Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Buick Century owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 1998 Buick Century. While the vehicle was being operated, the brakes and steering column seized. As a result, the vehicle was involved in a front end crash. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and deemed destroyed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained short term memory loss, a concussion, and several unknown injuries that required medical attention. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign numbers: 09e005000 (steering) and 03V527000 (steering); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was not provided.
My brakes stopped working because all the fluid suddenly drained out of the system and it is reported to me by a dealer that this is due to corrosion of the brake lines on my 1998 Buick Century. I am told that the brake lines need to be replaced and that makes sense to me, however, it would seem that this May be a safety problem beyond my car. Why would Buick use materials in a brake line that would corrode so badly that it would fail in only 11 years when the car could easily last much longer than that? I now have my car in my garage with no brakes. I will be looking for someone to repair my brake lines but thought that if this is not unique to my car someone would like to review their condition before I have the car repaired. Thank you
ABS failure. Now 54,931 miles on odometer.. 1998 Buick Century custom. I sent a letter to ray lahood several weeks ago, but have not received an answer from any one! This is s safety issue! I can't believe that GM engineers could not design an ABS that would last at least 100,000 miles! How many failures has GM experienced? The consumer stated a few weeks ago, the brake and ABS light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the consumer was informed the ABS pump had failed and it would cost $800 to replace it. Updated ivoq 10/29/10.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Buick Century. The contact stated the anti-lock braking system was activated indicating a brake malfunction. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic who stated the ABS motor pack needed to be replaced. The contact stated the vehicle does not have anti-lock brakes and she does not feel safe driving the vehicle. The contact did not call the manufacturer regarding the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000.
Consumer stated that while driving and without warning, brake fluid leaked from the rear wheel cylinder. Dealer notified. The consumer felt that GM parts were of poor quality, as he owned a Buick before, that had a number of problems at low mileage. The service dealer told the consumer that the hot climate caused the rubber inside of the wheel cylinders to crack.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Buick Century. While approaching a stop sign at approximately 15 MPH, the brake pedal extended to the floor when depressed. She drove the vehicle to the dealer and they informed her that all the brake lines had rusted and needed to be replaced. The dealer is currently replacing all of the parts. The current and failure mileages were 107,000.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Buick Century. While driving 45 MPH, the antilock brake light illuminated when the brake was depressed. The dealer stated that a module needed to be replaced. The contact was unsure what type of module the dealer wanted to replace. The dealer did not make the repair. The current mileage is 104,000 and failure mileage was 60,000.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Buick Century. While driving in rainy weather approximately 10 MPH he had to apply the brakes several times before they would function properly. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by a dealer or a local mechanic. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000. The current mileage was 30,000.
When depressing the brakes brake pedal would get hard, and consumer was able to hear air noise in the brake line. Vehicle was taken to a repair shop. Mechanic replaced the brake power booster. Dealer was notified, and informed consumer that this vehicle was not covered under a recall due to VIN.
ABS system on my 1998 Buick Century custom failed while I was driving on local street at about 40 MPH. Failure caused handling issues. Buick dealer inspected the vehicle and said the ABS motor power pack and the modulator have gone bad. According to the internet, it's a common problem for this vehicle.
Brake complaints in other Century years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1998 Buick Century?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the brakes of the 1998 Buick Century, 13% of the model year's 218 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Buick Century brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 1998 Buick Century, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Buick Century brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.