NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
235 reportsMileage 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
98,400 miles · Aug 25, 2014
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE IGNITION, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,400. UPDATED 10/0…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE IGNITION, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,400. UPDATED 10/07/14*LJ UPDATED 3/24/2015 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10627993
150 miles · May 26, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I NEVER WAS INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS ON MY 1999 BUICK CENTURY. NOW I SEE ALL THE ADVERTISEMENTS ON TELEVISION, IN THE PAPER, ONLINE THAT THE CAR CAN BURN UP. BRAKES, STEERING, IGNITION. WHICH WAS REPAIRED FOR 400 DOLLARS. MY ENGINE WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY, AND THEY CAN'T FIND WHAT'S GOING ON. ONCE, IT JUST COMPLETELY ST…
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I NEVER WAS INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS ON MY 1999 BUICK CENTURY. NOW I SEE ALL THE ADVERTISEMENTS ON TELEVISION, IN THE PAPER, ONLINE THAT THE CAR CAN BURN UP. BRAKES, STEERING, IGNITION. WHICH WAS REPAIRED FOR 400 DOLLARS. MY ENGINE WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY, AND THEY CAN'T FIND WHAT'S GOING ON. ONCE, IT JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED.
NHTSA ODI #10594028
39,847 miles · Nov 15, 2013
EngineService BrakesSteering
WHEN TO COURT ON 11/12/13. WAS TOLD IF I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR I WOULD GET CHARGED STORAGE. WENT TO THE GARAGE WERE THE CAR WAS. AT THE COURT HOUSE WAS TOLD CAR NEEDS ROTORS. THEY TOOK THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND PARKED IT RUNNING. I GOT IN IT STEPPED ON THE PEDAL AND IT WENT DOWN ON THE FLOOR WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT ON. HAD TO GE…
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
NHTSA ODI #10552512
122,248 miles · Sep 5, 2013
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEAD LIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THEM BACK ON BUT THEY WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HEAD LIGHT FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THEM BACK ON BUT THEY WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,248. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10542136
137,549 miles · Aug 9, 2013
EnginePower Train
AS THE 3RD OWNER OF A 1999 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED I DID A THOROUGH SEARCH OF CARS HISTORY AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS UNTIL TODAY 8 9 2013 WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR RADIATOR HOSE CHANGE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH AND OIL CHANGE WHICH LATER WAS TOLD ALLTHEY COULD DO WAS THE TRANNY FLUSH BECAUSE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK WHICH IM HEARING …
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AS THE 3RD OWNER OF A 1999 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED I DID A THOROUGH SEARCH OF CARS HISTORY AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS UNTIL TODAY 8 9 2013 WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR RADIATOR HOSE CHANGE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH AND OIL CHANGE WHICH LATER WAS TOLD ALLTHEY COULD DO WAS THE TRANNY FLUSH BECAUSE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK WHICH IM HEARING IS A HUGE 3.1 GM ENGINE PROBLEM. UPPON CALLING THE FORMER OWNER SHE INFORMED ME THAT AT 50,000 IT WAS REPLACED AND AGAIN AT 108,765 MILES. IT NOW HAS 137549 MILES AND IY HAS AGAIN TAKEN A DUMP I HEAR A COOLANT TYPE CONVERSION CAN HELP MY $700.00 PROBLEM. IM OUTRAGED THAT A CAR IN THIS GOOD OF CARE IS A BIG DISASTER. RECALL IS NEEDED & I SHOULDA KEPT MY 92 CENTURY WITH THE 3.3 V6 IT HAD 374,988 MILES AT TRADE IN & STILL RAN AWESOME:{ IM SO UNHAPPY WITH THIS CAR I AM READY TO FIX IT AND TRADE IT OFF FOR A FORD LOL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10534572
62,000 miles · May 22, 2013
Service Brakes
WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 YOUNG BOYS, NEEDED TO STOP AND THE BRAKES BECAME VERY SPONGY. PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND A BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10513206
Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2012
Electrical SystemFire
I'VE HAD MY BUICK CENTURY FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS NOW, OVER THE YEARS THE QUALITY OF MY CAR HAS SERIOUSLY DETERIORATED. MOST OF MY PROBLEMS ARE ELECTRICAL. WHEN I START MY CAR - NOT ONLY DOES IT LIKE TO TRY AND START ON IT'S OWN WHEN I PUT MY KEY INTO ACCESSORY (BATTERY MODE). THIS HAS MADE ME GO THROUGH ABOUT 3 STARTERS INCLUDING…
