1999 Buick CENTURY: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001829 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
CONSUMER EXPERIENCES POOR VISIBILITY THROUGH WINDSHIELD ,ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT TIME AND DURING RAIN. WHEN HEADLIGHTS SHINE ONTO WINDSHIELD VIEW BECOMES OPAQUE , AND CONSUMER CAN OT SEE CENTER OR EDGE LINES ON THE ROAD. TS....*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002473 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE SEIZED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM *DT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003583 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (LOWER) FAILURE
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004029 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
THE TIRES WERE REMOVED DUE TO CRACKING IN THE SIDEWALLS. THE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED. TIRES ARE GENERAL AMERI G4S. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007234 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007851 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
POWER WINDOWS FAIL AND WILL "GO DOWN" WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOWS AS THEY ARE "OFF THE TRACK". THIS THE 4TH WINDOW THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THE 3RD HAPPENED 4 DAYS PRIOR TO THE 4TH. THE 1ST AND 2ND HAPPENED SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE. REPAIRS ARE OVER $425.00 PER WINDW. I HAD BEEN INFORMED THEY ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAD PURCHASED. AT THIS TIME ALL 4 WINDOW HAVE FAILED. TWO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT MY COST. THE OTHER TWO I AM NOT ABLE TO REPAIR AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE EXPENSE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007851 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 10011118 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD.*JB VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD BUILDS UP A FILM MAKING IT HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE OUT OF.*MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011118 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V375000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 2004-08-10 (August 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V170000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 1999-07-09 (July 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V356000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 1999-12-17 (December 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