IllustrationHEADLIGHT LENS DEVELOPED A CLOUDY FILM. THIS REDUCED THE LIGHT ILLUMINATION, AND RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE LENS COULD NOT BE CLEANED. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE DESIGN OF THE LENS IS POOR BECAUSE IT DOES NOT ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE LENS. *NM
1998 Buick Century
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Century years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Buick Century are substantially higher than the model-year median of 28.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Century years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
80–25K
1425–50K
1550–75K
1175–100K
10100–150K
1150K+
59 reports with mileage · 159 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
218 reportsWHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH AND TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THIS MADE IT HARD TO STEER AND TURN THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB
TRANSMISSION FELL APART AT 41,600 MILES. (NAR) *PH *CB
WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
1998 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM - THE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW STOPPED WORKING AND DROPPED OPEN AND WON'T CLOSE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WINDOW REVEALED THAT THE HARNESS IS MADE UP OF TWO STEEL CABLES ATTACHED TOGETHER BY A SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC. SURPRISE, THE PLASTIC BROKE! IN DECEMBER 2003, THE SAME YEAR THAT THE BACK WINDOW BROKE, T…
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1998 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM - THE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW STOPPED WORKING AND DROPPED OPEN AND WON'T CLOSE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WINDOW REVEALED THAT THE HARNESS IS MADE UP OF TWO STEEL CABLES ATTACHED TOGETHER BY A SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC. SURPRISE, THE PLASTIC BROKE! IN DECEMBER 2003, THE SAME YEAR THAT THE BACK WINDOW BROKE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW BROKE AND IT IS THE EXACT SAME PIECE THAT BROKE IN THE BACK WINDOW. ONLY THIS TIME IT BROKE WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CENTER LANE OF I-75 AND WE'RE FORTUNE THAT SHE WASN'T IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE FALLING OF THE WINDOW AT HIGH SPEED CREATED A SCARY DISTRACTION THAT NARROWLY MISSED CAUSING A POTENTIONAL BAD ACCIDENT. IT HAVE BEEN TOLD TO ME BY A BODY SHOP AS WELL AS A BUICK SALEMAN THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT. IT IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS BUT CONVENIENTLY COSTLY TO REPAIR. THEY DON'T MAKE THE PLACTIC CONNECTOR, WHICH WOULD BE VERY EASY TO INSTALL, BUT ONLY SELL THE ENTIRE HARNESS FOR $375 + TAX. I HAVE WRITEN AND SPOKE WITH GM IN DETROIT. THEY HAVE OFFERED ME AN ADDITIONAL $1500 TOWARDS A NEW CAR OR THEY WILL PAY 50% OF REPAIRING THE WINDOW. THIS SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS GOING TO TAKE YOUR ORGANIZATION TO INSIST UPON A TOTAL RECALL.*AK
STEERING RACK SEPARATED WHEN TURNING LEFT. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THIS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK INCIDENT ALMOST CAUSED A COLLISION WITH AN APPROACHING VEHICLE. *LA
IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. CURRENTLY, POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED. *AK
THE INTAKE GASKET LEAKED ANTIFREEZE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE GASKET, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED WITHIN 23,000 MILES. GMC CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. RECALL NOT FOUND IN ARTEMIS. *AK
DISSATISFACTION WITH NHTS'S RESPONSE TO HER COMPLAINT RE THE DASHBOARD DESIGN OF THE BUICK CENTURY, REF ES03-007553/S/ BRENNER 12/5/03, ENTIRE ENCLOSURES NOT IMAGED FWD TO NVS-200. *PH THE DASHBOARD WAS CONSTRUCTED IN SECTIONS WHICH CAUSED PERMANENT REFLECT LINES ONTO THE WINDSHIELD IN LINE WITH THE DRIVERS EYE LEVEL. *S…
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DISSATISFACTION WITH NHTS'S RESPONSE TO HER COMPLAINT RE THE DASHBOARD DESIGN OF THE BUICK CENTURY, REF ES03-007553/S/ BRENNER 12/5/03, ENTIRE ENCLOSURES NOT IMAGED FWD TO NVS-200. *PH THE DASHBOARD WAS CONSTRUCTED IN SECTIONS WHICH CAUSED PERMANENT REFLECT LINES ONTO THE WINDSHIELD IN LINE WITH THE DRIVERS EYE LEVEL. *SC *JB
