1998 BUICK CENTURY Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ROLL UP ALL FOUR WINDOWS BUT ONLY THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE WINDOW MOTORS AND TRACKS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 4/1/11 *CN UPDATED 1/13/2012 *LN *TR

Mileage: 11,000

POWER WINDOW AND MIRROR ISSUES IN 1998 BUICK CENTURY. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2004, I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS THAT IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE BUICK CENTURY, WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? THE WINDOWS KEEP COMING OFF THE TRACK, I DRIVE ON SMOOTH ROADS AND FOLLOW THE SPEED LIMIT, SO WHAT IS GOING ON???? MY POWER MIRRORS HAVEN'T WORKED SINCE 2004. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW IS THE ONE THAT'S GIVEN ME THE WORST HEADACHE, PUT IN A NEW MOTOR THINKING THAT'S WHY IT WAS STICKING AND THEN IT QUIT WORKING AGAIN. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE, IT'S NOT SAFE. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. MY LEFT WIPER BANGS A FEW INCHES UP THEN SMACKS BACK DOWN. THIS IS NOT SNOW RELATED BECAUSE I'VE LEARNER TO COVER ALL ASPECTS OF THE WIPERS AND WINDSHIELD BECAUSE OF MY FIRST TIME WAITING FOR SNOW TO MELT. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I ACQUIRED THE CAR FROM MY GRANDMOTHER IN DEC. 2008. SHE PURCHASED THE CAR, BUT IS TOO OLD TOO KEEP UP WITH RECALLS AND SUCH. I SEE THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS AND I WAS ALMOST IN A CRASH WITH MY CHILDREN DUE TO A SUDDEN RAIN SHOWER CAUSING THE VISIBILITY TO BE AWFUL. *TR

Mileage: 23,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR ELECTRIC WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE. HE STATED THAT THE WINDOWS CANNOT ROLL UP ONCE THEY ARE DOWN. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. HE HAS REPLACED THE REGULATOR COMPONENT, WHICH COST AN ESTIMATED $350. WHEN THE WINDOW WAS REPLACED, THE MECHANIC FAILED TO OFFER AN EXPLANATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. PRESENTLY, THE LEFT REAR WINDOW STILL MALFUNCTIONS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,225.

Mileage: 22,225

WE HAVE A 1998 BUICK CENTURY WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. THE INFORMATION IN COMPLAINTS 10137627 AND 10134068 ARE VERY SIMILAR TO OUR TWO EXPERIENCES. IN JUNE 2004 THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW JUST FELL AND COULD NOT GO BACK UP. THE REAR WINDOW ON THE SIDE DID THE SAME THING A YEAR LATER. BOTH WERE SPONTANEOUS. EACH REPAIR WAS ABOUT $500.00. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TO BUICK WHICH WAS SUMMARILY DISMISSED BECAUSE THE CAR IS "OLD" AND IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED TO EACH WINDOW ONCE. (AS AN ASIDE MY WIFE'S BROTHER HAS THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO THREE OF HIS WINDOWS. THE TWO VEHICLES WERE PURCHASED FROM THE SAME DEALER ABOUT 4 MONTHS APART) I HAVE ACCESSED SOME INFORMATION MENTIONED IN THE OTHER COMPLAINTS SO I NEED NOT REPEAT IT HERE. I BELIEVE BUICK HAS IN INHERENT DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE REPAIRED OR CHANGED AT NO COST. IT WAS HOWEVER REPLACED WITH THE SAME HARDWARE. OUR GRANDCHILDREN RIDE IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND THIS FAILURE COULD ENDANGER THEM. YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IS APPRECIATED. *JB

Mileage: 49,933

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK CENTURY. POWER WINDOWS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER. ALL 4 WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. WITHIN 2 MONTHS ALL 4 WINDOWS HAVE BEEN CHECKED . THE DEALER WORKED ON 3 WINDOWS . THEY FAILED AT 70, 000 MILES . THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR WINDOWS TO BE FIXED. *AK *NM

