Brake complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Buick Century. The contact stated that the headlight bulbs were positioned too close to the plastic cover lens causing the plastic cover to fog. The failure would cause reduced visibility of the roadway and the contact believed the failure could potentially cause a fire. The dealer advised they were not able to assist with the defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 57,000 and the current mileage was 72,617. Updated 12/21/10 the consumer stated the transmission was slipping, the rotors, tires and seat belts needed to be replaced. Updated 12/3/10
Emergency brake will not engage. Vehicle rolls forward after the brake has been engaged when parking on a hill. Vehicle was taken in to get repaired, the drums were tightened and car stopped rolling forward. 6 months later the car is rolling again when parked on a hill.
Turn brights on and radio/clock light goes off. No headlights on during day driving, radio/clock light randomly goes on and back off. Head lights briefly gone off during night driving 3 different times only for maybe 5 seconds, but it only takes a second for a deer or object to appear at night or a car ahead braking suddenly. Speedometer back light does not illuminate for night driving. Trac off and anti lock warning lights continuously stay on, I have had my brakes replaced throughout the years of owning the car since October 2007 and the warning lights do not reset themselves as they should, they continuously stay on since 2009. I am tired of dealing with all of these electrical and lightening issues with this car. I have tried to find GM recall for these problems. Please tell me where and how I can have these defects fixed.
In January of this year my 2003 Buick Century began with panel lights flashing on and off at various times making the gauges and speedometer impossible to read. Very expensive estimate to fix. Then in February was driving home at night and the ABS light came on. Took to shop and they couldn't get it to do it. After third time had it repaired. Took whole driver side wheel assembly to get sensor $500. In March driver side window began going up and down by itself. Took it to shop and they are unable to find a problem. The car only does it when the panel lights flash on and off. Bad vibration in the car around June. Had all four tires replaced and new brakes and rotors. On August 4, 2011 vibration started again, then started a popping noise in the front end when starting and stopping. Car vibrates so bad you can not hold steering wheel at 45-50mph. …
I was driving at night switched headlights to high beams - few minutes later switched back to low beams and ALL LIGHTS dash and head lights went completely out . Tried to pull head light knob and nothing - pitch black . Luckily i was a short distance from my home. This is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ! I have found 33 complaints (so far) about this same problem. This definitely should qualify and be recalled . PLEASE take IMMEDIATE action . Thank you.
UNKNOWN; The issues started around 6 months ago. Just casually driving like usual, and my steering wheel would lock up and be ridiculously hard to turn, which is scary because its happened while turning through lights and intersections and trying to even just park my car. And on some of those occations the trac and abs sensors would come on, but not all the time.
In stop & go traffic on highway went to stop for 8th or 9th time that morning and brakes failed and caused me to rearend another vehicle. Upon further investigation, there is about a 6" section of brake line that is completely rusted through. Same place on both sides at a bend. Rest of the lines are pefectly fine. This should not happen on a carr that is only 3 ears old and has 9000 miles on it. The defective part of the line is not in a place where it can be attributed to any cause other than defective material.(ie: no rubbing, no sitting in dirt or salt, can't be hit by flying debris, etc)
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 buck Century. The contact stated that while traveling 25 MPH, the driver depressed the brakes and smoke started to emit from the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that the brake lines failed and needed to be replaced due to corrosion. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileage was 53,000....updated 10/19/12 updated 10/25/2012
Related recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Drum
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with rear drum brakes. The bolt head(s) on the rear spindle rod can separate.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear spindle bolts.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a ground cable from the electronic brake control module (ebcm) to the engine compartment body rail.
Frequently asked questions
Which Buick Century years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (31), 1998 (29), 1999 (29), 2001 (26) and 1995 (24) model years. Brake complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Buick Century brake problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 00V-143 (drum, May 17, 2000); 99V-170 (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Jul 9, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Buick Century brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles; 45% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (68 mentions), followed by the foundation components (21).
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.