Buick Century engine failure problems

Filed Oct 4, 2016 · Brakes, Steering · MA · crash · 1 injury

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.

Filed Jun 30, 2015 · 144,522 miles · KY

Car stopped for no apparent reason while driving down the highway but started up immediately and continued driving home. Next week stopped again while driving as I pulled into the gas station but started up again and continued home. Next time driving no problems then stopped again while turning into the grocery store and again on way home while slowing down for a curve. Can't be trusted. Stops at 55 MPH on the highway. Very dangerous! One mechanic thinks it needs new engine computer because he pulled all sensors for testing and car continued to run.however, he is only guessing and won't guarantee a fix if I have new computer installed.

Filed Jan 23, 2015 · Engine · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick century. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the engine seized. The vehicle was not able to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the contacts home. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Dec 10, 2010 · Engine · 31,939 miles · IL

2002 buick century intake manifold/gasket fails at 31k miles. Coolant in the engine and mixed with the oil. All of the prior service and maintenance were performed at gm dealerships (where this should have been discovered prior to failure). Oil, lube, rotations done without waiting for indicator lights (2-4 times per year), all recommended procedures completed (including new brakes, throttle body and fuel injector svcs). This was a known issue regarding dexcool eating away the gaskets but gm filed bankruptcy to avoid full settlement and now dealerships claim ignorance to the issue. Now I have to pay $1500 to have the engine & radiator disassembled for cleaning. I was informed that labor is the bulk of the cost. Why won't gm charge the customer for the part and not the labor. I was told by the service advisor that the parts involved only cost $200-250, but I have to pay $1500 for a known issue/failure the manufacture was/is well aware of and is a safety issue that causes abrupt engine failure! I am so upset that my vehicle was so well taken care of and would fail with so few miles on it. My chevy corsica also failed due to dexcool (water pump replacement at 60k miles) and I did not receive a penny from the dexcool settlement (even though I filed and was eligible). Gm should be held accountable for these failures that are still an issue. An engine failure in traffic is a serious defect.

Filed Jul 23, 2008 · Engine · 90,000 miles · SC

I noticed that there was sludge in the coolant tank after I got a low coolant light when the coolant was not low and the temperature was normal. I brought the car in to the buick dealership and was told that oil was leaking through the intake manifold gasket into the coolant channels of the manifold. The oil was interfering with the coolants sensor causing the indicator light to come on. The dealer told me the system would need to be drained, flushed and refilled after the manifold was removed and the gasket replaced. This was going to cost over $800.00 the dealer indicated that this was a fairly common occurrence on the 3.1l engine so I asked why this was not a warranty issue to which he responded that gm would not cover this problem. I asked what would happen if I did not do the recommended actions; response, possible water migrating into the cylinders or oil/water mixing, all very bad for the engine. Because I like the car, I had the work done as I use this car for extended trips and I do not want to find myself with an engine failure. Since this does appear to be a common problem which may be aggravated by the use of dexron cooling fluid, I believe that gm should be responsible for repairs and/or reimbursement for such repairs that have been done.

Filed Apr 19, 2007 · Engine, Visibility · 100,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 buick century. The vehicle's intake manifold gasket failed at less than 100,000 miles on a brand new engine. The contact smelled anti-freeze and brought the vehicle to a mechanic who conducted pressure testing. The failure was diagnosed as the manifold gasket. It is a replacement engine and it is demonstrating the same failure as the original engine that was replaced at 35,000 miles by arbitration order. Buick has refused to pay for any failed components concerning this motor, including replacing the catalytic converter. The converter was plugged from the original motor failure along with the subsequent failure from the intake manifold gasket on the new motor. The power window regulator failed in january of 2007 for the second time. The current mileage is 145,000 and failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Oct 25, 2006 · Engine · 32,000 miles · TN

Overheating engine & ticking sound. Took to dealer twice before the warranty expired. Always a little bit of repair. After warranty expired same problem but then needed over 600.00 in repairs. Later same problem 300.00 in repairs. Always thermostat or water pump. The temp gauge goes up and low coolant light came on, same as before, a mechanic was at the cafe I work at & looked at the car. He stated that there was oil in the radiator & that he had seen this problem from these gm products many many times and that I would have to have a new engine. Added coolant & it lasted a little while. Took to another mechanic for second opinion & was told the same. The temp light does not come on but the low coolant light comes on. The ticking got louder and took to dealer for their opinion, ask them to check the coolant to see if oil was in it. Was told that the noise was from a stuck lifter & they put in a heavier weight oil & additive to oil change & that the fluids looked good. 2 weeks later let 4th mechanic look, he put is finger in radiator & showed me the gunk, said I have a blown head gasket & more. He has seen hundreds of the same problem. Told that gm should be held accountable, that they know their is a problem and do nothing about it and try to cover it up. Gm should have done a recall on the problem. I have found hundreds of complaints online in the past weeks. I don't want money or new car I just want mine fixed by the company responsible. The dealer has lied to me about this & I am very upset, this is why my son and I are freezing to death in the car, the gunk has gunked up everything it has come in contact with, including the heating core. According to one complaint a very good mechanic has decided that their are two problems one affecting the other. A cooling system grounding problem, electrolysis resulting in corrosion & disintegration of parts and gaskets & then dexcool which is unstable in an electrically charged environment & turns it in to goop.

Filed May 26, 2005 · Engine · 60,000 miles · CA

The teflon scraped off, along with stumbling and hesitation. The engine was replaced. Upon the replacement of the catalytic converter, metal shavings were found in the front screen. The new catalytic converter removed all of the stumbling and hesitation. The old catalytic converter showed evidence of antifreeze and was defective at time of the new engine replacement under factory warranty. A new catalytic converter should have been installed at the time of the engine replacement. The defective engine debris and obvious head gasket leak contributed to the catalytic converter failure. General motors should pay for replacement of their poorly diagnosed catalytic converter, place in used spark plugs and wires. General motors would not give a 100,000 mile warranty for the new engine. *ak the chassis mileage was 94k miles.

Filed Jul 7, 2004 · Engine · 100,000 miles · TX

A mixture of water and anti freeze seeped into the oil. When this occurred the fluids mixed with the oil, and went through the intake manifold gasket. This knocked the crankshaft and destroyed the engine. The engine was replaced, but the failure recurred 8 months later.

Filed Mar 2, 2004 · Engine · 72,515 miles · VA

Intake manifold coolant leak caused engine failure. *ak intakes manifold gasket was replaced. Gasket now has a new part number to correct the defect on the original component, gm claim #1-180791866. Gm has recalled for coolant leak, but it was on a different model. Also, lower intake manifold gasket was leaking. Mechanic replaced the lower gasket.