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Buick CenturyYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 1,817 NHTSA owner complaints across 33 model years, the Buick Century years to avoid are 1999, and the strongest years are 1987, 1990, 1991 and 2004. The Century has 55 safety recalls on record.

Buick Century
Years to avoid'99Use caution: 1994, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002Best years'87 '90 '91 '04Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints1,817Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls551973–2005 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Buick Century years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Century median. Tap a year for its full report.

'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2005Not rated–/10019 complaints · 0 recalls2004Best69/10039 complaints · 0 recalls2003Solid46/100127 complaints · 0 recalls2002Caution38/100154 complaints · 0 recalls2001Caution41/100145 complaints · 3 recalls2000Caution34/100193 complaints · 5 recalls1999Avoid28/100235 complaints · 3 recalls1998Caution32/100218 complaints · 2 recalls1997Solid50/100106 complaints · 2 recalls1996Solid53/10080 complaints · 1 recall1995Solid47/10099 complaints · 1 recall1994Caution38/100106 complaints · 6 recalls1993Solid52/10054 complaints · 2 recalls1992Solid59/10045 complaints · 3 recalls1991Solid66/10038 complaints · 2 recalls1990Best72/10033 complaints · 2 recalls1989Solid65/10040 complaints · 1 recall1988Not rated–/10016 complaints · 3 recalls1987Best77/10028 complaints · 0 recalls1986Not rated–/10022 complaints · 2 recalls1985Not rated–/1007 complaints · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1008 complaints · 3 recalls1983Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1981Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 5 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 6 recalls1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Buick Century problems

All model years combined: 1,817 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling24915
Service brakes, hydraulic22723
Electrical system21921
Exterior lighting1750
Power train1677
Steering15812
Visibility1575
Vehicle speed control11635
Air bags10672
22 other systems62153
55 recalls

Buick Century recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Exterior lighting: headlights04V-375 · 1999 · Aug 10, 2004 · 199,793 vehicles–Seat belts01V-109 · 2000–2001 · Apr 6, 2001 · 116,007 vehicles–Air bags: side/window00V-371 · 2000–2001 · Nov 13, 2000 · 12 vehicles–Seat belts00V-228 · 2000–2001 · Aug 7, 2000 · 156,305 vehicles–Tank assembly: filler pipe and cap00V-160 · 2000 · Jun 16, 2000 · 248 vehicles–Foundation components: drum00V-143 · 2000 · May 17, 2000 · 18,754 vehicles–Exterior lighting: headlights99V-356 · 1998–1999 · Dec 17, 1999 · 411,880 vehicles–Windshield wiper/washer: linkages99V-348 · 1997 · Dec 16, 1999 · 155,149 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip99V-170 · 1999 · Jul 9, 1999 · 168,559 vehicles–Exterior lighting: headlights98V-102 · 1997–1998 · May 15, 1998 · 149,342 vehicles–Front: anchorage95V-173 · 1989–1996 · Sep 15, 1995 · 2,216,325 vehicles–Spindle: arm94V-189 · 1994 · Oct 4, 1994 · 206 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 55 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

20 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Century

  1. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILUREEA03019 · 1997–1998 · closed Dec 18, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-527
  2. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURERQ03001 · 1997–1998 · closed Sep 15, 2003
    No recall
  3. ACCELERATOR CABLE DETACHES FROM THROTTLESQ00004 · 2000 · closed Jan 19, 2001
    No recall
  4. WINDSHIELD WIPEREA99024 · 1997–1998 · closed Jan 13, 2000
    No recall
  5. WINDSHIELD WIPERPE99028 · 1997–1998 · closed Aug 20, 1999
    No recall
  6. STICKING THROTTLEEA92024 · 1987–1991 · closed Jan 31, 1994
    No recall
  7. FRONT BRAKE DISC/HUB SEPPE91120 · 1986 · closed Nov 4, 1991
    No recall
  8. LOSS OF POWER STEERINGEA89026 · 1987 · closed Oct 9, 1990
    No recall
  9. POWER STEERING HOSE FAILSPE89105 · 1987 · closed Jun 12, 1989
    No recall
  10. STOP LAMPSPE89035 · 1988 · closed May 24, 1989
    No recall