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1980 Buick Century Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1980 Buick Century. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

5 safety recalls for the 1980 Buick Century

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Wheel cylinders (service brakes)

    NHTSA 85V048000 Reported 1,810,000 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

  2. Axle shaft (power train)

    NHTSA 84V149000 Reported 3,100,000 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

  3. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 81V025000 Reported 5,821,160 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

  4. Glass, side/rear (visibility)

    NHTSA 81V022000 Reported 67,350 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The electro-clear rear window defoggers contain a defect which causes the glass to shatter without impact during or some time after use of the defogger. Vertical electrical strips may deteriorate and cause hot spots that can result in breakage of the rear glass.

    Remedy: Vehicles will be inspected for presence of a particular weatherstrip. If present, a layer of a special conductive epoxy will be added to the vertical bar on the rear window glass. This epoxy is a new conductive…

  5. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 79V205000 Reported 227 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The bolts that attached the rear suspension control arms to the frame and axle may be defective and the bolt head may separate from the bolt shank. This could allow the control arm to come loose.

    Remedy: The dealer will replace all suspect rear suspension control arm bolts prior to delivery. This will be done free of charge.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1980 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 yearRecallsComplaints
1973 Buick Century30
1974 Buick Century20
1975 Buick Century20
1976 Buick Century20
1977 Buick Century30
1978 Buick Century60
1979 Buick Century50
1980 Buick Century50
1981 Buick Century31
1982 Buick Century23
1983 Buick Century11
1984 Buick Century38
1985 Buick Century07
1986 Buick Century222
1987 Buick Century028
1988 Buick Century316
1989 Buick Century140
1990 Buick Century233
1991 Buick Century238
1992 Buick Century345
1993 Buick Century254
1994 Buick Century6106
1995 Buick Century199
1996 Buick Century180
1997 Buick Century2106
1998 Buick Century2218
1999 Buick Century3235
2000 Buick Century5193
2001 Buick Century3145
2002 Buick Century0154
2003 Buick Century0127
2004 Buick Century039
2005 Buick Century019

Checking a specific 1980 Buick Century

How do I know if my 1980 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. 5 campaigns currently list the 1980 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 79V205000).

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

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.