Mileage: 77,071

WE HAVE 2 BUICK CENTURY AUTOMOBILES; A 1998 AND A 2001. BOTH HAVE POWER WINDOWS. POWER WINDOW UNITS IN BOTH AUTOS FAILED THIS SUMMER. A SMALL PLASTIC PIECE THAT CONNECTS THE REGULATOR CABLE TO THE POWER WINDOW MOTOR BREAKS ALLOWING THE WINDOW TO SLIP DOWN AND NOT BE CLOSED. THE REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE SINCE BUICK DOES NOT SELL THE CONNECTOR DEVISE; INSTEAD IT REQUIRES CUSTOMERS TO PURCHASE A COMPLETE ''DEALER ONLY'' POWER WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY FOR OVER $300. SINCE MAY WE HAVE HAD 50% OF OUR POWER WINDOWS GO OUT ON THE 1998 BUICK CENTURY AND ONE GO OUT ON THE 2001; WITHOUT THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THE DEALER PART HAVE HAD TO HAVE A MECHANIC PROP THE WINDOWS IN THE CLOSED POSITION WITH A WOODEN DOWEL. SINCE ONE OF THESE WINDOWS IS THE DRIVER''S WINDOW WE BELIEVE THAT THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US THAT HE SEES A LOT OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE ''THIS IS A BAD DESIGN''. MY DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS RELATED TO HEAT, HOWEVER THEY DO SELL BUICK''S WITH THIS WINDOW DESIGN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING AREAS WHERE HEAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED IN THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING. A GOOGLE SEARCH CAME UP WITH OVER 500 COMPLAINTS ON THIS PART. THE BUICK DISCUSSION BOARD ON THIS SHOWS A 50% FAILURE RATE IN THEIR OWN SURVEY. I BELIEVE THAT GM HAS AN OBLIGATION TO DEVELOP AN IMPROVED VERSION OF THE PLASTIC PART AND AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE THAT PART AVAILABLE TO ALLOW THE ASSEMBLY TO BE REPAIRED INSTEAD OF COMPLETELY REPLACED. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND CONSIDER A RECALL TO REPLACE THESE FAILURE PRONE PLASTIC PARTS WITH METAL PARTS THAT WILL WITHSTAND ORDINARY USE IN ALL CLIMATE CONDITIONS FOUND IN THE UNITED STATES. WE ARE CONCERNED BOTH ABOUT THE COST AND THE SAFETY OF DRIVING AROUND IN AN AUTOMOBILE THAT EITHER CANNOT BE LOCKED AND SECURED OR IN A VEHICLE WITH A WINDOW THAT CAN NOT BE OPENED IN AN EMERGENCY IF THE OWNER IS UNABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIRS AND IS FORCED TO SIMPLY PROP THE WINDOW IN THE UP, LOCKED AND SECURE POSITION. THANK YOU.

Mileage: 55,000

DT: CONTACT STATED FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND TWO REAR WINDOW REGULATORS BROKE, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO STAY DOWN. THE WINDOW REGULATORS WERE BEING REPLACED. *AK

THE ABOVE THE DASHBOARD WAS LEAKING BLACK FLUID THIS CAUSED THE MIRROR GO BLACK. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER THAT THE HEAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND A REPLACEMENT OF A RECALL WAS NOT FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAS TO RENDERED PAYMENT FOR THE PART AND LABOR. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.,

