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. A WALK THROUGH THE PARKING LOT WILL CONFIRM THE CLOUDINESS, AND COMPARING A NEW ONE WITH AN OLD ONE SHOWS AN ALMOST 50% REDUCTION IN NIGHT RANGE. THE REPLACEMENT UNITS ARE $150.00 AND UP COMPARED TO $15 FOR THE OLDER GLASS UNITS BEFORE 1990.. THE PLASTIC FORMULATION NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AND THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED.. THANK YOU. *TR

20090120STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE TIE ROD FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIE ROD BROKE IN HALF. UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB

Mileage: 100,000

20060207CrashTIRES:TREAD/BELT

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELS ALONG 113 IN KANKAKEE IL AT APPROX 55 MPH, AS VEHICLE ENTERED A BEND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLES RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A LEFT SIDE SPIN OVER THE EMBANKMENT AND INTO A FENCE POLL. VEHICLE DID ROLL POSSIBLY TWO TIME. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, IF ANYBODY ELSE WAS IN THE VEHICLE THEY WOULD BE DEAD. DRIVE DID SUFFER MULTIPLE INJURES BUT WAS ALIVE, AS THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPT PUT IT LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THE TIRE IN WHICH THE TREAD SEPARATED WAS A FIRESTONE FR440 DOT #EJTUDJD288. VEHICLE WAS A 94 BUICK CENTURY IN GOOD MECH SHAPE INSPECTED APROX 1,000 MILE PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER STATED THE WAS DRIVING FINE UP TO THE ACCIDENT, NO VIBRATIONS, PULLING, NOISE ETC. *NM

Mileage: 84,000

20041025FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

ENGINE INJECTOR FAILURE. *BF THE CONSUMER HAS 5 INJECTORS ON THE VEHICLE AND SO FAR ONLY 1 HAS FAILED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT EVENTUALLY THE REMAINING INJECTORS WILL HAVE TO REPLACED. THE CONSUMER THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR YEARS AS FAR AS 1994. THE INJECTOR PROBLEM HAS CAUSED ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE SUCH AS ENGINE HESITATION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE FOR A NUMBER OF SECONDS UNTIL THE PEDAL IS ALMOST FLOORED. *JB

Mileage: 93,597

20040422SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NO LONGER RETRACT. DEALER STATED BOTH SEAT BELTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20040305STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ENGINE SHUTDOWN WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. *LA THE CONSUMER OWN A 1991 BUICK CENTURY AND HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WITH HIS VEHICLE AS HE DID WITH HIS FATHER'S VEHICLE (1994 BUICK CENTURY) AS STATED IN THE RECALL. *PH

20040305ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ENGINE SHUTDOWN WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. *LA THE CONSUMER OWN A 1991 BUICK CENTURY AND HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WITH HIS VEHICLE AS HE DID WITH HIS FATHER'S VEHICLE (1994 BUICK CENTURY) AS STATED IN THE RECALL. *PH

20040122TIRES

ROCKY MOUNTAIN MODEL STEEL RADIAL SIZE 185P/75R14, REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

Mileage: 93,000

20040112WHEELS

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HAD 5 BROKEN "SPOKES" OUT OF 10, WHEEL MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE, THE OTHER 2 WHEELS HAD SEVERAL BROKEN "SPOKES," I DID NOT SEE ANY BROKEN "SPOKES" ON THE 4TH. WHEEL. I REPLACED THE FRONT WHEEL WITH ONE FROM THE L.A. AREA, AND IT WAS ALSO BROKEN. $252.22 FOR 4 OTHER STYLE, USED, REPLACEMENT WHEELS. PLEASE REFER TO YOUR REFERENCE NO. 830643. *LA

Mileage: 65,825

20031031CrashFatalAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAGS ON LOW MILEAGE 1994 BUICK CENTURY DID NOT DEPLOY DURING HEAD ON CRASH. *LA

Mileage: 63,000

20030527FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL IS LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.*AK

