Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

1991 Buick Century: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1991 Buick Century, most recently filed September 1995. Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
Caution Fewer than 50 complaints filed. With this few reports, patterns may not be meaningful.
Compare

Recalls (2)

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1991 Buick Century. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 1991 Buick Century. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 95V173000 Filed Sep 15, 1995

INTERIOR SYSTEMS:RESTRAINT:BELT ANCHOR AND ATTACHM

Seat belts · front · anchorage
Official NHTSA text
Summary
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."
Consequence
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 OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
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.
Repair progress not yet reported2,216,325 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 95V173000
Listed for 1991 Buick Century. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 92V124000 Filed Sep 1, 1992

INTERIOR SYSTEMS:BENCH:BACK REST

Seats · front assembly · recliner
Official NHTSA text
Summary
THE POWER SEAT OR RECLINER WIRING HARNESS CAN BE PINCHED OR CAN CHAFE ON THE SEAT FRAME OR SPRING SUPPORT ROD, WEARING THROUGH THE WIRE INSULATION AND CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Consequence
THE HIGH CURRENT CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SHORT WELDS THECIRCUIT BREAKER ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN THE CLOSED POSITION, LEAVING THE CIRCUITUNPROTECTED AND GENERATING SUFFICIENT HEAT TO BURN THE WIRE INSULATION ANDIGNITE THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL.
Remedy
REPAIR ANY ABRADED WIRING AND REROUTE THE WIRING HARNESS USING A WIRING HARNESS CLIP.
Repair progress not yet reported319,181 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 92V124000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (38)

38 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.

7involved a crash
2involved a fire
8injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1991 Buick Century, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 38.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 1991 compares with other Century years

Best and worst Century years →
1987198819891990199119921993199419951996
This year (1991)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 22 mpg combined

22
mpg combined
19
city
28
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$3,050
CO₂ tailpipe
404 g/mi
EPA class
Midsize Cars

What it costs you to run

$2,969per year
$247per month
682gallons a year

Miles ÷ 22 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

1991 Buick Century configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive19 / 28 / 22$3,050404
2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive18 / 26 / 21$3,200423
3.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 27 / 20$3,350444
3.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 27 / 20$3,350444
3.3 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 24 / 19$3,550468
3.3 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 23 / 19$3,550468

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 1991 Century for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Century years

Where to next

1991 Buick Century FAQ

How many recalls does the 1991 Buick Century have?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 95V173000 (seat belt), 92V124000 (seat). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 1991 Buick Century problems?

Owners filed 38 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (9), Electrical system (8), Engine and engine cooling (5) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 1991 Buick Century get?

EPA rates the 2.5 L 4-cyl · 3-speed automatic version at 19 city, 28 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 1991 Century compare with other years?

Among the 1987–1996 Buick Century model years at least five years old, the 1988 drew the fewest complaints (16) and the 1994 the most (106). The 1991 drew 38. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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