AI Damage1993 Buick Century: common problems
Owners of the 1993 Buick Century filed 54 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 54
- involving a crash
- 17
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 24% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 19% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 15% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 9% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 7% of all complaints
- Air bags: 13 complaints (24% of all), 10 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 10 complaints (19% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 8 complaints (15% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (9% of all).
- Powertrain: 5 complaints (9% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3.3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 54 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 13 | 10 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Consumer was traveling about 35mph on highway and rear left tire tread separated from rim. Vehicle went into a water enbankment of eight feet. Vehicle was submerged under water, but consumer was able to escape through driver's side window . Vehicle was totaled. Firestone tires 205-70-r14 s-s60,dot e2pgf5a44.
While traveling at 40 mph this vehicle struck another vehicle head-on, and air bags did not deploy. Buick has been contacted.
While slowing down to cross train tracks transmission locked up and broke, causing vehicle to be stuck on the tracks, and the train ran into the vehicle.
Was driving on highway going about 60mph when 18-wheeler tractor trailer crossed into buick's lane. The vehicle struck the tractor trailer. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. The insurance picked up buick.
Air bag: driving approximately 35mph another vehicle a head made sudden stop. Century was too close to the stop, and ran into the back of vehicle. Air bag did not deploy.
W/ignition off and keys removed two year old child moved gear shift lever, causing vehicle to roll/accident.
Sudden acceleration, resulting in an accident (attorney for client).
The contact then smelled a burning odor and noticed smoke emitting from the defroster area. The contact moved the vehicle away from his residence and turned the engine off but the smoke continued. The contact then opened the hood and a fire erupted.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,128 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 14% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Century has 70 complaints (26 years in the data). This year has 54, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
- Century 19823 sources
- Century 19848 sources
- Century 19857 sources
- Century 198622 sources
- Century 198728 sources
- Century 198816 sources
- Century 198940 sources
- Century 199033 sources
- Century 199138 sources
- Century 199245 sources
- Century 1994106 sources
- Century 199599 sources
- Century 199680 sources
- Century 1997106 sources
- Century 1998218 sources
- Century 1999235 sources
- Century 2000193 sources
- Century 2001145 sources
- Century 2002154 sources
- Century 2003127 sources
- Century 200439 sources
- Century 200519 sources
- Century 99993 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1993 Buick Century?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine and cooling, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 54. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbags did not deploy (13%), stalls while driving (11%), smoke, burning smell, fire (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1993 Buick Century?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1993 Buick Century from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1993 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.