1989 Buick Century

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 Buick Century, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Seat belts	8	19%
Vehicle speed control	6	14%
Structure	5	12%
Engine and engine cooling	4	9%
Electrical system	4	9%
Seats	3	7%
Suspension	2	5%
Latches/locks/linkages	2	5%
Fuel system	2	5%
Unknown or other	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

CAR SOLD TO ME IS A LEMON. THE MOTOR WENT OUT IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

A TECHNICIAN SERVICED VEHICLE. TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THAT ENGINE CRADLE WAS RUSTING. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure

THE PAINT HAS BEGUN TO PEELING OFF THE CAR. THE PRIMER IS STILL THERE, HOWEVER. THE CAR HAS BEEN OWNED BY IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS SINCE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN 1989 AND HAS BEEN KEPT UNDER A CARPORT/GARAGE FOR ALL OF
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

DOOR HINGES SPLIT IN HALF, CAUSING DOOR TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure

WHEN GETING ON TO THE HIGHWAY THE SEAT BACK FELL IN TO THE BACK SEAT MAKING ME UNABLE TO SEE ANY TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seats

PE00 048; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A FUNNY NOISE, AND THEN TREAD CAME OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS. AND RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED.
NHTSA complaint: Tires

CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 ACCIDENTS RELATING TO ENGINE ACCELERATION. BOTH TIMES THIS HAPPENED THE SAME WAY. CONSUMER HAS A VERY STEEP DRIVEWAY. ON SEPT. 11-2000, VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE & IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AT A MAXIUM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

RIGHT FRONT CRADLE BOLTS RUSTED AND PULLED THROUGH THE FRAME WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION. VEHILCE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 97V058000. DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT BOLTS AND WASHER. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1989 Buick Century. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Seat belts:front:anchorage 95V173000

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."

Risk: 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 OCCUP

Fix: 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.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	84	excellent
Longevity est.	80	excellent
Maintenance	88	excellent
Depreciation	54	average
Performance	50	average
Efficiency	43	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 52% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 70% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 93% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 30% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 84: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 80: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1989 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 88: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1989 Buick Century?

Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 8 of them (19%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1989 Buick Century reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1989 Buick Century last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1989 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1989 Buick Century?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.