1978 Buick Century Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 1978 Buick Century. Check your own VIN below.
- 1973
- 1974
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
6 safety recalls for the 1978 Buick Century
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Wheel cylinders (service brakes)
Excessive enlargement of the wheel cylinder pilot hole in the rear brake backing plate could allow the wheel cylinder to rotate and cause loss of brake fluid. Consequence of defect: a loss of brake fluid leads to loss of rear brake action, creating the potential for an accident. Front brakes would remain operational.
Remedy: Add a part to prevent wheel cylinder from rotating.
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Axle shaft (power train)
Rear axle assembly may have axles that were improperly manufactured. This condition may result in separation of the axle shaft and wheel assembly from the vehicle.
Remedy: The dealer will inspect the rear axle to determine whether it was manufactured at the buffalo plant. If so, they will make axle measurements and if necessary replace or modify affected axle components without charge.
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Suspension: rear
The bolts that attach the lower rear control arm to the frame may fracture. The rear control arm supports and positions the rear axle. Fracture of the bolts would allow the control arm to drop free.
Remedy: Both rear control arm attachment bolts will be replaced without charge.
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Wheel bearing (suspension)
Under certain driving conditions, these vehicles can experience temperatures in the front wheel outer bearing area which can affect the wheel bearing grease. This can result in inadequate lubrication of the bearing. This condition may be further aggravated by improper adjustment of the front wheel spindle nut.
Remedy: The dealer will install new front wheel outer bearings packed with grease and the spindle will be coated with lubricant. New grease retainer caps will also be installed to maintain grease in outer bearing. This will be…
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Fan (engine and engine cooling)
The hub portion of the fan blade assembly could crack due to high stress levels generated during engine operating conditions. Eventually, the blade could break apart at the hub and blade pieces could be propelled into the engine. If the hood is open while the engine is running, the fragments would be free to fly from the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the fan blade assembly without charge to owner.
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Labels (equipment)
The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims", in that the tire placard does not contain legible tire size information.
Remedy: Dealer will provide proper labels for the owner to install, or for dealer installation, if preferred.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1978 Buick Century. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.
Compare Buick Century model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Buick Century model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 Buick Century | 3 | 0 |
| 1974 Buick Century | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 Buick Century | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 Buick Century | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 Buick Century | 3 | 0 |
| 1978 Buick Century | 6 | 0 |
| 1979 Buick Century | 5 | 0 |
| 1980 Buick Century | 5 | 0 |
| 1981 Buick Century | 3 | 1 |
| 1982 Buick Century | 2 | 3 |
| 1983 Buick Century | 1 | 1 |
| 1984 Buick Century | 3 | 8 |
| 1985 Buick Century | 0 | 7 |
| 1986 Buick Century | 2 | 22 |
| 1987 Buick Century | 0 | 28 |
| 1988 Buick Century | 3 | 16 |
| 1989 Buick Century | 1 | 40 |
| 1990 Buick Century | 2 | 33 |
| 1991 Buick Century | 2 | 38 |
| 1992 Buick Century | 3 | 45 |
| 1993 Buick Century | 2 | 54 |
| 1994 Buick Century | 6 | 106 |
| 1995 Buick Century | 1 | 99 |
| 1996 Buick Century | 1 | 80 |
| 1997 Buick Century | 2 | 106 |
| 1998 Buick Century | 2 | 218 |
| 1999 Buick Century | 3 | 235 |
| 2000 Buick Century | 5 | 193 |
| 2001 Buick Century | 3 | 145 |
| 2002 Buick Century | 0 | 154 |
| 2003 Buick Century | 0 | 127 |
| 2004 Buick Century | 0 | 39 |
| 2005 Buick Century | 0 | 19 |
Checking a specific 1978 Buick Century
How do I know if my 1978 Buick Century has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 1978 Buick Century; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Buick dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 78V018000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Buick models
- Lesabre3,728 complaints
- Regal3,264 complaints
- Enclave2,501 complaints
- Lacrosse2,122 complaints
- Park Avenue1,368 complaints
- Rendezvous1,241 complaints
- Lucerne943 complaints
- Encore601 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.