Buick Century Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,415 owner complaints and 11 safety recalls on file for the Buick Century, across 11 model years (1995–2005). The 1999 model year has the most complaints (235). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Buick Century years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Century year: 1999. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1999 Century: 235 complaints, 3 recalls
- 1998 Century: 218 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2000 Century: 193 complaints, 5 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2005 Century: 19 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2004 Century: 39 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1996 Century: 80 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Buick Century problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 192 | 10 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 170 | 10 | 14 |
| Electrical System problems | 168 | 11 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 168 | 11 | 0 |
| Visibility problems | 148 | 11 | 0 |
| Power Train problems | 140 | 10 | 1 |
| Steering problems | 113 | 10 | 7 |
| Air Bags | 79 | 11 | 47 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 75 | 10 | 9 |
| Structure | 67 | 10 | 2 |
| Suspension | 60 | 10 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 54 | 10 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 49 | 11 | 1 |
| Tires | 37 | 10 | 1 |
| Engine | 32 | 8 | 0 |
| Equipment | 28 | 10 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 22 | 8 | 2 |
| Seats | 16 | 8 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 13 | 7 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 12 | 9 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 12 | 9 | 1 |
| Wheels | 12 | 6 | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Buick Century problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Buick Century model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Century | 19 | 0 | — | Exterior Lighting | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 Century | 39 | 0 | — | Exterior Lighting | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 Century | 127 | 0 | — | Exterior Lighting | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2002 Century | 154 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 2001 Century | 145 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2000 Century | 193 | 5 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Century | 235 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 Century | 218 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | More complaints than other years |
| 1997 Century | 106 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1996 Century | 80 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1995 Century | 99 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
More from Buick: all Buick models · Buick VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Buick Century years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1999 (235) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Century year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Buick Century?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 192 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the Buick Century have?
11 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.