IllustrationTHE BLACK PLASTIC AIR DEFLECTOR UNDER THE FRONT BUMPER COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. 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 reportsTHE PLASTIC AIR DEFLECTOR THAT HANGS BEHIND AND BELOW THE FRONT BUMPER TOUCHES THE GROUND IN ALL DRIVEWAYS. CONSUMER BELIEVES IT'S TOO LOW. NLM
WITH VEHICLE PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE CONSUMER PLACED LEVER INTO REVERSE, INSTEAD OF GOING BACKWARDS THE VEHICLE ROLLS FORWARD UNTIL CONSUMER PUT FOOT ON GAS PEDAL TO REVERSE.
LIGHTS ARE TOO DIM TO DRIVE AT NIGHT GOING 55 MPH. *MJS
VEHICLE DRIFTS FORWARD WHEN IN REVERSE AND WHEN BACKING UP AN INCLINE WITH FOOT ON OR OFF THE ACCELERATOR, DEALER INDICATED CONDITION WAS NORMAL. NLM
STRONG FUMES ENTER VEHICLE CAUSING BURNING EYES, NOSE, HEADACHES, STOMACH PAINS, NAUSEA, SPACY FEELING, BODY ACHES, EXTREME FATIGUE, SHORTNESS OF BREATH AND BLURRED VISION. (POTENTIAL EXHAUST PROBLEM) *MJS
HORN IS DIFFICULT TO SOUND AND SOMETIMES THE FIRST ATTEMPT FAILS, DESIGN FLAW. *MJS
THE REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD IS BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VIEW ESPECIALLY WHEN FACING SUN LIGHT. YH
OIL/FILTER HAD BEEN CHANGED, LOSE OIL, RETURN TO DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD FILTER, THEY NO DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE TO THE ENGINE. *AK
I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE & WAS JUST READY TO COMPLETE BRAKE AND TURN OFF ENGINE WHEN MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD AS THOUGH THE GAS WAS FLOORED. IT WAS SO FAST I COULD DO NOTHING! THE CAR WENT BARRELING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING SCRAPING THE WALL & ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A PARKED CAR. THIS CAR DID THIS ALL ON IT'S OWN. NOW I…
Read full complaint
I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE & WAS JUST READY TO COMPLETE BRAKE AND TURN OFF ENGINE WHEN MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD AS THOUGH THE GAS WAS FLOORED. IT WAS SO FAST I COULD DO NOTHING! THE CAR WENT BARRELING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING SCRAPING THE WALL & ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A PARKED CAR. THIS CAR DID THIS ALL ON IT'S OWN. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WHEN IT GETS OUT OF REPAIR (GIUFFRE BUICK). THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING BUT I FOUND A COMPLAINT JUST LIKE IT ON YOUR SITE. *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.