My vehicle's window controls and lock controls are no longer working, when locking the door or the window will go down but will not come up. The rest of the windows control throughout the car will not work as well. The lighting in the car flickers if you would push the lot or the window control. Anterior light is no longer working. None of this works even when parked or driving down the road.
The worst 1998 Buick Century problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes29
- Electrical26
- Transmission26
- Visibility25
- Steering24
- Engine23
- Lights23
- Fuel system12
- Seat belts12
- Body11
- Airbags10
- Suspension8
- Tires6
- Acceleration5
- Seats3
- Locks2
- Wheels2
Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Buick Century
Recalls 2
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not conform to the requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the vertical head lamp adjusting device may not be calibrated properly.
- Risk
- Driver visibility may be impaired increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Owners will be provided with an owner's manual insert containing instructions for optically aiming the headlamps.
Recall number 99V356000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is wrong
- 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."
- Risk
- If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers may not be able to properly aim the headlights.
- Remedy
- Owners will be mailed an owner manual's insert which contains the appropriate information.
Recall number 98V102000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 1998 Buick Century
Defect investigations
Power rack and pinion steering failure
Gm's letter to the federal safety agency dated december 11, 2003, expands its original recall (the federal safety agency 02v286) to include certain w-body vehicles: 96-97 olds cutlass supreme; 98 olds intrigue; 97-98 olds cutlass; 97-98 chevy lumina, monte carlo and malibu; 96 pontiac grand prix; and 96-98 buick regal.the number of vehicles recalled is 750,283.gm determined that failure of the rack and pinion is related to damage of the lower pinion bearing and the level of the pinion bearing pre-load spring force.gm states, higher rack pre-load spring force (133 lb.) is the design characteristic most closely associated with higher bearing damage rates in most of the vehicle applications that used the general bearing company (gbc) bearing.all of the vehicles covered in the expanded recall have the 133 lb spring force.the 96 lumina/monte carlo and 97-98 century w-body vehicles included in this investigation utilize a lower spring force and are not included in the recall.
EA03019
Power rack and pinion steering failure
Gm conducted a safety recall (the federal safety agency # 02v286) to address a steering defect pertaining to a lower pinion bearing (lpb) within the rack and pinion steering gear (r&p). The recall covered 1,159,156 model year 1997-1998 pontiac grand prix vehicles built between march 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, 1996-1998 pontiac trans sport, chevrolet lumina apv, chevrolet venture, oldsmobile silhouette minivans, and chevrolet cavalier and pontiac sunfire sedans built between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997.odi opened this rq after receiving reports that other vehicles were exhibiting the same symptoms as the recalled vehicles.based on odi's review of technical and complaint data collected during the rq, the w-cars are associated with either a higher steering complaint rate or a higher lpb failure rate than the other vehicles investigated under the rq and are above or near the rates for the recalled vehicles.thus, odi will further examine the w-cars (1996-1997 oldsmobile cutlass supreme, 1996-1998 buick regal, chevrolet lumina, chevrolet monte carlo, 1997-1998 buick century, and 1998 oldsmobile intrigue) under a new investigation, engineering analysis (ea)03-019.
RQ03001
Windshield wiper
By letter dated december 12, 1999, gm notified the federal safety agency of its plans to conduct a safety related defect campaign to remedy 155,149 of the subject vehicles.the vehicle population for the campaign includes the 1997 buick regal/century and pontiac gran prix models built during the period from the start of production through may 1, 1997.gm determined that the wipers installed prior to this date could stop working, usually during heavy load conditions, due to separation between the drive pin and the crescent in the wiper crank arm assembly.effective may 1, 1997,gm corrected this problem in production by modifying the drive pin and strengthening the crescent.these same improved parts will be installed in the vehicles to be recalled.the scope of the campaign will include all vehicles produced prior to the may 1, 1997 correction (the oldsmobile intrique production did not start until after may 1, 1997, and is therefore not included).vehicles with the scope of this investigation and produced after may 1, 1997, contain the more robust crescent and improved pin design and are not included in the recall campaign.odi will continue to monitor complaint reports on the vehicles produced after may 1, 1997 and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.based on gm's recall action (odi 99v‑348) this investigation is closed.
