Buick Century Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Own a Buick Century? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Buick Century — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005Best | Excellent | 1 | 14 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2004 | Good | 1 | 26 | 1 | 2 | — | Exterior Lighting | Full report → |
| 2003 | Caution | 1 | 76 | 2 | 2 | — | Exterior Lighting | Full report → |
| 2002 | Caution | 1 | 95 | 2 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2001 | Avoid | 3 | 108 | 6 | 3 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2000 | Avoid | 4 | 116 | 5 | 5 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 1999Worst | Avoid | 3 | 148 | 11 | 7 | — | Engine And Engine Cooling | Full report → |
| 1998 | Avoid | 2 | 135 | 5 | 7 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 1997 | Caution | 1 | 63 | 2 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 1996 | Caution | 1 | 49 | 1 | 4 | — | Engine And Engine Cooling | Full report → |
| 1995 | Caution | — | 65 | 7 | 8 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 1994 | Avoid | 5 | 83 | 16 | 15 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 1993 | Good | 1 | 35 | 11 | 9 | — | Air Bags | Full report → |
| 1992 | Good | 3 | 44 | 6 | 3 | — | Service Brakes / Hydraulic | Full report → |
14 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Buick Century Problems
Based on 1,057 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
Century Years to Avoid
Best Century Years to Buy
Years with fewest complaints and recalls.
Buick Century Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Buick Century Reliability
What year Century has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 1999 Buick Century had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 148 complaints and 3 safety recalls. See the full 1999 report for specific defects.
Is the Buick Century reliable?
The Buick Century has accumulated 1,057 owner-filed complaints and 27 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 2005 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Century.
What are the most common Century problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Service Brakes / Hydraulic (121 reports), Engine And Engine Cooling (119 reports), Electrical System (98 reports), Power Train (89 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my Century has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Buick Century VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Buick Century VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily