2002 BUICK CENTURY Complaints

WHILE EXITING A DRIVEWAY, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS GREATLY IMPACTED IN THE CENTER DRIVER SIDE DOOR, CONSUMER WENT THROUGH THE SIDE WINDOW AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR

UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICE THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT FRAME; SLIDDERS AND BOLTS HAVE RUSTED. THIS CAN RESULT IN SEAT COMING UNATTACHED IF VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO FIX PROBLEM INDICATING THAT "THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE". TS

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. THE STEERING WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN PARKING, THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER-REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSES. (INTERNAL GEAR FAILURE-REPLACED) *SCC

WHEN BRAKING FROM SPEEDS OF 30 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DOAN BUICK, WESTRIDGE ROAD, ROCHESTER NY. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS OF YET. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL/T-BONE COLLISION AT 65-70 MPH IMPACT AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HAD SNEEZED AND RAN OFF OF THE ROAD STRIKING A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY, WENT AIRBORNE FOR OVER 100 FEET AND LANDED ON THE FRONT OF A VEHICLE, FLIPPED OVER SIDE TO SIDE, AND STRUCK FOUR TREES AND TWO FENCE POSTS HAD COME TO A STOP ON THE TIRES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BUICK INVESTIGATOR SUGGESTED THAT THE AIR BAGS WORKED AS DESIGNED. *SCC

GAS PEDAL IS TOO LOW, CAUSING DRIVER TO FEEL PRESSURE WHEN ACCELERATING. OWNER STATES THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND IS AWARE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT IF THE PEDAL EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH FORWARD IT MAY BE MORE COMFORTABLE AND EASIER ON LEG. *YH

THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND TAG LIGHT STOPPED WORKING DUE TO FRAYING OF WIRES NEAR TRUNK HINGE. FRAYING ALSO CASED THE "TRUNK/DOOR" LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON DASH UNTIL REPAIRED. CHEAP PLASTIC COVERING DID NOTHING TO PREVENT FRAYING FROM CONTACT WITH TRUNK HINGE. AT 3000 MILES, HAD TO GO TO DEALER THREE TIMES TO HAVE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED DUE TO LOUD NOISE WHEN WHEEL WAS TURNED. SUN VISORS ARE HARD TO USE, THEY HIT REARVIEW MIRROR WHEN ADJUSTED. INADEQUATE EVEN WHEN USED. VERY LOUD POPPING SOUND ON DRIVER'S SIDE AT TIMES UNDER BRAKE PEDAL. GOOD CAR OTHERWISE.

THERE IS GLARE FROM DASHBOARD ON WINDSHIELD CAUSED BY A SEAM ON TOP OF DASHBOARD. DEALER TEST DROVE VEHICLE, AND AGREED THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. CONSUMER COULD PURCHASE A REFLECTOR COVER FOR THE DASHBOARD. *AK

1. SUNVISORS ARE NOT WIDE (LONG) ENOUGH TO BLOCK DIRECT SUN GLARE ENTERING AT TOP-OUTER CORNERS OF WINDSHIELD. GAPS AT OUTER ENDS BETWEEN VISORS AND CORNER POSTS ARE APPROX. 2 1/2 INCHS. DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER AND BUICK'S CUSTOMER SERVICE HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE ONLY VISOR DESIGN MADE BY GM THAT WILL FIT. THE MOUNTING LOCATION FOR THE PIVOT CANNOT BE MOVED. AT THE OTHER (INSIDE) END OF EACH VISOR THERE IS A PULL OUT EXTENSION, THAT IS NO HELP TO COVER THE OPEN AREA. ON DRIVER'S SIDE THE EXTENSION PREVENTS TILTING THE VISOR FORWARD AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH WOULD POSSIBLY HELP IF IT WERE NOT STOPPED BY CONTACT WITH THE REARVIEW MIRROR. DANGER FROM MORNING AND EVENING SUN GLARE IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. I AM NOT THE ONLY DRIVER THAT CAN BE MOMENTARILY BLINDED BY IT. CENTURY APPEARS TO BE THE ONLY MODEL WITH A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THIS REGARD. THE CONFIGURATION OF VISOR AND/OR LOCATION OF PIVOT IN 2002 RENDEVOUS AND PARK AVENUE SERVE TO BLOCK THE GLARE WHERE THE CENTURY DOES NOT. THE DEALER'S REP SAYS VISORS FROM ANOTHER MODEL CANNOT BE SUBSTITUTED IN THE CENTURY BECAUSE THE MOUNTING LOCATION IS DIFFERNT IN EACH MODEL. I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR IF I HAD KNOWN AHEAD OF TIME ABOUT THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION. THE CAR APPEARS TO BE WELL ENGINEERED FOR SAFETY IN OTHER RESPECTS.*AK

THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION, CONSUMER HAS TO JIGGLE KEY TO GET IT TO TURN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK