IllustrationTHE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE REGULATOR CABLE SNAPPED. PH SCC
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
What owners actually said
235 reportsCONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAS HEADLIGHT SENSORS WHICH AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON LIGHTS WHEN IT BECOMES DUSK. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS INTERMITTENLY CUT THEMSELVES ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. CONSUMER CONTACT MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT MANUAL SWITCH WILL NOT OVE…
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CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAS HEADLIGHT SENSORS WHICH AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON LIGHTS WHEN IT BECOMES DUSK. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS INTERMITTENLY CUT THEMSELVES ON AND OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. CONSUMER CONTACT MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED THAT MANUAL SWITCH WILL NOT OVERRIDE LIGHT SENSOR. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT COOLANT LEAKED AND SPEWED ALL OVER THE TOP OF ENGINE CAUSING MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. TS
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 …
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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
DRIVER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOWS CEASED TO OPERATE. *YH PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED COPY OF THE LETTER SENT 10/11/2002 WHICH SETS OUT INFORMATION ABOUT TWO PREVIOUS POWER WINDOW FAILURES ON THE ABOVE IDENTIFIED VEHICLE. BOTH OF THEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT #391.87. AND SURELY A THIRD POWER WINDOW FAILED IT IS OBVIOUSLY A…
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DRIVER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOWS CEASED TO OPERATE. *YH PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED COPY OF THE LETTER SENT 10/11/2002 WHICH SETS OUT INFORMATION ABOUT TWO PREVIOUS POWER WINDOW FAILURES ON THE ABOVE IDENTIFIED VEHICLE. BOTH OF THEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AT #391.87. AND SURELY A THIRD POWER WINDOW FAILED IT IS OBVIOUSLY A PRODUCT FAILURE AND MATTERS NEED TO BE RESOLVED. *CB
CONSUMER DISCOVERED CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES DUE TO THEM BEING DRY ROTTED, ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT WAS LUBRICATED, THE BLOWER RESISTOR IN THE AIR CONDITION WAS REPLACED, THE CARPET WAS REPLACED, AND THERE WAS A WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW.TS *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING BROKE CAUSING A LOUD NOISE AND THE TIRE TO WOBBLE AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING BROKE CAUSING A LOUD NOISE AND THE TIRE TO WOBBLE AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SWERVED TO MISS A DEER AND RAN OFF THE ROAD. FRONT END WAS SMASHED IN ABOUT 2 FEET. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED SOME BRUISES.*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.