IllustrationNOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT SURELY A DEFECT - INJECTORS CLOGGING EVERY 7000 MILES.
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 reportsFAILURE OF TWO FUEL INJECTORS CAUSING STALLING ACTIONS, BAD GAS REPTITIVELY USED.
CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, VEHICLE TOOK OFF, WENT INTO TRAFFIC, AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
ON NOV. 9TH 2001, WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO ATLANTA, THE CRUISE CONTROL FROZE UP AT 70 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE IT OR TURN IT OFF AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND , THEY WERE LOCKED UP ALSO. THINKING THAT THE ACCELERATOR MIGHT BE STUCK I TAPPED IT LIGHTLY AND THE CAR SPED UP TO 85 MPH. I WAS IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC AND …
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ON NOV. 9TH 2001, WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO ATLANTA, THE CRUISE CONTROL FROZE UP AT 70 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE IT OR TURN IT OFF AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND , THEY WERE LOCKED UP ALSO. THINKING THAT THE ACCELERATOR MIGHT BE STUCK I TAPPED IT LIGHTLY AND THE CAR SPED UP TO 85 MPH. I WAS IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC AND FINALLY AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO DISENGAGE. THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OFF AND I DECIDED TO TURN IT OFF. IT INSTEAD REENGAGED AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE FOR AWHILE. WE FINALLY GOT ONTO I-285 LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO GET OFF. AS WE GOT UP TO SPEED IT ONCE AGAIN REENGAGED AND IT TOOK ME NEARLY 8 MILES TO GET IT OFF AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES, EACH TIME I WAS NOT ABLE TO EXIT. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF AT THE EXIT TO OUR DAUGHTERS HOUSE AND I UNPLUGGED IT UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN A CAR IN MY LIFE. 85 MPH IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC & NO BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET/BUICK DEALER (BENNETT CHEVROLET/BUICK) ON MONDAY THE 12TH. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CRUSE CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT. I THOUGHT THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL FOR A FATAL CRASH. WE WERE LUCKY, PLEASE SEE THAT THIS HAPPENS TO NO ONE ELSE, THEY MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *AK
BELT BUCKLE OF REAR DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED, AT THIS TIME REAR PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NO LONGER LATCH. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT ALSO WOULD NOT LATCH.*YD
ENGINE LIGHT IS ACTIVATED, DEALER MECHANICS CANNOT LOCATE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. *AK
THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 55 MPH, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLES SPEED STEADILY INCREASED UNTIL IT APPROACHED 70 MPH IN THE MIDST OF HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS PINCH BY THE STRUT TOWER BOLT CAUSING THE SUD…
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THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 55 MPH, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLES SPEED STEADILY INCREASED UNTIL IT APPROACHED 70 MPH IN THE MIDST OF HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT IT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS PINCH BY THE STRUT TOWER BOLT CAUSING THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION, THE DEALER REPLACED AND RE-ROUTED THE CABLE. NLM
MY WIFE MARIA NENA A. FLORIDO WAS INVOLVED IN A TOTAL WRECK ACCIDENT. IT TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE EXIT OF PIONEER BOULEVARD. SHE WAS DRIVING AROUND 60 MPH ON U.S. HIGHWAY 91 HEADING EASTBOUND IN CERRITOS, CA. SHE WAS ON THE SECOND LANE FROM THE OUTER LANE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO WIGGLE AND BEGUN MOVING TOWARDS THE RIGH…
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MY WIFE MARIA NENA A. FLORIDO WAS INVOLVED IN A TOTAL WRECK ACCIDENT. IT TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE EXIT OF PIONEER BOULEVARD. SHE WAS DRIVING AROUND 60 MPH ON U.S. HIGHWAY 91 HEADING EASTBOUND IN CERRITOS, CA. SHE WAS ON THE SECOND LANE FROM THE OUTER LANE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO WIGGLE AND BEGUN MOVING TOWARDS THE RIGHT LANE. SHE TRIED TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL TO STAY ON THE LANE. WHEN SHE APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. THE DRIVER'S DOOR SLAMMED INTO THE GUARDRAIL FACING IN THE OPPOITE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC. WITHOUT THE GUARDRAIL,THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL.*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
CONSUMER HIT A POLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, TWO INJURIES DUE TO ACCIDENT. *JB
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.