Buick›Century›1993›Overview/buick/century/1993/base/

1993 Buick Century

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Century.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1993 Buick Century is a passenger car whose routine-service baseline is a 4-quart engine-oil fill of 5W-30 API viscosity. Reliability records for the model year show 63 owner complaints, with air bags standing out as the top reported concern and two recalls on file. Viewed against the 1990–2005 Century span, in which complaints peaked at 252 for the 1999 model and fell to 19 for the 2005 finale, the 1993 edition registers as a comparatively low-complaint early-year example.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1993

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731175. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175
Engine air filter	24577608 alt 25043119
Fuel filter	25121468 alt 25121970
Spark plug	19354417 alt 19354418
Front wiper blades	15184702
Serpentine belt	19355375 alt 10184955
Thermostat	24505924 alt 24577299

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	189 in
Overall width	69.3 in
Overall height	53.5 in
Wheelbase	104.7 in
Curb weight	2782 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Century of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

11.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 11.50 sec — 1986 T-Type Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1986	T-Type Sedan 3.8L V6	11.50 sec	17.60 sec	150 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In the years immediately surrounding 1993, complaint volumes were low—46 in 1990, 49 in 1991, and 52 in 1992—while recalls remained at two to three per year. The following year, 1994, saw a sharp rise to 147 complaints, six recalls, and a substantial increase in TSBs to 36. Although the JSON does not provide a total complaint figure for 1993, it lists the leading complaint categories for that model year: Air Bags (11), Engine & Engine Cooling (8), Vehicle Speed Control (7), and Electrical System (5), along with 18 crash‑related and 3 fire‑related complaints. This pattern places 1993 at the low‑end of the complaint trajectory before the marked escalation observed from 1994 onward. Consequently, based on the available federal record, the 1993 Buick Century appears to be a comparatively favorable year to purchase, though the absence of a total complaint count limits a definitive assessment.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

18 involved a crash · 3 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 63 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags11

Engine & Engine Cooling8

Vehicle Speed Control7

Electrical System5

Service Brakes, Hydraulic5

Power Train5

Seat Belts4

Equipment3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 10 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
130089009	2013-09-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
990730030A	2001-04-01	Power Train	OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES…
990941004	2000-01-01	Air Bags	INFORMATION REGARDING SWITCHES TO TURN OFF AND ON FRONTAL AIR BAGS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND…
990940004	2000-01-01	Seats	GENERAL MOTORS BEGAN PROVIDING CHILD RESTRAIN SEAT TOP TETHER HARDWARE PACKAGES TO…
990866002A	2000-01-01	Latches/Locks/Linkages	THIS BULLETIN INFORMS DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE TRAP RESISTANT REAR COMPARTMENT (TRUNK) KIT…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Century. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 24577608 Fuel filter 25121468 Spark plug 19354417

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 Century take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 Century have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.