IllustrationNO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR RECALL 99V170 FOR THE ABS MOTOR WHICH MAY SHORT AND RESULT IN A UNDERHOOD FIRE. NLM
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 reportsWIND DEFLECTOR ATTACHED TO BOTTOM OF VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TOO LOW CAUSING CHAFFING ON ROAD SURFACE OCCASIONALLY. MJS
THIS CUSTOMER WAS NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BEFORE PURCHASE. THIS CAR IS "UNSAFE " TO DRIVE. THE WHY'S ARE LISTED BELOW. MYM BASIC COMPLAINT IS THE CONSTANT ANNOYING REFLECTIONS IN THE WINDSHIELD AND EVEN MAKES IT DIFFERCULT TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS. SOME OF MY EXP…
Read full complaint
THIS CUSTOMER WAS NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BEFORE PURCHASE. THIS CAR IS "UNSAFE " TO DRIVE. THE WHY'S ARE LISTED BELOW. MYM BASIC COMPLAINT IS THE CONSTANT ANNOYING REFLECTIONS IN THE WINDSHIELD AND EVEN MAKES IT DIFFERCULT TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS. SOME OF MY EXPERIENCES AND EXAMPLES. STOPPING AND CROSSING A ELEVATED RAILROAD TRACKS. VERY DIFFERCULT TO DISTINGUISH A HOROZONTAL REFERENCE LINE RELATED TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND THE HOROZONTAL LINE ON THE WINDSHIELD IN THE BOTTOM THIRD OF THE WINDSHIELD RESULTING FROM THE REFLECTION OFF THE TOP OF THE LARGE DASHBOARD SURFACE. CONSTRUCTION CONES LOCATED ALONG THE SIDE OF ROADWAY, DIFERCULT TO DISTINGUISH THEIR ASSIGNED LOCATIONS. WHEN USING FULL DEPTH OF THE SUN VISOR, YOUR ONE THIRD SEE THRU AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD IS CONTAMINATED WITH THE FULL ANNOYING REFLECTIONS FROM THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD. IN NY STATE, THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION, AND THE INSPECTION CERTIFICATE MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THESE TWO STICKERS COVER A 7X3 INCH SURFACE AREA. DURING THE DAYLITE HOURS DRIVING, THE REFLECTION FROM THE 7X3 INCH STICKERS IS FURTHER ENLARGED ONTO THE CORNER OF WINDSHIELD AS A LARGE BLACK AREA, RESULTING IN FURTHER LOSS OF SAFE DRIVING WINDSHIELD VISIABILTY SEEING AREA. *AK
THE WAY THE HORN IS ASSEMBLED MAKES IT HARD TO PRESS. WHEN BEING PRESSED, IT MUST BE PRESSED VERY HARD TO GET IT TO SOUND. DEALER HAS BENN CONTACTED. *AK
THE FRONT AIR DAM SCRAPED THE GROUND AND FELL OFF. YH
NO SUMMARY
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE SIDE OF SEARS BUILDING. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES, AND COVER FROM PASSENGER'S SIDE CAUSED FRONT WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK
DASHBOARD IS CONSTRUCTED OF A SHINNY VINYL MATERIAL WHICH REFLECTS ONTO WINDSHIELD CREATING POOR VISIBILITY. MJS
BUICK DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE THAT SUCH A FAILURE COULD BE LIFE THREATENING.
AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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.