FaultScore

1999 Buick Century steering problems

13 of the 287 complaints about the 1999 Buick Century are about the steering — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 38,000 miles.

A

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Steering 7 53.8%
Rack AND Pinion 2 15.4%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 1 7.7%
Pump 1 7.7%
Idler AND Attachment 1 7.7%
Rack 1 7.7%

Steering across every Buick Century year

1987 10 8.5%
1995 12 10.2%
1996 10 8.5%
1997 15 12.7%
1998 24 20.3%
1999 13 11.0%
2000 11 9.3%
2001 12 10.2%
2002 11 9.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 200,000 miles Sebring, FL

STEERING

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE MAKING A TURN

NHTSA complaint #11032773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Waterford, MI

STEERING

THIS MORNING I STARTED MY CAR TO HEAD TO WORK, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE AND VERY HARD TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL. AS I BACKED UP I NOTICED A LEAK ONTO THE PAVEMENT. I PURCHASED A BOTTLE OF POWER STEERING FLUID WITH STOP LEAK AND PUT IT IN HOPING THAT'S WHAT IT NEEDED. I CONTINUED MY DRIVE TO WORK WITH HESITATION. I WAS STILL UNABLE TO MAKE A SHARP TURN. WHILE AT WORK I RESEARCHED A FEW THINGS AND FOUND IT TO BE THE RACK AND PINION HAS PROBABLY LOCKED UP AND LEAKED. THE PART TO REPLACE WILL COST ME ABOUT $200 AND THE MECHANICS FEES WILL BE MORE, WITH A TOTAL OF AROUND $750-$800. MY CAR IS OLDER AND HAS ME WONDERING IF I CAN AFFORD TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO REPLACING FAULTY PARTS. IF THIS PART ALREADY HAS AN INVESTIGATION ONGOING, I WOULD LIKE TO BE PLACED ON THE LIST TO HAVE THIS ISSUE SOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10967690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150 miles Palmetto, FL

STEERING

I NEVER WAS INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS ON MY 1999 BUICK CENTURY. NOW I SEE ALL THE ADVERTISEMENTS ON TELEVISION, IN THE PAPER, ONLINE THAT THE CAR CAN BURN UP. BRAKES, STEERING, IGNITION. WHICH WAS REPAIRED FOR 400 DOLLARS. MY ENGINE WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY, AND THEY CAN'T FIND WHAT'S GOING ON. ONCE, IT JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED.

NHTSA complaint #10594028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,847 miles Kingston, NH

STEERING

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

NHTSA complaint #10552512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150 miles MT Holly, NJ

STEERING

VEHICLE HAS 150,000 MILES. SUDDENLY THE CAR HAS DIFFICULTY MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS. NOW WHEN TURNING LEFT THE POWER ASSIST FAILS, AND IT FEELS AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED UP, BUT YOU CAN FORCE THE WHEEL FURTHER LEFT IF YOU TRY, BUT IT IS VERY HARD TO DO. IF YOU AREN'T PREPARED FOR IT YOU COULD EASILY GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. BUT SOMETIME AS YOU FORCE THE WHEEL LEFT, THE RESISTANCE WILL SUDDENLY DISAPPEAR AND THE CAR WILL JERK TO THE LEFT. TURNING RIGHT IMMEDIATELY RETURNS NORMAL POWER ASSIST, UNTIL A LEFT TURN IS ATTEMPTED. NO FLUID IS LEAKING.

NHTSA complaint #10402290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Dunedin, FL

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. WHENEVER THE CONTACT MAKES A LEFT TURN OR A U-TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND BECOMES DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION STEERING RACK LOCKS UP WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OPERATING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 03/04/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/04/09.

NHTSA complaint #10256078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clifton, NJ

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

POWER STEERING FAILURE REGARDING 1999 BUICK CENTURY. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE 1997-1998 BUICK(S) AND FELT THAT SHE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH HER VEHICLE. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10089713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irvington, NY

STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK

PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING RACK ON 1999 BUICK CENTURY.*MR THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING RACK FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONSUMER READ AN ARTICLE WHICH STATED THAT SOME GM VEHICLES WERE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR DEFECTIVE STEERING. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES 1999 BUICK CENTURIES SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE INVESTIGATION. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10048439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,430 miles Palm Harbor, FL

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

WHILE DRIVING THE OWNER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. WHEN THE DRIVER MADE A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10042903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 38,000 miles Bellingham, WA

STEERING

MY 1999 BUICK CENTURY HAS A STEERING PROBLEM, MY LOCAL DEALER (DEWEY GRIFFIN) TOLD ME SO WHAT! THAT''S JUST THE WAY IT IS! I WON'T LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT ON THE FREEWAY OR LEAVE TOWN BECAUSE I FEEL IT'S UNSAFE.

NHTSA complaint #10039428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 22,391 miles Williston Park, NY

STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT

FRONT RIGHT WHEELS OF BUICK CENTURY MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURN.HAD FRONT STRUT E3850 ALSO 22064745 W-STRUT & 908554 BEARING REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NOISE AGAIN DEVELOPED SHORTLY AFTER. I NOTIFIED BUICK IN THEIR SERVICE QUESTIONAIRE THAT NOISE WAS BACK AND I WAS NOT SATISFIED .REGAN BUICK SERVICE STATES THEY WILL HAVE TO CHARGE ME TO FIX IT AGAIN AS WARRANTY IS UP. SERVICE STATION SAYS SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER CARS OF SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND IS A DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10025748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jeffersonville, VT

STEERING

STEERING IS LOOSE AND SPONGY, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER AND LOSE DIRECTION WHEN TRAVELING ON A ROUGH OR BUMPY ROAD. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE TWICE.*AK THE DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE VIBRATION OF THE POWER STEERING AND FIXED IT SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #882386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Troy, NY

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND ENDED UP CRASHING, THE AIRBAG EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #558570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1999 Buick Century problems

← Full 1999 Buick Century report