Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1994 Buick Century, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic20
- Engine and engine cooling14
- Air bags14
- Vehicle speed control13
- Electrical system10
- Seat belts9
- Steering8
- Suspension7
- Fuel system, gasoline6
- Power train5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 21 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1994 Century vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1994 Buick Century failed the safety check 1.55% of the time — 17% more often than the average 1994 passenger car (1.33%). Median odometer at inspection: 84,743 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 1994 Buick Century.
| 1995165 20 Sept 1995 | Seats And Restraints THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 210 - SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGE. VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WI… |
| 1994151 4 Oct 1994 | Suspension NOTE: VEHICLES LOCATED IN ONTARIO(4) AND BRITISH COLUMBIA(1). THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN UNDER TORQUED RIGHT HAND FRONT SPINDLE NUT. IF THIS NUT WERE TO FALL O… |
| 1994141 7 Sept 1994 | Electrical THE POWER DOOR LOCK RELAY ON THESE VEHICLES CAN SHORT INTERNALLY DUE TO WATER INTRUSION. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. CORRECTION: POWER DOOR LO… |
| 1994085 2 May 1994 | Structure THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 215 - BUMPERS. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT MEET THE 8 KPH BUMPER IMPACT REQUIREMENTS. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSPECT … |
| 1994015 2 Feb 1994 | Engine THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 124 - ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS. IN THE EVENT OF A PRIMARY ACCELERATOR CONTROL SPRING FAILURE, THE SECONDARY ACCE… |
| 1993139 5 Oct 1993 | Engine VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND 3.1 LITRE ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CONDUIT END … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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."
THE RIGHT HAND SPINDLE NUT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY. THIS CAN CAUSE PREMATURE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AND OVER TIME, THE SPINDLE CAN FRACTURE.
WATER INTRUSION CAN CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY.
IN THE EVENT OF A PRIMARY ACCELERATOR CONTROL SPRING FAILURE, THE SECONDARY (BACK-UP) ACCELERATOR CONTROL RETURN SPRING WILL NOT RETURN THE THROTTLE TO THE FULLY CLOSED POSITION, AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM."
DURING ASSEMBLY, WATER MAY HAVE ENTERED THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT CAUSING IT TO DEVELOP A HIGH EFFORT AND/OR BINDING CONDITION IN VERY COLD WEATHER.
THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CONDUIT END FITTING WHILE ENGAGED AND ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD BE LOST.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Buick told its dealers about the 1994 Buick Century: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 619370 | OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT |
| 619360 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON DRIVEABILITY SYMPTONS OF LONG OR HARD STARTS, CHUGGLE, ROUGH IDLE AND LIGHT OR INTERMITTENT MISFIRE DUE TO CLOGGED FUEL INJECTORS. *TT |
| 615073 | SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED.TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT CHANGE OF OIL. *TT |
| 6089996 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT |
| 604343 | SOME OWNERS MAY EXPERIENCE A DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOM OF LONG OR HARD STARTS, CHUGGLE, ROUGH IDLE AND LIGHT OR INTERMITTENT MISFIRE. *TT |
| 602341 | PROM CALIBRATION REPLACEMENT FOR NOX EMISSIONS. *YC |
| 601915 | COMMENTS ON A TICKING TYPE NOISE THAT BEGINS SHORTLY AFTER COLD ENGINE START-UP AND GRADUALLY DIMINISHES AS THE ENGINE WARMS UP. *YC |
| 601058 | VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CLATTERING NOISE AT IDLE SPEED ORIGINATING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN AND FRONT COVER AREA. *YC |
| 600282 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOM OF LONG OR HARD STARTS, CHUGGLE, ROUGH IDLE AND LIGHT OR INTERMITTENT MISFIRE. *YC |
| 54419 | COMMENT THAT THE ABS LIGHT IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) 46 AND 86 SET AS CURRENT OR HISTORY. *YC |
| 54328 | EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STEERING COLUMN SNAP OR CLICK NOISE WHEN TURNING. *YC |
| 54066 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR DEPOSITS. *YC |
| 52935 | INFORMATION CONCERNING ENGINE KNOCK/RATTLE OR TAP NOISE BEFORE ENGINE HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR UNDER LIGHT LOAD CONDITIONS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE (REPLACE PISTON AND/OR ROD ASSEMBLIES). AK |
| 51497 | COLD START RATTLE NOISE (DIAGNOSIS/SERVICE PROCEDURE). *TW |
| 51302 | KNOCK, RATTLE OR TAP NOISE FROM THE ENGINE BEFORE THE ENGINE HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR UNDER LIGHT LOAD CONDITIONS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE KNOCK, RATTLE OR TAP NOISE FROM THE ENGINE BEFORE THE ENGINE HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR UNDER LIGHT LOAD CONDITIONS AT RATURE (REPLACE PISTON AND/OR ROD ASSEMBLIES). *TW |
| 50571 | COLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW |
| 45881 | GRINDING AND/OR GROWLING NOISE IN PARK ON INCLINE.*SD |
| 45825 | ABS DTC 34 AND/OR 35 MAY BE SET (REPLACE/REPAIR HARNESS). *SD |
| 45815 | COLD ENGINE TICK OR RATTLE AFTER START-UP (REPLACE PISTON/PIN ASSEMBLY). *SD |
| 43038 | UNKNOWN |
| 39725 | OIL LEAK AT THE ROCKER COVER. *TW |
| 39308 | COLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW |
| 39279 | COLD START STALL/SAG/HESITATION/COLD ROUGH IDLE. *TW |
| 39083 | EXHAUST MANIFOLD SEAL SQUEAK. *TW |
| 37937 | HIGHWAY SPEED VIBRATION. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)