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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

235 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

FAX FM WILLIAM A. ARANEO (NJ) REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS RELATED TO A RECALL OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON HIS BUICK AUTOMOBILE. *MR *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10052105

42,419 miles · Dec 3, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10049115

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2003
Steering

PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING RACK ON 1999 BUICK CENTURY.*MR THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONSUMER READ AN ARTICLE WHICH STATED THAT SOME GM VEHICLES WERE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR DEFECTIVE STEERING. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES 1999 BUICK CENTURIES SHOULD ALSO BE INCL…

Read full complaint

PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING RACK ON 1999 BUICK CENTURY.*MR THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONSUMER READ AN ARTICLE WHICH STATED THAT SOME GM VEHICLES WERE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR DEFECTIVE STEERING. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES 1999 BUICK CENTURIES SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE INVESTIGATION. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10048439

11,700 miles · Nov 19, 2003
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GAS STATION. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10048330

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2003
Visibility

1999 BUICK CENTURY, BOUGHT NEW, CURRENTLY HAS 22,000 MILES. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 19,000 MILES. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW STOPPED FUNCTIONING DUE TO WORN OUT PLASTIC GRASP. DEALER EXPLAINED THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. 400 DOLLARS TO FIX!! NOW THE OTHER 3 WINDOWS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEAL…

Read full complaint

1999 BUICK CENTURY, BOUGHT NEW, CURRENTLY HAS 22,000 MILES. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 19,000 MILES. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW STOPPED FUNCTIONING DUE TO WORN OUT PLASTIC GRASP. DEALER EXPLAINED THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. 400 DOLLARS TO FIX!! NOW THE OTHER 3 WINDOWS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WANTS 1200 DOLLARS TO PUT IN THE SAME PLASTIC GRAPS!!!! HELP. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043441

31,500 miles · Oct 22, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP AT 31000 MILES. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT A WARRANTY. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. *TS *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10031382

80,000 miles · Oct 9, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

INTAKE 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

NHTSA ODI #10041545

38,920 miles · Oct 1, 2003
Power TrainCrashInjury

I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND WAS JUST RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE CAR LUNGED VIOLENTLY FORWARD AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO ANY THING EXPECT A REFLEX TO TURN THE WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING THE BUILDING HEAD-ON. THE CAR SCRAPED THE SIDE OF THE …

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I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND WAS JUST RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE CAR LUNGED VIOLENTLY FORWARD AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO ANY THING EXPECT A REFLEX TO TURN THE WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING THE BUILDING HEAD-ON. THE CAR SCRAPED THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING ONLY STOPPING WHEN IT HIT A VAN. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED MOVING, I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGINITION. THE IMPACT WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. MY FEET WERE NOT ON THE BRAKE OR GAS WHEN THIS OCCURRED. MY SON-IN-LAW WENT TO YOUR SITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECORD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE AND THERE WAS ALMOST AN EXACT DESCRIPTION ON A PREVIOUS INCIDENT. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041034

40,000 miles · Sep 27, 2003
Unknown Or Other

PAINT IS PEELING AROUND THE WHEEL WELLS AND THE LOWER PANEL, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS NO PRIMER FOR THE PAINT TO STICK TO.

NHTSA ODI #10040825

38,000 miles · Sep 24, 2003
Steering

MY 1999 BUICK CENTURY HAS A STEERING PROBLEM, MY LOCAL DEALER (DEWEY GRIFFIN) TOLD ME SO WHAT! THAT''S JUST THE WAY IT IS! I WON'T LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT ON THE FREEWAY OR LEAVE TOWN BECAUSE I FEEL IT'S UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI #10039428

Official recalls

3

04V375000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.