Skip to content
VINDecoder360
Menu

NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–2005

Buick Century recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns and 1,415 owner complaints for the Buick Century, covering model years 1995 to 2005. The 1999 model year drew the most complaints (235), and Engine and Engine Cooling is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Buick Century VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 11 recall campaigns on file
  • 1,415 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 11 model years with data (1995–2005)
  • most complaints: 1999 (235 for that model year)
  • top component: Engine and Engine Cooling (192 complaints)
  • latest recall 04V375000 (reported Aug 10, 2004)
  • 85 complaints reporting a crash (6.0%)
  • 16 complaints reporting a fire (1.1%)
  • 64 complaints reporting an injury (4.5%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Buick Century complaints by model year

11 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1999 model year has the most complaints: 235 of 1,415, or 16.6%. Next come 1998 (218) and 2000 (193). The fewest are for 2005, with 19 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Buick Century owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 1995–2005Column chart of 1,415 complaints across 11 model years. The highest is 1999 with 235. The full figures are in the table below the chart.1995: 99 complaints9919951996: 80 complaints8019961997: 106 complaints10619971998: 218 complaints21819981999: 235 complaints23519992000: 193 complaints19320002001: 145 complaints14520012002: 154 complaints15420022003: 127 complaints12720032004: 39 complaints3920042005: 19 complaints192005
Buick Century complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Buick Century complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
19959910180
1996806160
19971064120
19982189070
1999235184130
2000193111100
20011459240
20021549470
20031274220
2004394040
2005191010
All model years1,4158516640

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Buick Century components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Engine and Engine Cooling is the component named most often, in 192 complaints (13.6% of all 1,415), followed by Service Brakes, Hydraulic (170) and Electrical System (168).

Components named most often in Buick Century complaints (top 15)
Components named most often in Buick Century complaints (top 15)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Engine and Engine Cooling19213.6%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic17012.0%
Electrical System16811.9%
Exterior Lighting16811.9%
Visibility14810.5%
Power Train1409.9%
Steering1138.0%
Air Bags795.6%
Vehicle Speed Control755.3%
Structure674.7%
Suspension604.2%
Unknown or Other553.9%
Seat Belts543.8%
Fuel System, Gasoline493.5%
Tires372.6%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Buick Century recalls

11 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Century, newest first. The 11 campaigns cover model years 1995 to 2001. The 2000 model year appears in the most campaigns (5).

  • 11 recall campaigns
Buick Century recall campaigns covering each model year
DecadeYears ending in 0Years ending in 1Years ending in 2Years ending in 3Years ending in 4Years ending in 5Years ending in 6Years ending in 7Years ending in 8Years ending in 9
1995: 1 campaign1996: 1 campaign1997: 2 campaigns1998: 2 campaigns1999: 3 campaigns
2000: 5 campaigns2001: 3 campaigns
Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

  1. NHTSA campaign 04V375000

    Reported

    Exterior Lighting › Headlights

    Model year 1999

    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.

    Consequence:
    Less illumination may reduce the ability of the driver to read overhead signs when driving at night.
    Remedy:
    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.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  2. NHTSA campaign 01V109000

    Reported

    Seat Belts

    Model years 2000–2001

    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.

    Consequence:
    These vehicles do not comply with the standard.
    Remedy:
    GM will mail a new bilingual air bag label with installation instructions. However, the customer may bring the label to their dealer for installation free of charge. Owner notification began May 4, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537 or Buick at 1-800-521-7300.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  3. NHTSA campaign 00V371000

    Reported

    Air Bags › Side/Window

    Model years 2000–2001

    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.

    Consequence:
    If the inflator separates, the air bag will not deploy properly during a crash and occupant protection would be reduced. If is also possible that a separated inflator could be propelled downward and could result in injury to a rear seat passenger whose foot is positioned approximately under the inflator module.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the side impact air bag module.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  4. NHTSA campaign 00V228003

    Reported

    Seat Belts

    Model years 2000–2001

    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."

    Consequence:
    In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect the vehicle's safety belt buckle assembly date codes and, if necessary, will replace any safety belt buckle assembly.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  5. NHTSA campaign 00V160000

    Reported

    Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap

    Model year 2000

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The clamp that secures the flexible fuel fill hose to the metal fill tube may be loose and could separate.

    Consequence:
    This could cause fuel leakage exceeding the permissible amount.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect the fuel hose fill neck clamp and, if necessary, reposition and tighten the clamp.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  6. NHTSA campaign 00V143000

    Reported

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum

    Model year 2000

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with rear drum brakes. The bolt head(s) on the rear spindle rod can separate.

    Consequence:
    The rear wheel can shift, causing rear steering of the vehicle. The driver could lose control and a crash could occur.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the rear spindle bolts.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  7. NHTSA campaign 99V356000

    Reported

    Exterior Lighting › Headlights

    Model years 1998–1999

    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.

    Consequence:
    Driver visibility may be impaired increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Owners will be provided with an owner's manual insert containing instructions for optically aiming the headlamps.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  8. NHTSA campaign 99V348000

    Reported

    Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Linkages

    Model year 1997

    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.

    Consequence:
    Driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect these vehicles for the presence of a plastic water deflector and, if necessary, replace the wiper motor crank arm and install a water deflector. On vehicles receiving a replacement crank arm and new water deflector, dealers will also apply additional sealing material to improve water deflection away from the crank arm assembly and will install a reinforcement to improve the performance of the wiper park mechanism.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  9. NHTSA campaign 99V170000

    Reported

    Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

    Model year 1999

    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.

    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will install a ground cable from the electronic brake control module (ebcm) to the engine compartment body rail.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

  10. NHTSA campaign 98V102000

    Reported

    Exterior Lighting › Headlights

    Model years 1997–1998

    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."

    Consequence:
    If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers may not be able to properly aim the headlights.
    Remedy:
    Owners will be mailed an owner manual's insert which contains the appropriate information.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

Show 1 more recall

  1. NHTSA campaign 95V173000

    Reported

    Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage

    Model years 1995–1996

    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."

    Consequence:
    Consequence of non-compliance: in a collison, stress can cause the attachment metal to tear and allow the anchorage to separate from the body of the vehicle. The safety belt may not protect an occupant in the event of a vehicle crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the existing anchor bolts with a new shoulder bolt and thread locking adhesive. Additionally, noise control patches will be applied at each anchorage.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Buick Century questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Buick Century have?

NHTSA lists 11 vehicle recall campaigns for the Buick Century, covering model years 1995 to 2005. The most recent, 04V375000, was reported on August 10, 2004 and is filed under “Exterior lighting”. The 2000 model year is covered by the most campaigns (5).

Which Buick Century model year has the most complaints?

The 1999 model year, with 235 of the 1,415 complaints in NHTSA’s file (16.6%). The next are 1998 (218) and 2000 (193). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Buick Century complaint?

Engine and Engine Cooling is the component named most often: 192 complaints, or 13.6% of all 1,415. Service Brakes, Hydraulic (170) and Electrical System (168) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Buick Century?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Buick dealer.

How many Buick Century complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 1,415 complaints, 85 report a crash, 16 a fire, 64 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Buick models

8 models · most complaints first

The Buick models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Buick VIN decoder with every Buick model page, WMI code and VIN note.

All Buick models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.