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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

Visibility complaints

29 reports
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100,000 miles · Nov 18, 2009
Visibility

INTERIOR REAR-VIEW MIRROR HAS DEVELOPED SOME KIND OF DARK BROWN OIL LEAK INSIDE THE (AUTO-DIMMING) MIRROR. IT HAS DECREASED VISIBILITY IN THE MIRROR TO NEARLY ZERO. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH THIS MIRROR SINCE IT IS ESSENTIALLY LIKE HAVING NO REAR-VIEW MIRROR. JUST TODAY I HAD TWO OR THREE NEAR-INCIDENTS ON ROADS I NEVER…

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INTERIOR REAR-VIEW MIRROR HAS DEVELOPED SOME KIND OF DARK BROWN OIL LEAK INSIDE THE (AUTO-DIMMING) MIRROR. IT HAS DECREASED VISIBILITY IN THE MIRROR TO NEARLY ZERO. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH THIS MIRROR SINCE IT IS ESSENTIALLY LIKE HAVING NO REAR-VIEW MIRROR. JUST TODAY I HAD TWO OR THREE NEAR-INCIDENTS ON ROADS I NEVER HAD A PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING OTHER CARS WHICH HAVE FUNCTIONING REAR-VIEW MIRRORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292646

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2008
Visibility

IN JUNE OF 2007 THE RIGHT REAR MOTOR FOR ELECTRIC WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. THEN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007 THE LEFT REAR MOTOR FOR ELECTRIC WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. THESE WERE BOTH REPLACED IN EARLY 2008. SHORTLY AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THESE MOTORS THE FRONT DRIVERS WINDOW MOTOR STOPPED WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246032

50,000 miles · Jul 20, 2008
Visibility

WINDOWS JUST STOP WORKING PROPERLY THE WILL ROLL DOWN BUT NOT BACK UP. CONTINUOUS PROBLEM I.E. EACH WINDOW FAILED OVER LIFE OF CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235050

61,532 miles · Apr 14, 2008
Visibility

THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW'S IS INOP.. REPLACED BROKEN REGULATOR CABLES. I WOULD HAVE JUST EXCEPTED THIS NORMAL ON DAY OF REPAIR,AUG 29 2007, BUT THE LEFT REAR SIDE WINDOW BECAME INOP. ON JAN 3 2008 AND ON JAN 21 2008 THE RIGHT REAR SIDE WINDOW BECAME INOP.(BOTH WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224436

50,000 miles · May 18, 2007
Visibility

ALL THE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. I HAD THE DRIVER'S WINDOW REPAIRED AT A COST OF $325.00. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR, AND NOW SOMETIMES IT WILL ROLL DOWN. MOST CERTAINLY THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE WINDOWS. THE OTHER WINDOWS WERE OCCASIONALLY USED, SO I KNOW THAT THEY WERE NOT WORN OUT. I AM NOT GOING TO PAY TO GET T…

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ALL THE POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. I HAD THE DRIVER'S WINDOW REPAIRED AT A COST OF $325.00. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR, AND NOW SOMETIMES IT WILL ROLL DOWN. MOST CERTAINLY THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE WINDOWS. THE OTHER WINDOWS WERE OCCASIONALLY USED, SO I KNOW THAT THEY WERE NOT WORN OUT. I AM NOT GOING TO PAY TO GET THEM FIXED BECAUSE I DON'T USE THEM. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED? *AK

NHTSA ODI #10191191

90,000 miles · Feb 20, 2007
Visibility

WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE. THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE LAST OF FOUR WINDOWS REGULATORS HAS FAILED IN A YEAR''S TIME. A PLASTIC OR NYLON CLIP THAT HOLDS THE TWO CABLE ENDS BECOMES BRITTLE AND GIVES WAY. THE WINDOW THEN IS UNSUPPORTED AND FALLS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TRACK. FIRST THE DRIVE WINDOW FAILED. TH…

