Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Buick Century problems
Owners filed 241 complaints about the 1999 Buick Century with NHTSA between Feb 1999 and Feb 2018. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (56).
Complaints
241
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
18
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling56
- Visibility28
- Service brakes, hydraulic25
- Exterior lighting23
- Electrical system15
- Air bags15
- Vehicle speed control14
- Steering13
- Power train10
- Structure10
- Suspension9
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Tires8
- Engine6
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
34
34
18
21
31
32
12
13
8
8
3
6
2
2
4
2
5
1
4
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 34 |
| 2000 | 34 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 31 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
56 reports2 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED AND THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SMELL BURNING ANTIFREEZE. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,310.”
Visibility
28 reports
“INTERIOR REAR-VIEW MIRROR HAS DEVELOPED SOME KIND OF DARK BROWN OIL LEAK INSIDE THE (AUTO-DIMMING) MIRROR. IT HAS DECREASED VISIBILITY IN THE MIRROR TO NEARLY ZERO. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH THIS MIRROR SINCE IT IS ESSENTIALLY LIKE HAVING NO REAR-VIEW MIRROR. JUST TODAY I HAD TWO OR THREE NEAR-INCIDENTS ON ROADS I NEVER HAD A PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING OTHER CARS WHICH HAVE FUNCTIONING REAR-VIEW MIRRORS. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
25 reports3 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“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.”
Exterior lighting
23 reports2 related recalls
“DEC 17,1999 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERN990093 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER99V356 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY 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. SAFETY RISK DRIVER VISIBILITY MAY BE IMPAIRED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.”
Electrical system
15 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SHIFT GEAR BOARD AND ODOMETER LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOUNTAIN BUICK (8701 S ORANGE BLOSSOM TRAIL A, ORLANDO, FL 32809) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.”
Air bags
15 reports10 crashes
“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.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.