Model year record

1988 Buick Century

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 26 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 88V164000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
27,369
Reported to NHTSA
1988-10-18
Owners notified
1988-12-15

Defect description

FUEL FEED HOSE COULD LEAK AT THE COUPLING ON THE ENGINE END OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY.

Safety risk

FUEL LEAKAGE INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD RESULT INAN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE THAT COULD SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL NEW FUEL FEED HOSE ASSEMBLY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 88V048000

Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm

Component
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
3,428
Reported to NHTSA
1988-04-01
Owners notified
1988-04-20

Defect description

FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET COULD DEVELOP METAL CRACKS.

Safety risk

THESE CRACKS MAY RESULT IN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE LOWERCONTROL ARM. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT INLOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

INSPECT ALL VEHICLES AND REPLACE ENGINE CRADLE ASSEMBLY ON ALL SUSPECT VEHICLES.

Recall campaignNHTSA 88V007000

Seat belts

Component
Seat belts
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
6,083
Reported to NHTSA
1988-01-20
Owners notified
1988-02-03

Defect description

OWNERS MANUAL DID NOT INCLUDE STATEMENT ON CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS.

Safety risk

VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FMVSS 210.

Manufacturer remedy

FURNISH OWNERS WITH UPDATED OWNERS MANUALS THAT CONTAIN THE OMITTED INSTRUCTIONS.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly4
Steering: rack and pinion3
Steering: rack and pinion: rack3
Seat belts: front: retractor2
Seats: front assembly: recliner2
Electrical system: ignition1
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical1
Power train: automatic transmission1
Seat belts: front: anchorage1
Seats1
Steering1
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1
Structure1
Structure: body: trunk lid1
Suspension1
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm1
Suspension: front: shock absorber1

The 1987 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 1989 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.