Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Buick Century, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling55
- Visibility29
- Service brakes, hydraulic25
- Exterior lighting24
- Air bags15
- Electrical system15
- Vehicle speed control14
- Steering13
- Unknown or other13
- Power train11
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 18 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 24 1999 Century vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 18 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 Buick Century failed the safety check 2.74% of the time — 56% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 91,429 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 11.3 L/100 km (about 21 mpg US), CO₂ 260 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 8.8 | 11.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1999 Buick Century.
| 2004287 11 Aug 2004 | Lights And Instruments Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 108. Some of these vehicles do not meet the overhead sign illumination requirements in the Standa… |
| 2000003 5 Jan 2000 | Lights And Instruments Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 108 - Lighting Equipment and Retroreflective Devices. The vertical vehicle headlamp aiming device… |
| 1999136 26 Jul 1999 | Electrical Certain vehicles with the key in the "ON" position, may exhibit a condition in which the ABS motor shorts to its case and grounds through a flexible brake pipe.… |
| 1998193 28 Sept 1998 | Engine Certain vehicles may be equipped with ignition coil/control module assemblies that were incorrectly manufactured and may result in setting the SES light and cau… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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: 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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Buick told its dealers about the 1999 Buick Century: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636650 | SUBJECT REGARDING CARPET PULLING OUT FROM UNDER FROM THE REAR DOOR SILL PLATE, LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE. *TT |
| 636558 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE PRINDLE DISPLAY IS NOT LEGIBLE WHEN MOVING FORM A DARK AREA TO A LIGHTED AREA, WHEN THEVHECLE IS STARTED INSIDE A GARAGE, THE HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED ON AUTOMATICALLY AND THEN THE VEHICLE IS BACKED INTO THE SUNLIGHT. *TT |
| 636475 | INFORMATION ON REFINISHING ALUMINUM WHEELS. *TT |
| 636448 | VEHICLES WITH THE CJ2 AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONING AND WITHOUT THE U20 CLUSTER WHICH IS THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER AND THE CJ2 AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONER DISPLAYS THE CELSIUS AND NOT FAHRENHEIT. *TT |
| 634927 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON TILT STEERING COLUMN STICKING IN PSOTION AND UNABLE TO RELEASE. *TT |
| 634917 | CONCERNS WITH TILT SETTERING COLUMN STICKING IN POSITION AND UNABLE TO RELEASE. *TT |
| 634911 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON TWO DIFFERENT CONDITIONS WITH THE TILT STEERING COLUMN STICKING THE EXTREME UP POSITION AND / OR STICKING IN THE NO.4 POSITION. *TT |
| 634813 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A REPEAT ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. *TT |
| 634708 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 631274 | SUBJECT REGARDING VARIOUS DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES SEAT, ENGINE WILL NOT START. *SLC |
| 631232 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON THE TIME IT TAKES THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR GLASS TO DEFOG. *SLC |
| 629556 | SUBJECT REGARDING FALSE TIRE INFLATION MONITOR SYSTEM (TIM) MESSAGE/LAMO ILLUMINATION (INSTALL NEW ELECTRONIC BRAKE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE- EBTCM).*JG |
| 629522 | SUBJECT REGARDING HVAC TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE SIDE TO SIDE AND/OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES B0361, B0441 SET. *TT |
| 628877 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE CARPETING IS SEPARATING FROM, OR COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE REAR DOOR OPENING SILL PLATE MOLDING. *TT |
| 628867 | SUBJECT REGARDING HEAD RESTRAINT HEIGHT INCREASES DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. *TT |
| 628864 | SUBJECT REGARDING HEIGHT RESTRAINT HEIGHT INCREASES DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. *TT |
| 628826 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON WIND NOISE OR A WHISTLE AROUND THE MIRRORS ON THE FRONT DOORS. *TT |
| 628085 | CONCERNS WHERE THE CARPET PULLS OUT FROM UNDER THE SILL PLATE ON THE LEFT OR RIGHT REAR FOOT WELL AREA. *TT |
| 627977 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING WIND NOISE FROM THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR AREA. *TT |
| 627651 | INFORMATION REGARDING FALSE TIRE INFLATION MONITOR SYSTEM. *YH |
| 627538 | INFORMATION REGARDING ITCHING TYPE NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. *YH |
| 625325 | INFORMATION REGARDING A CLUNK OR POP NOISE IN THE LEFT FRONT FOOT WELL AREA. *YH |
| 624068 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE POWER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK OR OPERATES SLOWLY. *TT |
| 623615 | INFORMATION REGARDING EXTRA CLIPS IN THE 4T65E TRANSMISSION. *SLC |
| 623403 | THIS BULLETIN IS BEING ISSUED TO REVISE THE FASTENER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE CALIPER BRACKET REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES IN THE DISC-BRAKE SUB-SECTION OF BRAKES IN THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE MANUAL. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)