Complaints
46
Crashes
10
Fires
0
Injuries
14
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 1989 Buick Century Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#16 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Crash-related:4
#24 complaints
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Crash-related:1
#34 complaints
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1989 Buick Century.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 6 | 4 | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Unintended Acceleration
6
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hatchback/Liftgate:Lock
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1989 Buick Century. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Buick Century Years
1989 Buick Century — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1989 Buick Century reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1989 Buick Century has 46 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 6 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1989 Buick Century?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (6 complaints); Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly (4 complaints); Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner (4 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1989 Buick Century?
NHTSA complaints for the 1989 Buick Century include 10 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 14 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1989 Buick Century have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1989 Buick Century as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1989 Buick Century?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Buick Century reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1989 Buick Century
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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