IllustrationCONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH, AND NONE OF FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WERE INJURED DURING THE ACCIDENT. *YH
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 reportsWINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT JUST CAUSE. CAR WAS PARKED WHEN WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THERE IS NO START OF ORIGIN OR BLEMISH TO BLAME CRACK ON ROCK, BB, ETC. TOOK CAR TO MECHANIC WHO STATED LOOKED LIKE A "STRESS FRACTURE" TO HIM. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS IN CASE THERE WERE OTHER SIMILAR CASES LIKE THIS ONE. THANK YOU.*AK
THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACTUAL FAILURE TO THIS POINT. HOWEVER, THE TIRES HAVE INDULATIONS ON THE SIDEWALLS WHICH ARE VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE AND DRAMATIC TO THE TOUCH. *AK (TIRESIZE: P205/70R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )
STEERING IS LOOSE AND SPONGY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER AND LOSE DIRECTION WHEN TRAVELING ON A ROUGH OR BUMPY ROAD. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE TWICE.*AK THE DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE VIBRATION OF THE POWER STEERING AND FIXED IT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. *YH
MOISTURE IS ENTERING RIGHT HEADLIGHT, CAUSING MOISTURE BUILD UP ON LENS. THUS, REDUCING VISIBILITY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, VEHICLE BEGAN SLOWING SO CONSUMER ACCELERATED, VEHICLE HESITATED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN TOOK OFF, CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A RAPID RATE, CONSUMER KEPT FOOT ON BRAKE SLOWING VEHICLE, CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF, BRAKES WERE SO HOT THAT FLA…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, VEHICLE BEGAN SLOWING SO CONSUMER ACCELERATED, VEHICLE HESITATED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN TOOK OFF, CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A RAPID RATE, CONSUMER KEPT FOOT ON BRAKE SLOWING VEHICLE, CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF, BRAKES WERE SO HOT THAT FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE WHEELS, CONSUMER THREW SNOW ON TIRES TO EXTINGUISH FIRE ON BOTH TIRES, BRAKE DISCS WERE GLOWING ORANGE, CONSUMER TRADED VEHICLE FOR A 2000 MODEL, HOWEVER WAS $5000 MORE AND FEELS SHE IS ENTITLED TO SOME COMPENSATION. *SLC
VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY A TRUCK WHILE DRIVING BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER BELIEVES IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HER INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LESSENED. NLM
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND ENDED UP CRASHING, THE AIRBAG EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT. *SLC
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN CAR HIT AND SHEARED OFF A TELEPHONE POLE. CAR WAS TOTALED WITH FRONT BUMPER AND CROSS MEMBER PUSHED BACK TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. *AK
WHILE PLACING A CHILD SEAT IN VEHICLE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT COME FROM RETRACTOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND IT TOOK DEALER A MONTH TO REPAIR. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES RESULTED FROM DEFECT. *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.