AFTER NOTICING A FEW DROPS OF DEXCOOL COOLANT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, I CHECKED THE RESERVOIR. IT WAS EMPTY. I CHECKED FOR LEAKY HOSES OR CLAMPS, THEN NOTICED THAT AROUND SOME GASKET I COULD SEE WHERE COOLANT WAS OBVIOUSLY OOZING AND SOME HAD POOLED IN A RECESS IN THE ENGINE MOLD. ANYWAY, I REFILLED THE RESERVOIR WITH DEXCOOL AN…
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AFTER NOTICING A FEW DROPS OF DEXCOOL COOLANT ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, I CHECKED THE RESERVOIR. IT WAS EMPTY. I CHECKED FOR LEAKY HOSES OR CLAMPS, THEN NOTICED THAT AROUND SOME GASKET I COULD SEE WHERE COOLANT WAS OBVIOUSLY OOZING AND SOME HAD POOLED IN A RECESS IN THE ENGINE MOLD. ANYWAY, I REFILLED THE RESERVOIR WITH DEXCOOL AND TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BEFORE DOING ANY DAMAGE. THE REPAIR BILL CAME TO OVER $900. THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND IT NEEDS A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, HOW ABSURD. AFTER SURFING THE WEB, I FIND THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD FIRES AND BLOWN ENGINES FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WERE LUCKY, BUT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER TRAVEL THE LOCAL HIGHWAYS ALOT, WHAT IF THEY RAN OUT OF COOLANT WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SIEZED, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR AT LEAST STRANDING THEM. (3.1L V6)
Official recalls
299V356000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Dec 17, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE VERTICAL HEAD LAMP ADJUSTING DEVICE MAY NOT BE CALIBRATED PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER VISIBILITY MAY BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN OWNER'S MANUAL INSERT CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS FOR OPTICALLY AIMING THE HEADLAMPS.
98V102000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
May 15, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OWNER MANUALS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIREMENT INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING DEVICE. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY AIM THE HEADLIGHTS.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED AN OWNER MANUAL'S INSERT WHICH CONTAINS THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4EA03019 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Sep 15, 2003 · Closed Dec 18, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
EA99024 · Windshield Wiper
Opened Aug 20, 1999 · Closed Jan 13, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
BY LETTER DATED DECEMBER 12, 1999, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA OF ITS PLANS TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT CAMPAIGN TO REMEDY 155,149 OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE VEHICLE POPULATION FOR THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDES THE 1997 BUICK REGAL/CENTURY AND PONTIAC GRAN PRIX MODELS BUILT DURING THE PERIOD FROM THE START OF PRODUCTION THROUGH MAY 1, 1997.GM DETERMINED THAT THE WIPERS INSTALLED PRIOR TO THIS DATE COULD STOP WORKING, USUALLY DURING HEAVY LOAD CONDITIONS, DUE TO SEPARATION BETWEEN THE DRIVE PIN AND THE CRESCENT IN THE WIPER CRANK ARM ASSEMBLY.EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 1997,GM CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM IN PRODUCTION BY MODIFYING THE DRIVE PIN AND STRENGTHENING THE CRESCENT.THESE SAME IMPROVED PARTS WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLES TO BE RECALLED.THE SCOPE OF THE CAMPAIGN WILL INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIOR TO THE MAY 1, 1997 CORRECTION (THE OLDSMOBILE INTRIQUE PRODUCTION DID NOT START UNTIL AFTER MAY 1, 1997, AND IS THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED).VEHICLES WITH THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION AND PRODUCED AFTER MAY 1, 1997, CONTAIN THE MORE ROBUST CRESCENT AND IMPROVED PIN DESIGN AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINT REPORTS ON THE VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER MAY 1, 1997 AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.BASED ON GM'S RECALL ACTION (ODI 99V-348) THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
PE99028 · Windshield Wiper
Opened Apr 16, 1999 · Closed Aug 20, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
INCIDENTS OF WIPER FAILURE (OWNER REPORTS AND WARRANTY) ARE VERY HIGH, AND MANY OF THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE FAILURES ARE STILL OCCURRING IN 1999.