Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Buick Century, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system20
- Visibility16
- Steering15
- Seat belts15
- Exterior lighting9
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Air bags6
- Suspension5
- Structure4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 5 1997 Century vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them. 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 1997 Buick Century failed the safety check 1.30% of the time — 19% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 90,846 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 11.4–12.4 L/100 km (about 19–21 mpg US), CO₂ 262–285 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 8.9 | 11.4 |
| Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.6 | 8.7 | 11.4 |
| Century # · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.7 | 9.6 | 12.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Buick Century.
| 2000002 4 Jan 2000 | Visual System On certain vehicles, the windshield wipers may stop working, usually after operation under heavy load conditions such as accumulated snow or ice, because of sep… |
| 1998109 28 May 1998 | Lights And Instruments THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING SYSTEM AND RETROREFLECTIVE DEVICES. THE ENGLISH OWNER MANUALS FOR THE OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE AND THE E… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY STOP WORKING DUE TO A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE DRIVE PIN AND CRESCENT IN THE CRANK ARM ASSEMBLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OWNER MANUALS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIREMENT INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING DEVICE. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
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 1997 Buick Century: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636650 | SUBJECT REGARDING CARPET PULLING OUT FROM UNDER FROM THE REAR DOOR SILL PLATE, LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE. *TT |
| 636558 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE PRINDLE DISPLAY IS NOT LEGIBLE WHEN MOVING FORM A DARK AREA TO A LIGHTED AREA, WHEN THEVHECLE IS STARTED INSIDE A GARAGE, THE HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED ON AUTOMATICALLY AND THEN THE VEHICLE IS BACKED INTO THE SUNLIGHT. *TT |
| 636475 | INFORMATION ON REFINISHING ALUMINUM WHEELS. *TT |
| 636448 | VEHICLES WITH THE CJ2 AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONING AND WITHOUT THE U20 CLUSTER WHICH IS THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER AND THE CJ2 AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONER DISPLAYS THE CELSIUS AND NOT FAHRENHEIT. *TT |
| 634813 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A REPEAT ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. *TT |
| 634708 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 631274 | SUBJECT REGARDING VARIOUS DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES SEAT, ENGINE WILL NOT START. *SLC |
| 631232 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON THE TIME IT TAKES THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR GLASS TO DEFOG. *SLC |
| 629522 | SUBJECT REGARDING HVAC TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE SIDE TO SIDE AND/OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES B0361, B0441 SET. *TT |
| 628877 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE CARPETING IS SEPARATING FROM, OR COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE REAR DOOR OPENING SILL PLATE MOLDING. *TT |
| 628867 | SUBJECT REGARDING HEAD RESTRAINT HEIGHT INCREASES DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. *TT |
| 628864 | SUBJECT REGARDING HEIGHT RESTRAINT HEIGHT INCREASES DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. *TT |
| 628085 | CONCERNS WHERE THE CARPET PULLS OUT FROM UNDER THE SILL PLATE ON THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR FOOT WELL AREA. *TT |
| 627977 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING WIND NOISE FROM THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR AREA. *TT |
| 627538 | INFORMATION REGARDING ITCHING TYPE NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. *YH |
| 625325 | INFORMATION REGARDING A CLUNK OR POP NOISE IN THE LEFT FRONT FOOT WELL AREA. *YH |
| 623615 | INFORMATION REGARDING EXTRA CLIPS IN THE 4T65E TRANSMISSION. *SLC |
| 623410 | CAMPAIGN INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM WILL BE SENDING OUT AN ADDITIONAL OWNER NOTIFICATION ON CAMPAIGN 99091 REGARDING INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND INCORRECT PARK. *SLC |
| 623403 | THIS BULLETIN IS BEING ISSUED TO REVISE THE FASTENER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE CALIPER BRACKET REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES IN THE DISC-BRAKE SUB-SECTION OF BRAKES IN THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE MANUAL. *TT |
| 622742 | SUBJECT REGARDING DIAGNOSIS OF HVAC DTC'S B0361, B0363, B0365 AND B0367. NLM |
| 620810 | SUBJECT REGARDING POLYMER SERVICE PISTONS. *TT |
| 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 |
| 619369 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST IN WHICH THE FUEL GAUGE READS INCORRECTLY / FLUCTUATES, LOW FUEL CHIME SOUNDS PREMATURELY. *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 |
| 619356 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SELECTOR LEVER IS DIFFICULT TO MOVE / SHIFT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
WINDSHIELD WIPER
WINDSHIELD WIPER
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation