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Safety and Reliability Ratings > 1997 > Buick > CENTURY

1997 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED
Sedan 4 DR
Front wheel drive


CARFAX has collected the industry's leading used car safety and reliability ratings into one, convenient report. With this report, you'll know the safety and reliability of your next used car. All information presented in this report is specific to the 1997 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED. Please view the CARFAX Vehicle History Report for the detailed history of a specific used BUICK.

 

CARFAX Safety Section One  Safety:

This information will help you select a vehicle model that meets your expectations for safety and security.

CARFAX Safety Section Two  Reliability:

Use this information to check how reliable a vehicle model is before you buy.


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NHTSA Crash Test Results National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) did not test this vehicle model.

Frontal Crash: Rating:   NHTSA Five Star Legend
Driver Not tested by NHTSA
Passenger Not tested by NHTSA
Side Crash: Rating:
Front Seat Not tested by NHTSA
Rear Seat Not tested by NHTSA
Rollover Resistance: Rating:
Rollover Resistance Not tested by NHTSA

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides 3 different ratings - full-width frontal crash test , side impact crash test , and rollover resistance . The frontal crash test indicates how well the safety features and restraints will protect an occupant in a head-on collision. The side-impact test conveys the chance of a severe chest injury, while the rollover resistance rating estimates the risk of rolling over in a single vehicle crash.


IIHS Crash Test Results Highway Loss Data Institute
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IIHS Crash Test Results for the 1997 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED are not available in CARFAX Safety & Reliability Ratings.




Low-Speed Damage Repair Highway Loss Data Institute
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Front Crash Description: Front Crash Cost:
Front into flat barrier   Not tested by IIHS
Front into angle barrier   Not tested by IIHS
Rear Crash Description: Rear Crash Cost:
Rear into flat barrier   Not tested by IIHS
Rear into pole   Not tested by IIHS
Average Damage Per Test   Not tested by IIHS

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts four 5 mph crash tests to assess bumper performance. These results convey how well this 1997 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED bumpers will protect the car body from damage in low-speed collisions. Low-speed damage repair costs are obtained from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute.


Injury, Collision, & Theft Indicators Highway Loss Data Institute
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Index: Score: Rating:
Injury Index 64 Substantially better than average
Collision Index 69 Substantially better than average
Theft Index 13 Substantially better than average


These scores are stated in relative terms, with 100 being the average for all cars in each category. Scores greater than 100 represent higher risk in each category. For example, an injury indicator score of 122 means that a passenger in this model is 22% more likely to be injured in an accident. The injury, collision, and theft indicators for this 1997 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED are provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute. Learn more about these results.



Safety Recalls
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NHTSA Safety Recalls:
Important: The following recalls were issued for the 1997 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). To find out if a specific 1997 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED still has open recalls that require repair, CARFAX recommends contacting an authorized dealership for more information.

Recall date: Not reported
Units potentially affected: 155,149
NHTSA campaign number: 99V348000
Defective part or component: VISUAL SYSTEMS:WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE:PIVOT:DRIVE ASSEMBLY
Description: 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. Driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash. 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.


This 1997 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED safety recall information was provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Data Loss Institute and is derived from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration list of safety recalls. Please call the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236) to report safety defects or to obtain information on cars, trucks, child seats, and highway or traffic safety. CARFAX does not review, validate or edit the information and statements provided by the National Highway Traffic and Saftey Administration, which do not represent the opinion of CARFAX.



Looking at a Specific 1997 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED?
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J.D. Power Ratings
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Ownership: Rating:
Initial Ratings (up to 1 year)  
Overall Quality No data from source
  Mechanical Quality Rating 4 of 5
  Feature and Accessory Quality Rating 2 of 5
  Body and Interior Quality Rating 3 of 5
Overall Appeal No data from source
  Performance Rating 3 of 5
  Comfort Rating 3 of 5
  Feature and Instrument Panel No data from source
  Style Rating 3 of 5
Midterm Ratings (1-3 Years)  
  Mechanical Reliability No data from source
  Feature and Accessory Reliability No data from source
  Body and Interior Reliability No data from source
Long Term Ratings (3-5 Years)  
Overall Dependability No data from source
  Mechanical Dependability No data from source
  Feature and Accessory Dependability No data from source
  Body and Interior Dependability No data from source

J.D. Power and Associates uses selected highlights from the firm's quality and customer satisfaction syndicated studies to create the Power Ratings at the model-level. These ratings and awards are based on model rankings within each vehicle segment, whereas Power Circle Ratings compare all models across segments.

All information provided by J.D. Power and Associates is proprietary information owned by J.D. Power and Associates and is protected by U.S. and international copyright law and conventions. Reproduction of this information, in whole or in part, by any means is prohibited without the express written consent of J.D. Power and Associates, other than printing copies of the JDPA content by site visitors for their personal use. J.D. Power and Associates® is a registered trademark of J.D. Power and Associates.



Identifix Reliability Ratings
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Category: Comments: Rating:
Engine No data from source
Transmission & Driveline No data from source
Steering & Suspension No data from source
Brakes No data from source
Heating & Air Conditioning No data from source
Starting & Charging No data from source
Accessories No data from source
Identifix Legend


This 1997 BUICK CENTURY reliability information was provided by Identifix. Identifix is the nation's largest technical support service for the aftermarket auto repair industry. CARFAX does not review, validate or edit the information and statements provided by Identifix, which do not represent the opinion of CARFAX.



Original Manufacturer Warranty
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Coverage: Years/Mileage:
Basic 3 years or 36,000 miles  
Drivetrain 3 years or 36,000 miles  
Emissions 2 years or 24,000 miles  
Corrosion 6 years or 100,000 miles  
Transferable Transferable: no cost, unlimited owners covered.  
Roadside Assistance Roadside assistance is covered for 3 years or 36,000 miles.  
Safety Belt & Inflatable Restraint No data from source  
Specific Components 8 years or 80,000 miles  
Notes: Manufacturer covers emissions components under basic warranty. Emissions coverage may vary by state. Refer to owners manual for specific details. Transferable: no cost, unlimited owners covered. Alignment and wheel balancing are considered maintenance after 7,500 miles. Basic warranty includes surface corrosion, batteries, adjustments, alternate transportation, roadside assistance, and tires. Roadside assistance is covered for 3 years 36,000 miles.  

This 1997 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED warranty information has been provided by J&L Warranty Pros.


New Car Test Drive Review
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Category: Review:
Summary:

The value of understatement.
By Ray Thursby, NewCarTestDrive.com

It was certainly time for Buick to renovate the Century. The pleasant surprise is that the makeover was done so well. The new Century is a vast improvement over the old in every respect, whether judged on the basis of performance, ride quality, style, fit and finish or comfort.

Century has the ability to appeal to buyers who might not have had the previous version on their shopping lists, while being a more than satisfactory replacement for established --and exceptionally loyal--Century owners who are ready for a change.

Thanks to a goodly list of standard features, the value quotient is above average, and if serene, unhurried motoring is your priority, the Century is tough to beat.

Overview:

Buicks are quiet cars, in more ways than simply those relating to mufflers and sound insulation. With the possible exception of the glamorous Riviera coupe, most Buicks are owned by people who want luxurious transportation in a wrapper that is elegant but not ostentatious. These customers avoid the trendy and flashy, but are pretty picky about basics; if a car is not quiet, comfortable and easy to drive, it's not for them.

Buick has carved a successful niche in the marketplace for itself by addressing the needs of what might be called, for lack of a better term, the Silent Majority. And that group has responded, giving Buick several best-sellers in its six-model lineup.

The Century is an excellent example of Buick's philosophy at work. The latest version, completely revamped for 1997, replaces a car kept in production for some 15 years. During the latter stages of its life, the old Century was regularly derided by journalists for being antiquated. By all accounts, Buick management was well aware of the car's advanced age, but they had a good reason for keeping it around: It was still selling very, very well, and it scored outstanding ratings for quality.

So, we predict, will the new Century. Though it has several serious rivals on paper--among them, the Ford Taurus, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Maxima and the Chrysler Cirrus/Dodge Stratus/ Plymouth Breeze trio--it is really more of a budget-driven alternative to the Buick LeSabre.

Read the complete 1997 Buick Century review

© 2002 NewCarTestDrive.com

CARFAX does not review, validate or edit the information and statements provided by NewCarTestDrive.com, which do not represent the opinion of CARFAX.



Awards
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View awardees recognized by Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com, Polk Automotive, and J.D. Power and Associates.



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