1999 Buick CENTURY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
201 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
56,558 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 102 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 201 complaints (8.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 34 | 16.9% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 7.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 3.5% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 17 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 15 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 8 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 17; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 15; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 26 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 99 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 32 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 30 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 32; 2001: 18; 2002: 21; 2003: 30; 2004: 32; 2005: 10; 2006: 13; 2007: 7; 2008: 8; 2009: 3; 2010: 6; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 2; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 4; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10032614 · 2003-08-12 (August 12, 2003)
ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM HEATS UP, THE BRAKE LINE HEATS AND MELTS, CAUSING THE NO FLUID TO BRAKING SYSTEM. BRAKES ARE NOW DAMAGED TO POINT OF TOTAL REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF APPROX. $1,000.00. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041034 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND WAS JUST RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN THE CAR LUNGED VIOLENTLY FORWARD AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO ANY THING EXPECT A REFLEX TO TURN THE WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING THE BUILDING HEAD-ON. THE CAR SCRAPED THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING ONLY STOPPING WHEN IT HIT A VAN. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED MOVING, I PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGINITION. THE IMPACT WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. MY FEET WERE NOT ON THE BRAKE OR GAS WHEN …
Owner-reported narrative. 38,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041034 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039428 · 2003-09-24 (September 24, 2003)
MY 1999 BUICK CENTURY HAS A STEERING PROBLEM, MY LOCAL DEALER (DEWEY GRIFFIN) TOLD ME SO WHAT! THAT''S JUST THE WAY IT IS! I WON'T LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT ON THE FREEWAY OR LEAVE TOWN BECAUSE I FEEL IT'S UNSAFE.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042903 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE OWNER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. WHEN THE DRIVER MADE A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 12,430 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054356 · 2004-01-17 (January 17, 2004)
BATTERY WENT DEAD IN CAR, 1999 IN BUICK CENTURY ON 11-10-03. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. DUAL AC IN VEHICLE THEN BLEW COLD ON PASSENGER SIDE BUT NOT THE DRIVER'S SIDE. BROUGHT TO SHOP. COMPUTER WAS RESET SINCE VENTS WERE STICKING BUT PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. PART REPLACED COST $646.07. PROBLEM NOTED IN TSB BULLETIN # 02-01-39-001. CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT COST THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AN ADDITIONAL $646.00 EACH TIME THE BATTERY DIES TO HAVE AC WORK PROPERLY. SINCE TSB BULLETIN LISTED THE PROBLEM ALREADY, GMC BUICK SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR INFERIOR W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074566 · 2004-05-31 (May 31, 2004)
CHILD DOOR ELECTRIC LOCK ROCK SWITCH BROKE RETAINER CLIPS. UNABLE TO LOCK OUT REAR DOORS. HIGH BEAM SWITCH CLICKER BROKEN. NOT ABLE TO KEEP HIGH BEAMS ON WITHOUT HOLDING FLASH LEVER UP. BODY TO TRUNK LID TAIL LIGHT WIRING HARNESS BROKEN WIRE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009014 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154944 · 2006-04-10 (April 10, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A FAULTY CAM SHAFT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031070 · 2003-08-08 (August 8, 2003)
UNSURE IF THIS IS AN ACTUAL SAFETY PROBLEM BUT IT RELATES TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR OUR 1999 BUICK CENTURY. SINCE THE PROBLEM COULD RENDER THE CAR UNABLE TO MOVE AT ANY TIME, I WOULD CLASSIFY IT AS A SAFETY PROBLEM. OUR SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A FEW MILES BACK. WE CHECKED EVERYTHING WE COULD AND FINALLY HAD THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE SERVICE CODE MEANT THAT A TRANSMISSION COMPONENT WAS SLIPPING. I FIND THAT VERY TROUBLING SINCE THE CAR HAS ONLY 44,011 MILES. WE WERE ALSO TOLD BY THE SAME SERVICE CENTER THAT A 200…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,995 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392903 · 2011-03-25 (March 25, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACK OFF WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ABS SENSOR AND OTHER WIRES WERE BOUND BY ELECTRICAL TAPE AND THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE MISSING PLUGS WHICH PREVENTED WATER FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. BOTH THE BRAKE LINE AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE LEAKING FLUIDS. THERE WAS A HOLE IN TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031382 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP AT 31000 MILES. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WITHOUT A WARRANTY. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. *TS *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 31,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10076138 · 2004-06-14 (June 14, 2004)
THE GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. IT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS MORE GAS THAN WHAT WAS REALLY IN THE GAS TANK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10076138 at NHTSA ↗