1998 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM - THE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW STOPPED WORKING AND DROPPED OPEN AND WON'T CLOSE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WINDOW REVEALED THAT THE HARNESS IS MADE UP OF TWO STEEL CABLES ATTACHED TOGETHER BY A SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC. SURPRISE, THE PLASTIC BROKE! IN DECEMBER 2003, THE SAME YEAR THAT THE BACK WINDOW BROKE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW BROKE AND IT IS THE EXACT SAME PIECE THAT BROKE IN THE BACK WINDOW. ONLY THIS TIME IT BROKE WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CENTER LANE OF I-75 AND WE'RE FORTUNE THAT SHE WASN'T IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE FALLING OF THE WINDOW AT HIGH SPEED CREATED A SCARY DISTRACTION THAT NARROWLY MISSED CAUSING A POTENTIONAL BAD ACCIDENT. IT HAVE BEEN TOLD TO ME BY A BODY SHOP AS WELL AS A BUICK SALEMAN THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT. IT IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS BUT CONVENIENTLY COSTLY TO REPAIR. THEY DON'T MAKE THE PLACTIC CONNECTOR, WHICH WOULD BE VERY EASY TO INSTALL, BUT ONLY SELL THE ENTIRE HARNESS FOR $375 + TAX. I HAVE WRITEN AND SPOKE WITH GM IN DETROIT. THEY HAVE OFFERED ME AN ADDITIONAL $1500 TOWARDS A NEW CAR OR THEY WILL PAY 50% OF REPAIRING THE WINDOW. THIS SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS GOING TO TAKE YOUR ORGANIZATION TO INSIST UPON A TOTAL RECALL.*AK

Mileage: 48,000

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND IT WILL HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING RAINY WEATHER. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

IN SUDDEN DOWNPOUR (APPROACHING TORNADO) OUTSIDE OF NASHVILLE THIS A.M. VISIBILITY WAS SEVERLY REDUCED WITH WIPERS ON LOWER SETTING. WHEN WIPERS TURNED TO HIGH TO INCREASE VISIBILITY WIPERS LOCKED AND STRIPPED, FORCING DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE AND WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN MARCH 2001 - RIGHT AFTER PURCHASING THE USED VEHICLE. WE ENCOUNTERED HEAVY RAIN AT INTERSTATE SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE WIPERS LOCKED TOGETHER AND THE MECHANISM STRIPPED THE RIGHT WIPER SO THAT IT WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION. UPON RESUMING DRIVING WITH JUST THE LEFT WIPER, THE LEFT WIPER THEN PROCEEDED TO GO OFF THE WINDSHIELD ENTIRELY AND DRIVER HAD TO PULL OFF THE ON THE SIDE TO TIGHTEN BOLT. THE PRIMARY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE REMEMBERED THE FIRST INCIDENT AND NEVER USES THE HIGHER WIPER SETTINGS SO HAS NOT INCURRED ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. THE AUXILIARY DRIVER, MYSELF, HAD FORGOTTEN THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM. NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THE HIGHEST SETTING MAKES FOR DANGEROUS VISIBILITY IN HEAVY RAIN THOUGH AND THE DESIGN OF THE WIPER OPERATION SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS EVEN BEING ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE IS SEVERELY HAMPERED. *AK

THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT, NOISES SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN COMING FROM THE STEERING, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP, THE RACK AND PINION HAD GONE OUT AND LEAKED, THE A/C CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE, THE SEAT BELT BUTTON LATCH HAD FALLEN AND THE BUTTON WAS MISSING, THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS OUT OF SPECIFICS, THE DRIVER DOOR WAS HARD TO OPEN, THE PANEL HAD MOVED WHEN THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN, THE POWER WINDOW(S) WERE INOPERATIVE, THE SHIFTER GOES IN AND OUT, THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR EXTERIOR TRIM WAS HARD TO OPEN, THE PASSENGERS SEAT COUSHIN WAS TOO SOFT AND HAD COLLAPSED, AND THE DOOR'S MIRROR WAS LOOSE. THE SERVICE DEALER HAD FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. SCC

