Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
80–25K
2225–50K
3250–75K
1675–100K
9100–150K
6150K+
93 reports with mileage · 100 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.
Power Train. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
193 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
2 DEFECTIVE ENGINES(REPLACED) 1ST AT 1500 MI. 2ND AT 2784MI. STILL ENGINE MISSES STALLS. NHTSA PROVIDED TO US CAMPAIGN R#00V143000 THAT BUICK CENTURIES HAVE REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS AND G.M. WOULD RECALL STARTING JULY 2000--G.M. TELLS US NO RECALLS INVOVLING OUR VEHICLE--IT WAS BUILT 11/99 IN OSHAWA CANADA--PLEASE STRAIGHTEN US OUT …
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2 DEFECTIVE ENGINES(REPLACED) 1ST AT 1500 MI. 2ND AT 2784MI. STILL ENGINE MISSES STALLS. NHTSA PROVIDED TO US CAMPAIGN R#00V143000 THAT BUICK CENTURIES HAVE REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS AND G.M. WOULD RECALL STARTING JULY 2000--G.M. TELLS US NO RECALLS INVOVLING OUR VEHICLE--IT WAS BUILT 11/99 IN OSHAWA CANADA--PLEASE STRAIGHTEN US OUT ON THIS--IS /IS NOT A NY RECALL ON OUR VEHICLE
NHTSA ODI #734742
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Visibility
WHEN THE REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN THEY CAUSE A LOUD SHAKING NOISE. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #556127
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
ABS PROBLEMS: WHEN MAKING AN EMERGENCY STOP AT 15 MPH BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE JUST DIDN'T STOP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO BACK OF A WORK TRUCK. IT HAD JUST STARTED DRIZZLING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS CAUSED $1,202.00 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETE…
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ABS PROBLEMS: WHEN MAKING AN EMERGENCY STOP AT 15 MPH BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE JUST DIDN'T STOP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO BACK OF A WORK TRUCK. IT HAD JUST STARTED DRIZZLING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS CAUSED $1,202.00 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #871740
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2000
Visibility
WHEN EITHER OR BOTH OF BACK POWER WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN, IT VIBRATES THE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE EXCESSIVELY. ALSO, IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 2 TIMES, AND AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #870915
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2000
Tires
ORIGINAL TIRES ON A BUICK, CENTURY, 2000 , TIRE SIZE P20570R15. TIRE TREAD HAS TORN AND STARTED TO SEPARATE. *AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #870872
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2000
Visibility
WHEN THE REAR WINDOWS OF A BUICK CENTURY ARE WIDE OPEN AND THE FRONT WINDOWS CLOSED, THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY, TO THE EXTENT OF CAUSING PANIC. WE TRIED FIRST ONE WINDOW AND THEN THE OTHER, FINALLY BOTH TOGETHER, AND THE VIOLENT SHAKING CONTINUED. IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THIS CAR EVEN FOR A FEW MINUTES UNDER THESE CONDITI…
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WHEN THE REAR WINDOWS OF A BUICK CENTURY ARE WIDE OPEN AND THE FRONT WINDOWS CLOSED, THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY, TO THE EXTENT OF CAUSING PANIC. WE TRIED FIRST ONE WINDOW AND THEN THE OTHER, FINALLY BOTH TOGETHER, AND THE VIOLENT SHAKING CONTINUED. IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THIS CAR EVEN FOR A FEW MINUTES UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. THE SALESMAN EVEN TOOK OUT A BRAND NEW CAR AND IT ACTED THE SAME. I HAVE ASKED FRIENDS WHO HAVE A BUICK CENTURY TO VERIFY MY DESCRIPTION, AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME REACTION. WHEN I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, I WAS TOLD IT WAS A DESIGN FAULT AND BASICALLY TOLD TO LIVE WITH IT.
NHTSA ODI #730845
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash
CONSUMER DRIVING DOWN ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE JUST DIED, CAUSING IT TO RUN OFF THE ROAD AND INTO SOME TREES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #870061
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE WOULD STARTE TO SMOKE. SMELLED LIKE OIL BURNING. EVERYONE WOULD BECOME NAUSEOUS & SICK. TOOK TO DEALER & NOTHING COULD BE FOUND THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS A DAILY PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #868493
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Power Train
SHIFT GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE. WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING PLACED INTO GEAR, THIS PRESENTES A PROBLEM. CONSUMER THOUGHT VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, BUT IT WAS IN REVERSE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH SUNVISOR LOCATED AIR BAG LABELS, FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A MESSAGE AREA LESS THAN 30 CM WHICH DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.
Remedy: GM WILL MAIL A NEW BILINGUAL AIR BAG LABEL WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, THE CUSTOMER MAY BRING THE LABEL TO THEIR DEALER FOR INSTALLATION FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537 OR BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE DRIVER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG INFLATOR SEPARATES FROM THE AIR BAG MODULE DURING DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE INFLATOR SEPARATES, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY DURING A CRASH AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION WOULD BE REDUCED. IF IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT A SEPARATED INFLATOR COULD BE PROPELLED DOWNWARD AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO A REAR SEAT PASSENGER WHOSE FOOT IS POSITIONED APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE INFLATOR MODULE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG MODULE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
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