IllustrationTHE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *NLM
1999 Buick Century
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Century years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
120–25K
2625–50K
3250–75K
1575–100K
14100–150K
3150K+
102 reports with mileage · 133 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports4 fire reports13 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
55 reportsINTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS A LEAKING COOLANT. THE CAR WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY DIVIDED FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK; TWICE. *LA
DEALER REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS PREMATURE TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMERS FIRST PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE, DEX-COOL NEEDED TO BE ADDED EVERY 2-3,000 MILES. AFTER A YEAR, THE CONSUMER WAS ADDING DEX-COOL EVERY 2 DAYS. CONSUMER THEN NOTICED PINK GUNK IN THE DEX-COOL. VEHICLE WAS T…
Read full complaint
DEALER REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS PREMATURE TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMERS FIRST PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE, DEX-COOL NEEDED TO BE ADDED EVERY 2-3,000 MILES. AFTER A YEAR, THE CONSUMER WAS ADDING DEX-COOL EVERY 2 DAYS. CONSUMER THEN NOTICED PINK GUNK IN THE DEX-COOL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULDN'T DETERMINE WHY THIS HAPPENED AND WHERE IT CAME FROM. THEY WERE INFORMED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED A COMPLETE FLUSH. WHEN THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, THEY NOTICED A LOT OF PINK GUNK STILL IN THE RESERVE JUG. *PH
COOLING SYSTEM FULL OF GUNK, USES DEX*COOL. OVERHEATING, LEAKING COOLANT, CONSTANTLY REFILLING. MECHANIC ADVISED DEX-COOL IS THE PROBLEM, AS DETERIORATES GASKETS. REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FOR $650. IF PROBLEM CONTINUES, MAY NEED TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET AS WELL. PROBLEM IS THIS IS THE RECOMMENDED COOLANT FOR THIS CAR. HAVE …
Read full complaint
COOLING SYSTEM FULL OF GUNK, USES DEX*COOL. OVERHEATING, LEAKING COOLANT, CONSTANTLY REFILLING. MECHANIC ADVISED DEX-COOL IS THE PROBLEM, AS DETERIORATES GASKETS. REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FOR $650. IF PROBLEM CONTINUES, MAY NEED TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET AS WELL. PROBLEM IS THIS IS THE RECOMMENDED COOLANT FOR THIS CAR. HAVE SPENT MUCH MONEY FLUSHING AND REFILLING SYSTEM, BEFORE FINDING OUT THAT THE COOLANT IS THE PROBLEM.*AK
ENGINE FAILED PREMATURELY, VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE IN ONE YEAR.*AK
THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED BECAUSE ONE OF THE ENGINE GASKETS BECAME UNSEALED AND LEAKED COOLANT. THIS FAILURE WAS NOT RECALLED BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DIDN'T SEE THE PROBLEM AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK *CB *NLM
MY COMPLAINT IS ON MY 1999 BUICK CENTURY. DECEMBER OF 2002 I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING DEX-COOL COOLANT. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $440.00. MY CAR ONLY HAD 59,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. VERY POOR JOB …
Read full complaint
MY COMPLAINT IS ON MY 1999 BUICK CENTURY. DECEMBER OF 2002 I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING DEX-COOL COOLANT. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $440.00. MY CAR ONLY HAD 59,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. VERY POOR JOB OF QUALITY IN THIS AREA BY GENERAL MOTORS/. *JB
THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*JB
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (LOWER) FAILURE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE SEIZED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM *DT
Official recalls
304V375000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Aug 10, 2004
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." SOME OF THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE OVERHEAD SIGN ILLUMINATION REQUIREMENTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LESS ILLUMINATION MAY REDUCE THE ABILITY OF THE DRIVER TO READ OVERHEAD SIGNS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW LOW BEAM HEADLAMP BULBS IN BOTH OF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080. NOTE: IF THE BULB NEEDS REPLACEMENT IN THE FUTURE, GM BULB NUMBER 89024715 IS AVAILABLE FROM A DEALER, OR THE EQUIVALENT SYLVANIA BULB IS 9006HP, WITH ORANGE LETTERING ON THE BULB.
99V356000 · 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.
99V170000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Jul 9, 1999
SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WITH THE KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION, EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MOTOR SHORTS TO ITS CASE AND GROUNDS THROUGH A FLEXIBLE BRAKE FLUID PIPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS SHORT CAN CAUSE EXTREME HEATING OF THE FLEXIBLE BRAKE PIPE WHERE IT CAN MELT A NEARBY FLEXIBLE PLASTIC FUEL HOSE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A GROUND CABLE FROM THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE (EBCM) TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BODY RAIL.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.