Complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | vs. typical* | Recalls | Top problem | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 19 | −87% | — | Headlight | Good |
| 2004 | 39 | −80% | — | Headlight | Good |
| 2003 | 127 | −13% | — | Headlight | Average |
| 2002 | 154 | 1.2× | — | Engine | Average |
| 2001 | 145 | 1.3× | 3 | Engine | Average |
| 2000 | 193 | 1.6× | 5 | Transmission | Caution |
| 1999 | 235 | 2.1× | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 1998 | 218 | 2.0× | 2 | Brake | Avoid |
| 1997 | 106 | typical | 2 | Electrical | Average |
| 1996 | 80 | −29% | 1 | Brake | Average |
| 1995 | 99 | −15% | 1 | Brake | Average |
* Complaints compared with the median Century year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.
Most common Buick Century problems
Latest Buick Century recalls
Exterior lighting › Headlights
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.
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.
Seat belts
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.
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.
Air bags › Side/window
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the side impact air bag module.
Seat belts
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle's safety belt buckle assembly date codes and, if necessary, will replace any safety belt buckle assembly.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The clamp that secures the flexible fuel fill hose to the metal fill tube May be loose and could separate.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel hose fill neck clamp and, if necessary, reposition and tighten the clamp.
Frequently asked questions
What years of the Buick Century should you avoid?
1999, 1998 and 2000 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Century years at the same age, led by engine & cooling problems in the 1999.
What is the best year for the Buick Century?
2005 has the fewest complaints compared with other Century years at the same age, followed by 2004 and 1996. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.
What are the most common Buick Century problems?
Across all years, owners report the most problems with the engine & cooling (223), brakes (202) and lights (177). Engine complaints peak in the 1999 model year.
How many recalls has the Buick Century had?
11 recalls across 1995–2005. The model year with the most is 2000. See all Buick Century recalls by year.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.