EA99024
Windshield wiper
Incidents of wiper failure (owner reports and warranty) are very high, and many of the reports indicate that the failures are still occurring in 1999.
PE99028
Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Buick Century 87
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios...
- This informational bulletin provides information on wheel bearing P/N 13582664 being received new with...
- Vehicle Recalls
- This informational bulletin provides the technician with information on what E85 fuel may due to a non E85...
- This preliminary bulletin provides a way to aid the technician in diagnosing transmission fluid leaking...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have...
- Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- ABS pump running when not needed. nj
1998 Buick Century fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 27 | 21 |
What 1998 Buick Century owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 buick century. While the vehicle was being operated, the brakes and steering column seized. As a result, the vehicle was involved in a front end crash. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and deemed destroyed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained short term memory loss, a concussion, and several unknown injuries that required medical attention. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 09e005000 (steering) and 03v527000 (steering); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was not provided.
Multiple cracking on sidewalls of 4 michelin harmony tires being used 3000 miles a year. Tires bought in 2007 and have 99% of tread still present on tire. Feel michelin used insufficient uv/ozone inhibitor chemicals in rubber compound manufacturing these tires. Tires may be unsafe and not due to car owner's fault. Feel michelin should replace these at their expense, not my mother's expense. Tires should last much longer than 7-8 years at 3000 miles a year when 80,000 is advertised for these tires.
Was driven off the road by another vehicle I then hit a pothole at the same time my passenger dash airbag deployed.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 buick century. The contact stated that there is no alternative way to unlock the trunk. The contact locked the keys in the trunk of the vehicle and was unable to access the trunk. The contact had to go home to retrieve a spare set of keys to unlock the trunk. The contact felt this was a safety risk for children. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl * the contact owns a 1998 buick century. The contact stated that the driver side air bag was starting to detach from the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 144,000 and the current mileage was 162,000.
I first noticed the engine shutting off in january of 2014, especially going down a hill. The engine shuts down at different speeds and the air bag light stays on. At first I thought that there was moisture in my gas tank, but after filling up a couple of times and putting in some gas dryer, the problem continued. I usually shift to neutral and start the engine while the car is still moving. I took my remote and other keys off the key ring. It still shuts off the engine with just one key in the ignition switch, but not as much. Can you tell me how I can remedy this problem with my 1998 buick century? Will this be at my own expense?
No top tether anchor available for child car seat. Gm refuses to retrofit and says that there is no retrofit kit available, even though there was a bulletin in march 2012 that says that they will retrofit one for free. Unable to safety transport my child.
After a snowfall, the windshield wipers would not park, stood straight up and obstructed my view. I called buick and was told to take it to my dealership and it would be repaired. When I picked up the car, they told me that the previous year's model had been recalled for this problem. They would not repair the wipers. I have been told by two mechanics that my car has the exact issue as the previous model. I find that this is a danger to myself, my children and other drivers/passengers and feel that it should be on the recall list.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 buick century. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The power steering was not functioning. However, the driver was able to maintained control the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Compare the 1998 Buick Century
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Questions about the 1998 Buick Century
Is the 1998 Buick Century reliable?
Owners have filed 217 complaints about the 1998 Buick Century, 1.7 times a typical Century model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Buick Century?
Brakes, with 29 complaints, typically around 57,972 miles. Next is electrical (26).
How many recalls does the 1998 Buick Century have?
2 recalls, covering exterior lighting.
What year does the Buick Century have bad brakes?
The Buick Century model years with the most brakes complaints are 2000 (31 complaints), 1998 (29 complaints) and 1999 (29 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1998 Buick Century get?
Official estimates for the 1998 Buick Century range from 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.1L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 17 city and 27 highway.
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