Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 1996.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model 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 Century | 235 | 3 |
| 1998 Century | 218 | 2 |
| 1997 Century | 106 | 2 |
| 1996 Century | 80 | 1 |
| 1995 Century | 99 | 1 |
| 1994 Century | 106 | 6 |
| 1993 Century | 54 | 2 |
| 1992 Century | 45 | 3 |
| 1991 Century | 38 | 2 |
| 1990 Century | 33 | 2 |
| 1989 Century | 40 | 1 |
| 1988 Century | 16 | 3 |
| 1987 | 28 | 0 |
| 1986 Century | 22 | 2 |
| 1985 | 7 | 0 |
| 1984 Century | 8 | 3 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | 3 | 2 |
| 1981 | 1 | 3 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Engine and engine cooling249
- Service brakes, hydraulic227
- Electrical system220
- Exterior lighting175
- Power train167
- Steering158
- Visibility157
- Vehicle speed control116
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 279 Century vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 216 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 17 | 14 |
| 2004 | 25 | 18 |
| 2003 | 63 | 50 |
| 2002 | 46 | 33 |
| 2001 | 26 | 19 |
| 2000 | 26 | 22 |
| 1999 | 24 | 18 |
| 1998 | 21 | 18 |
| 1997 | 5 | 4 |
| 1996 | 8 | 7 |
| 1995 | 4 | 4 |
| 1994 | 3 | 2 |
| 1993 | 2 | 2 |
| 1992 | 2 | 1 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 1 |
| 1989 | 2 | 2 |
| 1987 | 1 | 1 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 11 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 9.9–11.8 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.2 | 8.6 | 11.1 |
| 2004 | Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.2 | 8.6 | 11.1 |
| 2003 | Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.0 | 9.0 | 11.2 |
| 2002 | Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.2 | 9.0 | 11.3 |
| 2001 | Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.0 | 9.0 | 11.2 |
| 2000 | Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.1 | 8.7 | 11.1 |
| 1999 | Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 8.8 | 11.3 |
| 1998 | Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 9.3 | 11.8 |
| 1997 | Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 8.9 | 11.4 |
| 1996 | Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.9 | 9.3 | 11.8 |
| 1995 | Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.3 | 8.2 | 9.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
35 Century cars are on the New Zealand register; 89% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1977 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1958 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 1957 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1956 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 1955 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1954 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
34 campaigns cover the Century; the latest 12 are below.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH SUNVISOR LOCATED AIR BAG LABELS, FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A MESSAGE AREA LESS THAN 30 CM WHICH DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE DRIVER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG INFLATOR SEPARATES FROM THE AIR BAG MODULE DURING DEPLOYMENT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE CLAMP THAT SECURES THE FLEXIBLE FUEL FILL HOSE TO THE METAL FILL TUBE MAY BE LOOSE AND COULD SEPARATE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR DRUM BRAKES. THE BOLT HEAD(S) ON THE REAR SPINDLE ROD CAN SEPARATE.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY STOP WORKING DUE TO A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE DRIVE PIN AND CRESCENT IN THE CRANK ARM ASSEMBLY.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OWNER MANUALS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIREMENT INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING DEVICE. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH REAR OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES THAT MAY NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."
THE RIGHT HAND SPINDLE NUT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY. THIS CAN CAUSE PREMATURE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AND OVER TIME, THE SPINDLE CAN FRACTURE.
NHTSA recalls