IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. *AK
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS PRODUCED. *AK
THE GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. IT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS MORE GAS THAN WHAT WAS REALLY IN THE GAS TANK. *AK
CHILD DOOR ELECTRIC LOCK ROCK SWITCH BROKE RETAINER CLIPS. UNABLE TO LOCK OUT REAR DOORS. HIGH BEAM SWITCH CLICKER BROKEN. NOT ABLE TO KEEP HIGH BEAMS ON WITHOUT HOLDING FLASH LEVER UP. BODY TO TRUNK LID TAIL LIGHT WIRING HARNESS BROKEN WIRE.*AK
I HAVE A 1999 BUICK CENTURY , I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A RADIATOR FLUSH AND WAS ADVISED THAT I COULDN'T HAVE THIS JOB PERFORMED DUE TO A LEAK OR CRACK IN THE INTAKE GASKET. AT THIS TIME I WAS VERY SURPRISE TO SEE THE COMPLAINTS AND THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAI…
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I HAVE A 1999 BUICK CENTURY , I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A RADIATOR FLUSH AND WAS ADVISED THAT I COULDN'T HAVE THIS JOB PERFORMED DUE TO A LEAK OR CRACK IN THE INTAKE GASKET. AT THIS TIME I WAS VERY SURPRISE TO SEE THE COMPLAINTS AND THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE. THIS SHOULD'VE BEEN DONE BY GENERAL MOTORS. *NM
WHILE DRIVING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED REPLACING. A RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK *NM
COOLING SYSTEM DEFECT IN 1999 BUICK CENTURY. COOLING SYSTEM IS BEING CONTAINMINATED BY BROWN SUBSTANCE IN SYSTEM, CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO OVERHEAT. REPORTED TO DEALER THREE TIMES. THEY HAVE A TSB OUT ON THIS, BUT NO CLUE ON WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. THEY HAVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES, FLUSHED THE SYSTEM, AND REPLACED THE RADI…
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COOLING SYSTEM DEFECT IN 1999 BUICK CENTURY. COOLING SYSTEM IS BEING CONTAINMINATED BY BROWN SUBSTANCE IN SYSTEM, CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO OVERHEAT. REPORTED TO DEALER THREE TIMES. THEY HAVE A TSB OUT ON THIS, BUT NO CLUE ON WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. THEY HAVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES, FLUSHED THE SYSTEM, AND REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP, BUT PROBLEM RECCURS. NOW IT IS GOING IN FOR THE FOUTH TIME. PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED UNDER ORIGINAL WARRANTY, NOW THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED IS ABOUT TO RUN OUT, YET HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THEY HAVE A TSB OUT ON THIS, WHY CAN'T THEY FIX THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOREVER?*AK
WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULITIES TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE. IN THE PROCESS SHE RAIN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. VEHICLE'S BRAKE EQUIPMENT DID NOT RESPOND WHEN DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL.*MR
LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON 1999 BUICK CENTURY, 77,000 MILES. *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.