VehicleVerdict

1994 Buick Century problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 144 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 3.4 times the median Century year — the 1994 model ranks #7 of 33 Century years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include one death and 25 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across brakes (25), engine (16), and airbags (15), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

144

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

0

Investigations

29

Crash-involved

7

Fires reported

25

Injuries

1

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1994 compare to other Century years?

Century NHTSA complaints by model year, 1994 highlighted287 complaints1973: 0 complaints1974: 0 complaints1975: 0 complaints1976: 0 complaints1977: 0 complaints1978: 0 complaints1979: 0 complaints1980: 0 complaints1981: 1 complaints1982: 4 complaints1983: 10 complaints1984: 11 complaints1985: 9 complaints1986: 43 complaints1987: 32 complaints1988: 26 complaints1989: 46 complaints1990: 49 complaints1991: 50 complaints1992: 64 complaints1993: 71 complaints1994: 144 complaints1995: 127 complaints1996: 110 complaints1997: 132 complaints1998: 278 complaints1999: 287 complaints2000: 249 complaints2001: 190 complaints2002: 204 complaints2003: 170 complaints2004: 51 complaints2005: 35 complaints
Century NHTSA complaints by model year, 1994 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Century years to avoid →

What are the most common 1994 Buick Century problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes2517%
Engine1611%
Airbags1510%
Speed Control139%
Electrical System118%
Seat Belts96%
Steering96%
Tires & Wheels96%
Suspension75%
Fuel System75%
Transmission53%
Seats53%
Lighting32%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)32%
Body & Structure32%
Visibility & Wipers21%
Latches & Locks11%
Other11%

Does the 1994 Buick Century have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

95V173000Seat BeltsSeptember 15, 1995 · 2,216,325 units

Defect

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Consequence

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ANCHOR BOLTS WITH A NEW SHOULDER BOLT AND THREAD LOCKING ADHESIVE. ADDITIONALLY, NOISE CONTROL PATCHES WILL BE APPLIED AT EACH ANCHORAGE.

94V189000SteeringOctober 4, 1994 · 206 units

Defect

THE RIGHT HAND SPINDLE NUT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY. THIS CAN CAUSE PREMATURE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AND OVER TIME, THE SPINDLE CAN FRACTURE.

Consequence

THIS WOULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE AND RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE ON THE RIGHT HAND FRONT SPINDLE NUT. IF THE SPINDLE NUT IS UNDERTORQUED THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT HAND FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY AND THE SPINDLE NUT WILL BE REPLACED.

94V159000Latches & LocksAugust 31, 1994 · 139,542 units

Defect

WATER INTRUSION CAN CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY.

Consequence

A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER DOOR LOCK RELAY AND ANY CORRODED TERMINALS. IN ADDITION, THE NEW RELAY WILL BE RELOCATED TO AN AREA WHERE WATER INTRUSION IS LESS LIKELY.

94V008000Speed ControlJanuary 12, 1994 · 49,047 units

Defect

IN THE EVENT OF A PRIMARY ACCELERATOR CONTROL SPRING FAILURE, THE SECONDARY (BACK-UP) ACCELERATOR CONTROL RETURN SPRING WILL NOT RETURN THE THROTTLE TO THE FULLY CLOSED POSITION, AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM."

Consequence

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY THROTTLE RETURN SPRING.

94V021000Speed ControlJanuary 8, 1994 · 10,646 units

Defect

DURING ASSEMBLY, WATER MAY HAVE ENTERED THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE CONDUIT CAUSING IT TO DEVELOP A HIGH EFFORT AND/OR BINDING CONDITION IN VERY COLD WEATHER.

Consequence

HIGH EFFORT OR BINDING CONDITIONS CAUSE LOSS OF NORMALTHROTTLE CONTROL OR THE THROTTLE MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL PURGE THE THROTTLE CABLE OF ANY INTERNALLY TRAPPED WATER, IF IT IS PRESENT.

93V162000Speed ControlSeptember 27, 1993 · 579 units

Defect

THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CONDUIT END FITTING WHILE ENGAGED AND ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD BE LOST.

Consequence

LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL MAY NOT REDUCE ENGINE SPEEDTO A LEVEL ANTICIPATED BY THE DRIVER. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN STILL BE STOPPEDWITH THE SERVICE BRAKE, LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy

REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASSIONS THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, TWICE WITH ME AND ONCE WITH MY WIFE, THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THEIR HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER OCCASIONS WHERE THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO STOP THE THE VEHICLE IN A PANIC OR NEAR PANIC SITUATION. THE ANTI-LOCK WORKS FINE, THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · crash

“WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, THERE IS AN UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, IT CLATTERS AND AS TIME HAS WENT ON, THE NOISE GETS LOUDER, CONSUMER FEELS THIS HAD TO DO WITH THE SERVICE BULLETIN 57-61-24, DEALERS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM, ONE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE BELT TENSION PULLEY…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine

“WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH, AND PUSHED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE INTO AN EMBANKMENT, CRUSHING THE FRONT END. VEHICLE WENT INT BUSHES. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. NO PREVIOUS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · April 24, 2000 · crash

“FIRST CRASH---VEHICLE ACELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY WITH FOOT ON BRAKE / SECOND CRASH---VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE EXTREMELEY FAST WITH GEAR SHIFT IN THE PARK POSITION UPON TURNING KEY IN IGNITION. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · May 9, 2001 · crash

“WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE ODOR COMING FROM VENT, SUDDENLY DASH CAUGHT FIRE, DUE TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING SHORT IN DASH. *AK VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL RELATED PROBLEMS, BATTERY FAILED, BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF EVEN AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · March 14, 1996 · fire

1994 Buick Century — common questions

Is the 1994 Buick Century reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 144 complaints put the 1994 model at #7 of 33 Century years. It is one of the Century years to avoid.

What are the most common 1994 Century problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (25 complaints), engine (16 complaints), airbags (15 complaints).

Does the 1994 Buick Century have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 1994 Buick Century. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Buick Century years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Century years to avoid are 1999, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2001, 2003, 1994, 1997, 1995, 1996, 1993. The cleanest record among Century years belongs to 1980.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.