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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT ANTI FREEZE WAS GUNKED UP AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC FLUSH THE RADIATOR WITH THE SAME TYPE OF FLUID (DEXCOOL) ON JUNE 15, 2002, CONSUMER WENT ON A TRIP THEN NOTICED LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, THE ANTIFREEZE WAS CHE…
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VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING. WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT ANTI FREEZE WAS GUNKED UP AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC FLUSH THE RADIATOR WITH THE SAME TYPE OF FLUID (DEXCOOL) ON JUNE 15, 2002, CONSUMER WENT ON A TRIP THEN NOTICED LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, THE ANTIFREEZE WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS AGAIN FULL OF GUNK, LATER THAT NIGHT THE CAR WAS CHECK AND IT WAS OBSERVED THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. ORIGINAL COOLANT WAS USED, DEXCOOL BRAND, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE MAY BE THE PROBLEM.*AK *NLM
NHTSA ODI #8012684
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THERE IS A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM MOTOR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *YH
NHTSA ODI #8012168
Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2002
Tires
WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH IN A 1999 BUICK CENTURY, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A FLAT BECAUSE OF A NAIL, ALSO NOTICED A DEEP SPLIT ON SIDEWALL. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE 205/70R15, AND DOT# A3MOD81099. GENERAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK THE INSIDE SEAM FAILURE RAN UP BOTH SIDES OF THE SIDEWALL. THE OTHER TIRES WERE INSPECTED A…
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WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH IN A 1999 BUICK CENTURY, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A FLAT BECAUSE OF A NAIL, ALSO NOTICED A DEEP SPLIT ON SIDEWALL. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE 205/70R15, AND DOT# A3MOD81099. GENERAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK THE INSIDE SEAM FAILURE RAN UP BOTH SIDES OF THE SIDEWALL. THE OTHER TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND WERE FOUND TO HAVE THE SAME SIDEWALL FAILURE. ALL TIRES WERE REPLACED AND CARRIED THE SAME DOT NUMBER AS STATED ABOVE. *JG
NHTSA ODI #8011863
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND APPLYING ON BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. DEALER HAS STATED THAT ROTORS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN AS MUCH. DEALER LOANED CONSUMER SAME VEHICLE, ONLY A 1993. CONSUMER STATED, WHILE DRIVING THE LOANER, APPLIED ON BRAKES AND PROBLEM WAS STILL OC…
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND APPLYING ON BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. DEALER HAS STATED THAT ROTORS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN AS MUCH. DEALER LOANED CONSUMER SAME VEHICLE, ONLY A 1993. CONSUMER STATED, WHILE DRIVING THE LOANER, APPLIED ON BRAKES AND PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8010920
Mileage unknown · May 28, 2002
Exterior Lighting
OWNER IS HAVING DIFFICULTIES DRIVING AT NIGHT DUE TO PROBLEMS OF HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATING AT IMPROPER ANGLE AS NOTED BY RECALL 01V286000.; NO SERVICE BY DEALERSHIP WAS BEING RENDERED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8010504
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2002
SeatsSuspension
WHILE DRIVING, THE VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE CAUSES THE HEADREST TO RISE. DEALER HAS SEEN SEVEN TIMES AND HAS REPLACED THE HEADREST. PROBLEM STILL EXIST.*JB CONSUMER ADDS HEAD REST RISES AUTOMATICALLY WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. *TT
NHTSA ODI #8008904
Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2002
Visibility
HEATED, MONOCHROMATIC GLASS ON MIRROR TURNED DARK YELLOW .*AK
NHTSA ODI #760622
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2002
Exterior Lighting
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THE GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT COMES ON BUT WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND STAYS OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. CAN'T SEE WHAT GEAR VEHICLE IS IN. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENLY. DEALER CONTACTED PLEASE ADD VIN#. NLM
NHTSA ODI #8006596
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2002
Equipment
THE CAR HAD A FLAT AND WAS BEING CHANGED IN A DRIVE WAY ON A FLAT SURFACE WITH THE JACK THAT CAME WITH THE CAR. ONCE THE CAR WAS JACKED UP AND THE TIRE REMOVED THE JACK BROKE AND THE FRONT END FELL DOWN, NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT SOMEONE CHANGING THE FLAT COULD VERY WELL HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED WHEN THE CAR WENT DOWN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #758774
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE IS KNOCKING WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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.
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.
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.
1999 Buick Century Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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