1981 Buick Century Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1981 Buick Century, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. 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
3 safety recalls for the 1981 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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Hubcap/cover (wheels)
"tx" heavy duty wheels may have been manufactured with laminated steel. The wheel disc may fracture and the wheel and tire could partially or completely separate from the vehicle.
Remedy: The defective wheels will be replaced 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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Wheels
The steel used in some compact spare wheels is too thin. While in service the wheel may fracture, resulting in a partial or complete separation of the wheel and tire from the vehicle.
Remedy: Spare wheels will be replaced without charge to owners within 60 days of recall notification.
1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1981 Buick Century have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Rear wheel brake cylinders rotate in backing plate causing the rear brakes to lock up.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 21, 1998 · Service brakes, hydraulic
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 1981 Buick Century
How do I know if my 1981 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1981 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 81V009000).
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.