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I'VE HAD MY BUICK CENTURY FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS NOW, OVER THE YEARS THE QUALITY OF MY CAR HAS SERIOUSLY DETERIORATED. MOST OF MY PROBLEMS ARE ELECTRICAL. WHEN I START MY CAR - NOT ONLY DOES IT LIKE TO TRY AND START ON IT'S OWN WHEN I PUT MY KEY INTO ACCESSORY (BATTERY MODE). THIS HAS MADE ME GO THROUGH ABOUT 3 STARTERS INCLUDING IT'S ORIGINAL, BUT ONCE IT HAS STARTED I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO POWER. EVENTUALLY IT WILL COME ON. DURING THE SUMMER WITH THE HEAT IT SEEMS LIKE IT NEVER WANTS TO WORK. IT WILL USUALLY START WITH NO PROBLEMS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. BUT NOW WITH WINTER COMING I AM SEEING THAT ELECTRICAL ISSUES ARE CONTINUING, WHEREAS THE ELECTRICITY DOES NOT COME ON. I HAVE NO RADIO, NO SPEEDOMETER, NO GAS, NO MILEAGE, NOTHING. MY HEAT IS ALSO NOT COMING ON. THE FUSE BOX SWITCH SEEMS TO BE BLOWN OR SOMETHING EVERY FUSE THAT GOES INTO THE FUSE SOCKET FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR OR RELAY POPS AND NO LONGER WORKS. ALONG WITH THIS I HAD A FUSE FIRE IN MY CAR (I THINK). IT HAPPENED IN MY DOOR WHEN I WAS ROLLING MY WINDOWS DOWN ONE DAY. EVER SINCE THEN MY WINDOWS DO NOT WORK THE SAME, AND OVER TIME THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. I'VE CHANGED THE CONTROLLER TWICE AND IT DOESN'T WORK. ALONG WITH THE WINDOW ISSUES- WHEN MY CONTROLLER DID WORK- MY WINDOWS LIKED TO GET STUCK. YOU COULD ROLL THEM DOWN BUT THEY WOULD NOT COME BACK UP. ONE WINTER I WAS DRIVING HOME I HAD AN HOUR LONG DRIVE AND 5 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW ROLLED DOWN ALL ON ITS OWN AND WAS STUCK. LUCKILY IT WAS JUST VERY COLD AND NOT SNOWING. ALL OF THESE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ADDING ON OVER THE YEARS. THE FIRST PROBLEM THAT I EVER HAD WAS THE FUSE FIRE IN MY WINDOW. MY NEXT ISSUE OF CONCERN IS THE FLOODING THAT IS HAPPENING IN MY CAR. IT ONLY OCCURS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR ON THE FLOOR. THERE SEEMS TO BE ABSOLUTELY NO SOURCE FOR WHERE THIS WATER IS COMING FROM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10484029
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2012
EngineUnknown Or Other
CPSC# I1280196A. 1999 BUICK CENTURY. CONSUMER GOT AN ENGINE FOR HIS CAR. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VERY DAY HE PURCHASED THE ENGINE AND HAD IT INSTALLED, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE EGR VALVE. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE EGR VALVE. HOWEVER, THE E…
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CPSC# I1280196A. 1999 BUICK CENTURY. CONSUMER GOT AN ENGINE FOR HIS CAR. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VERY DAY HE PURCHASED THE ENGINE AND HAD IT INSTALLED, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE EGR VALVE. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE EGR VALVE. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE TECHNICIAN WHO INSTALLED THE ENGINE, STATED THE CYLINDER HEADS WERE DAMAGED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10476221
150 miles · May 21, 2011
Steering
VEHICLE HAS 150,000 MILES. SUDDENLY THE CAR HAS DIFFICULTY MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS. NOW WHEN TURNING LEFT THE POWER ASSIST FAILS, AND IT FEELS AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED UP, BUT YOU CAN FORCE THE WHEEL FURTHER LEFT IF YOU TRY, BUT IT IS VERY HARD TO DO. IF YOU AREN'T PREPARED FOR IT YOU COULD EASILY GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.…
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VEHICLE HAS 150,000 MILES. SUDDENLY THE CAR HAS DIFFICULTY MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS. NOW WHEN TURNING LEFT THE POWER ASSIST FAILS, AND IT FEELS AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED UP, BUT YOU CAN FORCE THE WHEEL FURTHER LEFT IF YOU TRY, BUT IT IS VERY HARD TO DO. IF YOU AREN'T PREPARED FOR IT YOU COULD EASILY GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. BUT SOMETIME AS YOU FORCE THE WHEEL LEFT, THE RESISTANCE WILL SUDDENLY DISAPPEAR AND THE CAR WILL JERK TO THE LEFT. TURNING RIGHT IMMEDIATELY RETURNS NORMAL POWER ASSIST, UNTIL A LEFT TURN IS ATTEMPTED. NO FLUID IS LEAKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402290
Official recalls
3Aug 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.
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.
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 ↗