Buick Century 1997

• Recall 85311 [USA]: A broken steering knuckle could result in loss of steering control and a possible crash without warning.
  Dorman is recalling 979 steering knuckles, dorman p/nos. 697-902 and 697-903, sold under dorman's "oe solutions^tm" brand name, and napa p/nos. 7-8502 and 7-8503 which were sold for replacement use on the various vehicles listed above. A potential material or design defect could result in the steering knuckle breaking in the hub area.
  dorman will notify owners and replace the defective steering knuckles free of charge and reimburse the repair facility or owner for labor. The recall began on february 23, 2009. Owners may contact dorman's toll-free hotline at 1-800-523-2492 and press 5.
  this recall only pertains to aftermarket dorman steering knuckles and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles manufactured by general motors corporation.Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov .

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• Recall 45683 [USA]: Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire.
  Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. FP10020-11b1, fP10026-11b1, and fP10027-11b1, sold after january 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The universal pressure regulators (upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer.
  delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. The recall began on april 23, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770.
  this recall only pertains to aftermarket delphi fuel pressure regulators and has no relation to any original equipment installed by general motors.Customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov.

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• Recall 7568 [USA]: Driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The windshield wipers may stop working due to a separation between the drive pin and crescent in the crank arm assembly.
  dealers will inspect these vehicles for the presence of a plastic water deflector and, if necessary, replace the wiper motor crank arm and install a water deflector. On vehicles receiving a replacement crank arm and new water deflector, dealers will also apply additional sealing material to improve water deflection away from the crank arm assembly and will install a reinforcement to improve the performance of the wiper park mechanism.
  gm recall no. 99091.Owner notification began may 25, 2000.Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or buick at 1-800-521-7300.Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

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• Recall 11698 [USA]: If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers may not be able to properly aim the headlights.
  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The owner manuals do not contain the requirement information pertaining to the vehicle headlamp aiming device. This does not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
  owners will be mailed an owner manual's insert which contains the appropriate information.
  owner notification is expected to begin during june 1998.Owners who do not receive the insert and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300 or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

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• Recall 2000002 [Canada]: Visual system
  On certain vehicles, the windshield wipers may stop working, usually after operation under heavy load conditions such as accumulated snow or ice, because of separation between the drive pin and crescent in the crank arm assembly. If this were to occur during driving in adverse weather conditions, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash without prior warning. Correction: dealers will inspect for the presence of a plastic water deflector and, if necessary, replace the wiper motor crank arm, install a park tab reinforcement and install a water deflector. Dealers will also apply additional sealing material to improve water deflection from the crank arm assembly and will install a reinforcement to improve the performance of the wiper park mechanism.

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• Recall 1998109 [Canada]: Lights and instruments
  These vehicles do not comply with c.M.V.S.S. 108 - lighting system and retroreflective devices. The english owner manuals for the oldsmobile intrigue and the english and french owner manuals for the buick regal and century vehicles do not contain the required information pertaining to the vehicle headlamp aiming device. Correction: dealers will place an owner's manual insert containing the correct information on headlamp horizontal aim in the owner's manual.

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To ensure accuracy and for your safety, it is recommended to do a free VIN recall check here or here [USA] - UK - Canada.

Bulletins are notices put out by manufacturers in conjunction with the NHTSA to notify the public of manufacturing issues or changes.

• Power rack and pinion steering failure investigation # EA03019

  Gms letter to nhtsa dated december 11, 2003, expands its original recall (nhtsa 02v286) to include certain w-body vehicles: 96-97 olds cutlass supreme; 98 olds intrigue; 97-98 olds cutlass; 97-98 chevy lumina, monte carlo and malibu; 96 pontiac grand prix; and 96-98 buick regal.The number of vehicles recalled is 750,283.Gm determined that failure of the rack and pinion is related to damage of the lower pinion bearing and the level of the pinion bearing pre-load spring force.Gm states, "higher rack pre-load spring force (133 lb.) is the design characteristic most closely associated with higher bearing damage rates in most of the vehicle applications that used the general bearing company (gbc) bearing."all of the vehicles covered in the expanded recall have the 133 lb spring force.The 96 lumina/monte carlo and 97-98 century w-body vehicles included in this investigation utilize a lower spring force and are not included in the recall.
  