20020514EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

A/C COMPRESSOR CLUTCH IS FAILING AT 37865 MILES.MAKES A SEVERE SQUEALING NOISE AND IS GRINDING INTERNAL PARTS INTO PEICES.AT THIS VERY LOW MILAGE I WOULD NOT EXPECT THIS PROBLEM TO OCCURRED. *AK

20011126ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE MOUNTS AND SUPPORTS ARE CORRODED AND COMING APART WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE ENGINE TO DROP. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

20010912CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. *YH

20010723CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, TWICE WITH ME AND ONCE WITH MY WIFE, THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THEIR HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER OCCASIONS WHERE THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE THE VEHICLE IN A PANIC OR NEAR PANIC SITUATION. THE ANTI-LOCK WORKS FINE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKES WILL NOT BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT KEEPS ROLLING MANY FEET FARTHER THAN IS SAFE. THE THREE ACCIDENTS OCURRED AT LES THAN 5 MPH. YOU HIT THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE NOT ONLY WON'T LOCK THE BRAKES IT WON'T STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAVE INSTALLED SEMI-METALLIC AND STANDARD BRAKE PADS WITH NO SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT. THE ROTORS ARE FINE AND THE PADS HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED TO WEAR DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS VEHICLES AND ALSO RACED CARS AND THEY ALL STOP IMMEDIATELY FROM 5 - 10 MPH. THIS VEHICLE WILL USUALLY REQUIRE 30 - 40 FEET TO STOP FROM THE TIME THE PEDAL IS PUSHED. I HAVE NOTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER IN THE PAST WITH NO RESULTS. MY WIFE

20010723CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, TWICE WITH ME AND ONCE WITH MY WIFE, THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THEIR HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER OCCASIONS WHERE THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE THE VEHICLE IN A PANIC OR NEAR PANIC SITUATION. THE ANTI-LOCK WORKS FINE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKES WILL NOT BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT KEEPS ROLLING MANY FEET FARTHER THAN IS SAFE. THE THREE ACCIDENTS OCURRED AT LES THAN 5 MPH. YOU HIT THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE NOT ONLY WON'T LOCK THE BRAKES IT WON'T STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAVE INSTALLED SEMI-METALLIC AND STANDARD BRAKE PADS WITH NO SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT. THE ROTORS ARE FINE AND THE PADS HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED TO WEAR DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS VEHICLES AND ALSO RACED CARS AND THEY ALL STOP IMMEDIATELY FROM 5 - 10 MPH. THIS VEHICLE WILL USUALLY REQUIRE 30 - 40 FEET TO STOP FROM THE TIME THE PEDAL IS PUSHED. I HAVE NOTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER IN THE PAST WITH NO RESULTS. MY WIFE

20010621CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FIRST CRASH---VEHICLE ACELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY WITH FOOT ON BRAKE / SECOND CRASH---VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE EXTREMELEY FAST WITH GEAR SHIFT IN THE PARK POSITION UPON TURNING KEY IN IGNITION. *AK

20001017LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

CONSUMER HAS REQUESTED DEALER TO PERFORM RECALL 94V159000 DUE TO FAULTY LOCKS, DEALER IS REFUSING TO DO RECALL UNTIL SOMEONE GIVES HIM AUTHORIZATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S CONSUMER'S CAMPAIGN NUMBERS DIDN'T MATCH HIS RECALL NUMBERS. *SLC

20000711EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT

DRIVER'S SIDE COVER ON THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT HAS FALLEN OFF. LOOKS LIKE THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS COMING OFF. CONSUMER SAID THAT LIGHT INDICATED THAT IT WAS WORKING FROM THE INSIDE, BUT WAS NOT BLINKING ON THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE OF WATER GETTING INTO IT.*AK

20000530CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH, AND PUSHED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE INTO AN EMBANKMENT, CRUSHING THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WENT INT BUSHES. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM. *AK

Compare 1994BUICKCENTURY to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 BUICK CENTURY have?
The 1994 BUICK CENTURY has 144 NHTSA complaints, 29 crashes, 7 fires, 25 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 BUICK CENTURY?
The most-complained component for the 1994 BUICK CENTURY is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1994 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.