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WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE. THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE LAST OF FOUR WINDOWS REGULATORS HAS FAILED IN A YEAR''S TIME. A PLASTIC OR NYLON CLIP THAT HOLDS THE TWO CABLE ENDS BECOMES BRITTLE AND GIVES WAY. THE WINDOW THEN IS UNSUPPORTED AND FALLS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TRACK. FIRST THE DRIVE WINDOW FAILED. THIS IN MY OPINION IS A SAFETY AND SECURITY HAZARD AND THE DRIVER IS THEN EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS, COLD, RAIN, ETC. THE SAME GOES FOR PASSENGERS. THE PASSENGER WINDOW FAILED WITHIN MONTHS AFTER, FOLLOWED BY THE REAR LEFT WINDOW AND NOW THE REAR RIGHT WINDOW. THIS WINDOW REGULATOR IS COMMON ACROSS ALL GM MODELS IN THIS CHASSIS TYPE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10183080

91,000 miles · Nov 29, 2006
Visibility

REAR POWER WINDOW FAILED WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WINDOW CONTROL WAS PUSHED BY ACCIDENT AND WHEN PUSHED AGAIN TO BRING WINDOW BACK UP, A LOUD "POPPING" NOISE WAS HEARD AND WINDOW REFUSED TO STAY UP. SERVICE DEPT. AT DEALER DETERMINED A NEW REGULATOR WAS NEEDED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME POWER WINDOWS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THIS VE…

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REAR POWER WINDOW FAILED WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WINDOW CONTROL WAS PUSHED BY ACCIDENT AND WHEN PUSHED AGAIN TO BRING WINDOW BACK UP, A LOUD "POPPING" NOISE WAS HEARD AND WINDOW REFUSED TO STAY UP. SERVICE DEPT. AT DEALER DETERMINED A NEW REGULATOR WAS NEEDED. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME POWER WINDOWS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE, AS BOTH REAR WINDOWS FAILED WHILE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE VERY RARELY HAS ANY BACKSEAT PASSENGERS, SO THESE WINDOWS GET VERY LITTLE TO NO ROUTINE USE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10174654

85,000 miles · Nov 26, 2006
Visibility

WINDOW REGULATORS, IN THIS LAST TWELVE MONTHS, THE DRIVER, PASSENGER AND TODAY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED. A NYLON CLIP HOLDS THE TWO ENDS OF THE CABLING. THE PART BREAKS, THEN WINDOW DROP TO THE DOWN POSITION. THE ENTIRE WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY & SECURITY…

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WINDOW REGULATORS, IN THIS LAST TWELVE MONTHS, THE DRIVER, PASSENGER AND TODAY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED. A NYLON CLIP HOLDS THE TWO ENDS OF THE CABLING. THE PART BREAKS, THEN WINDOW DROP TO THE DOWN POSITION. THE ENTIRE WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY & SECURITY RELATED ISSUES AS THE DRIVER IS THEN EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS OR DISTRACTED BY THE PASSENGERS WHO ARE EXPOSED. THE ELEMENTS BEING COLD, RAINS, SLEET, WIND, ETC. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE SECURED WITH THE WINDOW DOWN. THE PART THAT FAILS NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED AND OF MADE OF METAL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10174271

41,000 miles · Nov 16, 2006
Visibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS FELL DOWN AND WOULD NOT STAY UP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE REGULATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10173639

66,000 miles · Jun 6, 2005
Visibility

1999 BUICK CENTURY. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE POWER WINDOWS 6 DIFFERENT TIMES ON 2 WINDOWS. LEFT FRONT POWER WINDOW MOTOR TWICE. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW MOTOR TWICE PLUS THE REGULATOR. THE RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW HAS GONE AGAIN AND THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME. I HAVE TIRE PLUS DO THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW AND THE …

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1999 BUICK CENTURY. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE POWER WINDOWS 6 DIFFERENT TIMES ON 2 WINDOWS. LEFT FRONT POWER WINDOW MOTOR TWICE. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW MOTOR TWICE PLUS THE REGULATOR. THE RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW HAS GONE AGAIN AND THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME. I HAVE TIRE PLUS DO THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW AND THE DEALER WORKING ON THE RIGHT REAR. THE DEALER STATES THERE IS ONLY A 12,000 OR ONE YEAR WARRANTY SO I HAVE TO KEEP PAYING FOR THESE REPAIRS EVERY ONE TO TWO YEARS. ONE MECHANIC SAID THE PART WAS RUSTING. THAT INDICATES WATER BUT WHY CAN'T THEY FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE WATER CAUSING THEM TO RUST RATHER THAN ME PAYING $300 EACH TIME WHEN THE MOTOR FINALLY RUSTS OUT?

NHTSA ODI #10124280

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.