Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1979 Century.
The 1979 Buick Century overview serves as an early reference point for the nameplate, though the available model complaint history begins over a decade later in 1990. Within that documented span, the Century lineage recorded its highest complaint volume in 1999 with 252 reports, before declining to a low of just 19 by the 2005 model year. While the 1979 model itself predates this reliability data, the broader trajectory indicates the nameplate faced its most significant documented issues in the late 1990s before showing marked improvement toward the end of the tracked period.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 196.1 in |
| Overall width | 72 in |
| Overall height | 55.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in |
| Curb weight | 3153 lb |
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.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Turbo Coupe 3.8L Turbo V6 | 9.10 sec | 17.40 sec | 165 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
THE SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED BACKWARDS OR NOT AT ALL. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SPRING CLIP IS TO SECURE THE LOWER END OF THE SHIFT CABLE HOUSING TO THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE CLIP IS BACKWARD OR… Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY CORRECT THE SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP INSTALLATION AT NO CHARGE.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.