Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 Century.
The 1978 Buick Century appears in a complaint dataset that covers model years from 1990 to 2005. Its peak difficulty occurred in 1999, when 252 complaints were logged, whereas the final year of the record, 2005, saw only 19 complaints, reflecting a marked decline in reported problems over time. Consequently, the 1978 model year represents the starting point of a reliability trend that improved substantially by the end of the observed period.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 196.1 in |
| Overall width | 70.1 in |
| Overall height | 55.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 108.3 in |
| Curb weight | 3172 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 7 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.
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… 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…
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 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.