IllustrationCONSUMER'S CHILD WAS STRAPPED INSIDE OF CARSEAT. SHOULDER BELT WAS STRAPPED AGAINST CHILD'S WAIST AND IT TIGHTENED . MOTHER HAD TO CUT SEATBELT. TO RELEASE THE CHILD. *AK THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS CUT BY THE CUSTOMER. *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 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK BACKWARD AND FORWARD, AT 30 MPH THE JERKING BECAME VIOLENT, THE ENGINE BECAME NOISY AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHICH APPEARED TO COME FROM BELOW AND TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CAR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NLM THE DEALER,…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK BACKWARD AND FORWARD, AT 30 MPH THE JERKING BECAME VIOLENT, THE ENGINE BECAME NOISY AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHICH APPEARED TO COME FROM BELOW AND TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CAR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NLM THE DEALER, NOT KNOWING WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS, REPLACED THE MAIN COMPUTER. THE CONSUMER IS UPSET THAT THE DEALER REPLACED A PART ON THE VEHICLE THAT WASN'T POSSIBLY WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER FELT VIBRATION COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE COULDN'T STOP UNTIL CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE ENGINE . *AK
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED ENGINE KNOCKING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND ENGINE WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
CAR WOULD NOT START, ENGINE FROZE UP IN THE GARAGE, THE TEMPATURE IS NEVER 60, PUT DRY GAS IN TANK AND AFTER CAR WARMED UP IT CRANKED. ALSO THE HORN IS HARD TO LOCATE IN AN EMERGENCY EVENT.
WHILE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ON CONSUMER NOTICED FUMES INSIDE OF VEHICLE. TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES. AIR SCOOP TO COOL ENGINE SCRAPES GROUND, ALSO LETS FUMES AND HEAT FROM ENGINE IN CAR. *AK *ML
MY HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE. THEY HAVE TOO NARROW A BEAM, ESPECIALLY IN THE VERTICAL AXIS. *AK
THE DRIVER GETS DISTORTED VISIBILITY BECAUSE INSTRUMENT PANEL REFLECTS ON THE WINDSHIELD. YH
WINDOWS FOG UP TOO EASILY, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. 2. NO INSULATION IN FIREWALL, CAUSING LOUD ROAD NOISE , AND DISTRACTING THE DRIVER. *AK
CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH RECALL PROCEDURE AND REPAIR (99V-170), DEALERSHIP PROBLEM. *MJS
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.