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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

Air Bags complaints

15 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID ON ICE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID ON ICE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10680503

29,000 miles · Aug 18, 2008
Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ON--MEANS AIRBAG WILL NOT/MAY NOT DEPLOY IF IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. DEALER SHARPE BUICK REPLACED MODULE APPROX 3 TIMES BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I WAS TOLD THAT AIRBAG LIGHT HAD TO STAY ON CONSTANT BEFORE THEY COULD DO ANYTHING, LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED. ALSO ANTIFREEZE LEAKING DU…

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PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ON--MEANS AIRBAG WILL NOT/MAY NOT DEPLOY IF IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. DEALER SHARPE BUICK REPLACED MODULE APPROX 3 TIMES BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I WAS TOLD THAT AIRBAG LIGHT HAD TO STAY ON CONSTANT BEFORE THEY COULD DO ANYTHING, LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED. ALSO ANTIFREEZE LEAKING DUE TO LEAKING LOWER INTAKE GASKET WHICH HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR YEARS ALSO TAKEN TO SHARPE BUICK SEVERAL TIMES THEY DIDN'T SEE A PROBLEM EVEN WHEN THERE WAS A SMELL AT THE DEALERSHIP. ALSO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WAS REPLACED IT STARTING DIMMING AND FINALLY WENT BLACK. I HAVE RECENTLY PAID FOR THESE REPAIRS. CAR CAME WITH MANUFACTURER WARRANTY WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AND I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENSION ON THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY FROM THE CAR DEALER SIEF CHEVY/BUICK IN HASTINGS MI WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238682

116,386 miles · Jan 11, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE VEHICLE STRUCK A DEER AT 60 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER WERE WEARING T SEAT BELTS, THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE SEAT BELT STRAPS. THERE WAS NO PRE BRAKING INVOLVED. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE VEHICLE STRUCK A DEER AT 60 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER WERE WEARING T SEAT BELTS, THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE SEAT BELT STRAPS. THERE WAS NO PRE BRAKING INVOLVED. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAGS. DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR. SINCE THE CRASH INVOLVED A DEER NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK *AK

NHTSA ODI #10147413

66,400 miles · Jun 15, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

DT: 1999 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED, WHEN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THE AIR BAGS ON BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10125394

111,200 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Air Bags

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

NHTSA ODI #10063564

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2004
Air Bags

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

NHTSA ODI #10066800

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE YET THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ASSESSED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS…

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WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE YET THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ASSESSED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS WERE IMPACTED AND THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10059359

23,000 miles · Jun 12, 2003
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10022964

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #8017349

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #785420

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.