1999 Buick Century Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Century years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 235 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Buick Century. That is the most of any Century model year in the database (11 years). The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (55 complaints, 23%), typically at around 52,900 miles. Complaints mention 18 crashes, 4 fires, 18 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 235owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 18complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 Buick Century problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 55 | 23% | 52,900 | “intake manifold” (35%) | $1,150 |
| Visibility | 29 | 12% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 25 | 11% | 53,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 24 | 10% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 15 | 6% | 66,400 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 15 | 6% | 69,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 6% | 95,494 | — | — |
| Steering | 13 | 6% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 13 | 6% | 35,027 | — | — |
| Power Train | 11 | 5% | 50,248 | — | — |
| Suspension | 10 | 4% | 39,847 | — | — |
| Structure | 9 | 4% | 58,250 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 | 3% | 54,189 | — | — |
| Tires | 8 | 3% | 39,042 | — | — |
| Engine | 6 | 3% | 88,988 | — | — |
| Equipment | 6 | 3% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 2% | 100,200 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1% | 44,569 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1% | 50,924 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | 78,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Buick Century recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: 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.
Risk: Less illumination may reduce the ability of the driver to read overhead signs when driving at night.
Fix: 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.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: 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.
Risk: Driver visibility may be impaired increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners will be provided with an owner's manual insert containing instructions for optically aiming the headlamps.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will install a ground cable from the electronic brake control module (ebcm) to the engine compartment body rail.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
DEC 17,1999 MANUFACTURER RECALL [redacted] NHTSA RECALL [redacted] 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…
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…
1) NEED HEADLIGHT ADJUSTMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR A KNOWN RECALL. 2) EVERY DOOR WINDOW MOTOR IN THE BUICK FAILED ON EACH WINDOW PREVENTING THE WINDOWS FROM LOWERING IF IN THE UP POSITION OR PREVENTED THE WINDOWS FROM RAISING IF IN A LOWERED POSITION. THE WINDOWS HAD TO BE DUCT TAPED SHUT IN ORDER TO…
Steering wheel locks up while making a turn
This morning i started my car to head to work, there was a whining noise and very hard to turn my steering wheel. As i backed up i noticed a leak onto the pavement. I purchased a bottle of power steering fluid with stop leak and put it in hoping that's what it needed. I continued my drive to work…
Other Buick Century years
← 1998 Century · 2000 Century →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Century | 19 | 0 |
| 2004 Century | 39 | 0 |
| 2003 Century | 127 | 0 |
| 2002 Century | 154 | 0 |
| 2001 Century | 145 | 3 |
| 2000 Century | 193 | 5 |
| 1999 | 235 | 3 |
| 1998 Century | 218 | 2 |
| 1997 Century | 106 | 2 |
| 1996 Century | 80 | 1 |
| 1995 Century | 99 | 1 |
See all Buick Century problems by year, every Buick model, or the Buick VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Buick Century?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, visibility, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 55 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Buick Century?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 Buick Century a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Century model years, the 1999 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.