IllustrationCONSUMER STATES THAT COOLANT LEAKED AND SPEWED ALL OVER THE TOP OF ENGINE CAUSING MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. TS
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 reportsI NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE HOOD LAST MONTH AND CALLED A MECHANIC OUT TO CHECK ALL THE HOSES. I TOOK IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THERE FINDING WAS THAT THEY FOUND COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET. I COULD NOT GET THE REPAIR DONE BECAUSE OF TWO REASONS. THIS IS MY ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION …
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I NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE HOOD LAST MONTH AND CALLED A MECHANIC OUT TO CHECK ALL THE HOSES. I TOOK IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THERE FINDING WAS THAT THEY FOUND COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET. I COULD NOT GET THE REPAIR DONE BECAUSE OF TWO REASONS. THIS IS MY ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION AND MONEY IS SCARCE SINCE I AM A FULL TIME COLLEGE STUDENT AND MOTHER. I HAVE HAD MANY GM CARS WITH OVER 100,000 CARS BEFORE THAT NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I VOICED MY FRUSTATIONS TO THE MANUFACTUER, WHO JUST SIMPLY STATED TOUGH LUCK. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO GIVE ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ABOVE THE INTIAL MANUFACTURING WARRANTY. THE ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES AND A MAJOR COMPONENT ALREADY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OR NOT. I CAN BE A FUTURE BUICK OWNER, BUT AFTER THIS WHOLE SITUATION I AM GOING FOREIGN. DT
SAME INCIDENT AS ODI ID 8012684. ALL THE HOSES WERE CHECKED PRIOR TO CONTACTING THE DEALER. DT
VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT ANTI FREEZE WAS GUNKED UP AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC FLUSH THE RADIATOR WITH THE SAME TYPE OF FLUID (DEXCOOL) ON JUNE 15, 2002, CONSUMER WENT ON A TRIP THEN NOTICED LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, THE ANTIFREEZE WAS CHE…
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VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT ANTI FREEZE WAS GUNKED UP AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC FLUSH THE RADIATOR WITH THE SAME TYPE OF FLUID (DEXCOOL) ON JUNE 15, 2002, CONSUMER WENT ON A TRIP THEN NOTICED LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, THE ANTIFREEZE WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS AGAIN FULL OF GUNK, LATER THAT NIGHT THE CAR WAS CHECK AND IT WAS OBSERVED THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. ORIGINAL COOLANT WAS USED, DEXCOOL BRAND, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE MAY BE THE PROBLEM.*AK *NLM
THERE IS A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM MOTOR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *YH
ENGINE IS KNOCKING WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHEN LOOKING UNDER HOOD NOTICED RADIATOR WAS FULL OF GUNK. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID THIS HAPPENS TO ALL BUICK CENTURY VEHICLES. *AK
AFTER GETTING OFF WORK CONSUMER WENT TO TURN VEHICLE ON AND ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING TO INCIDENT OCCURRING. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT PROBLEM WAS. SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CALL MANUFACTURER FOR THE CONSUMER.*AK REFERENCED IN EA02-030
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK BACKWARD AND FORWARD, AT 30 MPH THE JERKING BECAME VIOLENT, THE ENGINE BECAME NOISY AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHICH APPEARED TO COME FROM BELOW AND TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CAR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NLM THE DEALER,…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK BACKWARD AND FORWARD, AT 30 MPH THE JERKING BECAME VIOLENT, THE ENGINE BECAME NOISY AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHICH APPEARED TO COME FROM BELOW AND TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CAR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NLM THE DEALER, NOT KNOWING WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS, REPLACED THE MAIN COMPUTER. THE CONSUMER IS UPSET THAT THE DEALER REPLACED A PART ON THE VEHICLE THAT WASN'T POSSIBLY WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *SLC
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED ENGINE KNOCKING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND ENGINE WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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.