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• Windshield wiper investigation # EA99024

  By letter dated december 12, 1999, gm notified nhtsa of its plans to conduct a safety related defect campaign to remedy 155,149 of the subject vehicles.The vehicle population for the campaign includes the 1997 buick regal/century and pontiac gran prix models built during the period from the start of production through may 1, 1997.Gm determined that the wipers installed prior to this date could stop working, usually during heavy load conditions, due to separation between the drive pin and the crescent in the wiper crank arm assembly.Effective may 1, 1997,gm corrected this problem in production by modifying the drive pin and strengthening the crescent.These same improved parts will be installed in the vehicles to be recalled.The scope of the campaign will include all vehicles produced prior to the may 1, 1997 correction (the oldsmobile intrique production did not start until after may 1, 1997, and is therefore not included).Vehicles with the scope of this investigation and produced after may 1, 1997, contain the more robust crescent and improved pin design and are not included in the recall campaign.Odi will continue to monitor complaint reports on the vehicles produced after may 1, 1997 and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.Based on gms recall action (odi 99v-348) this investigation is closed.
  

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Engine compartment fire

When i backed out of parking space, i turned steering wheel with a "hard left." car made clicking noise. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick century. The contact was driving 65 mph when the turn signal lights failed. The dealer was notified and stated they would not repair the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to a personal mechanic who noticed that there was smoke coming from the wiring of the turn signals. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 89,887. ... Updated 08-07-12 *bf the turn signal switch inside the steering column was replaced. Updated 08/09/12*jb

I was making a left turn and the steering locked and there was a loud bang. I wasn't able to complete the turn causing me to drive off the road and onto a lawn. The steering wheel wouldn't go back to the correct position and it seemed to be in manual steering mode. I could barely move the wheel. The car is not drivable at this time. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick century. While the contact was driving approximately 75 mph the rpm's increased excessively. The engine was turned off and restarted. The vehicle was able to resume normally. The vehicle had not been respired at the time of the compliant. The failure and current mileages were 75,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick century. She stated that there was a loud clunking noise in the vehicle. Upon having her wheel bearings repaired, she found the stabilizer bar had broken off of the tire. She then attempted to order the part from an automotive store and was told that there was a defect in the replacement part. No repairs were made to the vehicle to correct the failure to date. The current and failure mileages were 188,376.

1) car needed towed to garage for starter failure. As it left the garage the steering locked up and sent car almost into oncoming traffic with 2 children in the car. There had been no other warnings of a problem. 2) it happens every time the steering is turned one direction then back to the other. It does not just come back. Especially to the left. I almost crashed 4 times just trying to get it home. 3) i filed an insurance claim on the tow company thinking they were responsible. They looked at it and said they found nothing wrong, that nothing was bent. After getting on line and investigating, i learned of this steering problem. It matches it perfectly. I had someone knowledgeable of mechanics look at the car and they said the steering gear rack needs replaced and not to drive the car as it is. It is to dangerous to drive. I also just had new intake manifold gasket from the decool problem gm has. Now i have a car that i can't drive and can't afford to fix. Nobody assumes liability and i think gm should have had this recalled and corrected. *tr

Dt: the contact states there is a nhtsa recall campaign 99v348000 concerning the windshield wiper linkages. This vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall, but it is not included in the recall due to vin. The vehicle is being repaired at the contact's expense. *ak

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick century. The contact stated that the engine manifold gasket was deteriorating and caused the engine to overheat. The check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact believed that the failure was caused by the dex cool antifreeze. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the lower manifold gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. The vin was not available. Updated 02/09/15*lj

Common OBD-II Error Codes

• P1002 [1] P1002
• B0441 [1] The feedback circuit of headphone # 1 - signal out of range / performance
• B0361 [2] Blower motor # 1, power supply circuit - signal out of range / performance
• B0363 [1] Blower motor # 1, power supply circuit - high input signal
• B0365 [1] Blower Motor # 1 Ground Circuit Malfunction
• B0367 [1] Blower motor # 1, ground circuit - low input