Mileage: 54,696

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, CONDENSATION COLLECTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOWS REDUCING VISIBILITY THROUGH THESE WINDOWS TO NEAR ZERO AND MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE APPROACHING TRAFFIC. THE GLAZING MATERIALS AROUND BOTH WINDOWS (WEATHERSTRIPPING) DO NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE OF THE WINDOWS DURING RAISING OR LOWERING. THEREFORE, THE CONDENSATION CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE WINDOWS WITHOUT EXITING THE CAR AND MANUALLY CLEANING THE SURFACE. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE CONDENSATION COLLECTS WHILE I AM TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, IT IS NECESSARY FOR ME TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, GET OUT OF THE CAR, AND CLEAN THE SURFACE OF BOTH WINDOWS IN ORDER TO PROCEED SAFELY. THE DEALER WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT WITHIN 60 DAYS OF MY PURCHASE. AT THAT TIME, I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP THAT THE WINDOWS WERE NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY AND THAT ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SHOP REPORTED THAT THE CORRECTIONS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THE DEFECT, BUT THE DEFECTB WAS NOT CORRECTED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO OTHER DEALERS AND RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE DEFECT CORRECTED. EACH TIME I HAVE RECEIVED A DIFFERENT RESPONSE. IN SEPTEMBER 1999, I NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER (BUICK DIVISION OF GM) OF THIS AND OTHER SAFETY DEFECTS, BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. LATE LAST MONTH I RETURNED AGAIN TO BROWN'S BUICK TO SEEK REPAIRS, AND I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THE WINDOWS ARE OPERATING AS DESIGNED. I BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE OF THE WINDOW SYSTEMS AND RELATED MATERIALS TO CLEAR THE CONDENSATION THAT PERIODICALLY COLLECTS ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACE CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AND TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE HAD SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO CORRECT THE DEFECT, NO CORRECTION HAS BEEN MADE. *AK

AT 7:00 PM (DARK AND HEAVY RAIN), WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN MOTION AND RIGHT WIPER LOCKED INTO LEFT DURING HEAVY RAIN CREATING ZERO VISIBILITY.

PPG, THE MANUFACTURER OF THE 1998 AND 1999 BUICK CENTURY WINDSHIELDS IS MANUFACTURING THE WINDSHILEDS WITH A LATENT DEFECT, WHICH CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD VIEW TO BE HAZY WHEN DRIVING DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN. IT APPEARS THAT THE LAMINATE LAYERING BETWEEN THE GLASS SHEETS HAS FAILED. I ALSO NOTICED THIS SAME DEFECT ON A 1999 CENTURY AS WELL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THE DEFECT BUT GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER ZONE REP WAS UNWILLING TO PROCEED FURTHER. THE DEFECT WILL PROBABLY NOT CAUSE ANY ACCIDENTS, BUT MAY IMPAIR OR DISTORT A PERSON'S CLARITY OF VIEW, WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN.

PPG, THE MANUFACTURER OF THE 1998 AND 1999 BUICK CENTURY WINDSHIELDS IS MANUFACTURING THE WINDSHILEDS WITH A LATENT DEFECT, WHICH CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD VIEW TO BE HAZY WHEN DRIVING DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN. IT APPEARS THAT THE LAMINATE LAYERING BETWEEN THE GLASS SHEETS HAS FAILED. I ALSO NOTICED THIS SAME DEFECT ON A 1999 CENTURY AS WELL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THE DEFECT BUT GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER ZONE REP WAS UNWILLING TO PROCEED FURTHER. THE DEFECT WILL PROBABLY NOT CAUSE ANY ACCIDENTS, BUT MAY IMPAIR OR DISTORT A PERSON'S CLARITY OF VIEW, WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN.

WHEN THE WIINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR COMES INTO THE DRIVER. WHEN THE WINDOW IS ROLLED UP, IT WILL JERK /AM AND PULL THE DOOR TO ITS NORMAL CONDITION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

DEFROSTER CONTROL SWITCH FAILED. *YC

DRIVER EXPERIENCING GLARE IN WINDSHILED.

THE WINDSHIELD ANGLE AND DESIGN RESULTS IN VISION BEING OBSCURED DUE TO REFLECTION.

ON A SUNNY DAY THE FRONT WINDSHIELD REFLECTS THE WHOLE DASHBROAD WHICH CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY. ALSO, THE FRONT AND THE BACK WINDSHIELD CLOUD UP VERY BADLY FROM BRIGHT LIGHT AND GOING INTO A DARKER AREA. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD. AK

VEHICLE HAS POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. OWNER CANNOT SEE OVER FRONT HOOD WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW. *AK

HEATER CONTROL SWITCH FAILED.

IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY DEAD DUE TO SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK