Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Buick Century submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
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.
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
WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 YOUNG BOYS, NEEDED TO STOP AND THE BRAKES BECAME VERY SPONGY. PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND A BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACK OFF WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ABS SENSOR AND OTHER WIRES WERE BOUND BY ELECTRICAL TAPE AND THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE MISSING PLUGS WHICH PREVENTED WATER FROM ENTERING THE VEHICLE ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. BOTH THE BRAKE LINE AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE LEAKING FLUIDS. THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FRONT SUB FRAME AND THE FUEL FILLER NECK WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT PART OF THE EXHAUST HANGER WAS MISSING AND THE REMAINING PARTS WERE CORRODED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FAR TOO COSTLY TO PERFORM ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED MARCH 17, 2010. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,528.
BRAKE FAILURE, FRONT BRAKE LINE CORROSION (RUST THROUGH) RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. THANKFULLY NO ACCIDENT RESULTED. CORRECTION REQUIRED NEW BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF LOST FLUID, ETC THIS FAILURE IS THE SAME TYPE WHICH OCCURRED TO OUR 2000 BUICK CENTURY. IN THAT CAR FIRST THE FRONT BRAKE LINE FAILED (LIKE THE 1999 DID), AND ABOUT A YEAR LATER THE REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED WITH THE SAME CORROSION PROBLEM. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED OUT OF STATE AND THE REPAIR SHOP MANAGER STATED "THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT HE HAS REPLACED MANY FAILED BRAKE LINES. *TR
THE BRAKE LINES ON MY 1999 BUICK CENTURY CORRODED, FLUID LEAKED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. FORTUNATELY, I NOTICED THE BRAKES BEGINNING TO FAIL (PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR), SO I DROVE DEFENSIVELY AND WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE FROM MY LOCAL GARAGE AND WENT THERE DIRECTLY TO HAVE THE LINES REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE LINES HAD ROTTED THROUGH. I ASSUMED THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN AREAS THAT USE WINTER SALT, BUT HEARING OF THE RECALL OF GM TRUCKS, I NOW REALIZE THAT THIS MAY NOT BE A "NORMAL" EVENT. THE PARTS IN QUESTION ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. *TR
BRAKE LINES ON 1999 BUICK CENTURY RUSTED OUT, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING. BRAKE LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED IN MOST LOCATIONS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. FUEL FILLER LINE IS HEAVILY RUSTED, AS OF YET THERE IS NO LEAKING FROM THIS DEFECT. LOCATION ON LONG ISLAND NEW YORK IS NOT A HEAVILY SALTED AREA. *TR
CORROSION (RUST THROUGH/FAILURE) OF FRONT/RIGHT METAL BRAKE LINE IN 1999 BUICK CENTURY (9 YR OLD CAR, 96K MILES). THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY MUSHY AND WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE GROUND. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS IT WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION/RUST THROUGH. THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AT SOME TIME DURING MY MANEUVER TO AVOID A COLLISION, BUT I DIDN'T NOTICE IT UNTIL AFTER THE INCIDENT, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT CONTRIBUTED TO THE VERY MINOR CONTACT CAUSED BY THE OTHER VEHICLE ENTERING MY LANE WITHOUT WARNING, BUT I WILL CHECK THE "CRASH" BOX BELOW BECAUSE BRAKE LINE FAILURE HAPPENED SOME TIME DURING A VERY MINOR CRASH (TOUCHING OF TWO CARS). IN THE SEARCH FOR MY NEXT CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY AND COROLLA AS WELL AS HONDA ACCORD APPEAR TO USE "COATED" BRAKE AND GAS LINES TO PREVENT CORROSION FAILURES (COULD SEE A BLACK COATING AND NOT JUST BARE STEEL). FROM NOW ON, I WILL NEVER BUY A VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT HAVE COATED LINES (OR STAINLESS STEEL). COATING THESE LINES (OR USING STAINLESS STEEL) IS SUCH AN EASY SAFETY PRECAUTION. MOST MUFFLER PIPES ARE NOW STAINLESS STEEL, SO WHY IS THE NHTSA NOT MAKING IT MANDATORY FOR MANUFACTURERS TO COAT OR USE S.S. FOR BRAKE LINES AND GAS LINES? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED BRAKE LOSS WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES A SECOND TIME AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND LOSING FLUID. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,809 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,500.
DRIVING TO WORK, MY BRAKE PEDAL BEGAN TO GET SOFT BUT I MADE IT TO WORK SAFELY. AT WORK, I POPPED THE HOOD A FOUND THE BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. I HAD NOT NOTICED ANY LEAKS ON MY DRIVEWAY BEFORE SO I WAS CONFUSED AT THIS LEAKAGE. I WAS ABLE TO REFILL THE RESERVIOR AND TESTED MY BRAKES AT LUNCH AND THEY SEEMED BETTER. BUT BEFORE DRIVING HOME I NOTICED THERE WAS A PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR. I DROVE HOME, WITH MY BRAKES GETTING SOFTER AT EACH BRAKE APPLICATION. ONCE HOME THE LEAKING CONTINUED. THE SOURCE OF THE LEAKS IS THE BRAKE LINES RUSTING. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE FUEL VAPOR LINES ARE ALSO RUSTING THROUGH AND LEAKING. RUSTING BRAKE AND FUEL LINES SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. I THINK THERE IS A MANUFACTURED PART DEFECT IN THESE LINES THAT IS ALLOWING THEM TO RUST. *JB
I NEVER KNEW SUCH A PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY CAR & NEVER INFORMED BY GM OR MY DEALER. NOW, I'VE HAD NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF NEAR MISSES. NEVER BEEN TAKEN SO BADLY IN MY LIFE. I PAID 28,000 FOR A CAR WORTH BARELY 3K NOW, WHAT A JOKE! *JB
INTAKE GASKET FAILED ON 3.1 ENGINE IN A 1999 BUICK CENTURY. THIS ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 55,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. IT APPEARS AS IF THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURER DENIES THAT THERE WAS FAULTY WORKMANSHIP INVOLVED. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR $700.00 ALSO SAME CAR WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES THE BOLT HOLDING THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER FELL OFF WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY DAUGHTER DRIVING (DRIVERS PERMIT) AND LOCKED UP THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL DAMAGING THE RIM. COST OF REPAIR $350.00. *JB
DT: THE VEHICLES BRAKES WENT OUT JUST AFTER GETTING THE TIRES ROTATED. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED THE BRAKES, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKES AND HEADLIGHTS. THE CONSUMER DIDNT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY PREVIOUSLY DIDN'T DO WORK THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO DO.*AK
SERVICE VEHICLE, ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AT FIRST BUT NOW IS STEADY. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS BROKEN WIRE UNDER HOOD. THEY HAVE FOUND MANY WITH SAME PROBLEM. A WIRE HARNESS IS TO SHORT AND THE WIRE EVENTUALLY FAILS. ABS DOES NOT WORK DURING THIS FAILURE.
DEFECT ON LR PROPORTIONING VALVE WAS FOUND AFTER REPAIR ON BRAKES. CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR. (NAR) *LA *CB
ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM HEATS UP, THE BRAKE LINE HEATS AND MELTS, CAUSING THE NO FLUID TO BRAKING SYSTEM. BRAKES ARE NOW DAMAGED TO POINT OF TOTAL REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF APPROX. $1,000.00. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND APPLYING ON BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. DEALER HAS STATED THAT ROTORS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN AS MUCH. DEALER LOANED CONSUMER SAME VEHICLE, ONLY A 1993. CONSUMER STATED, WHILE DRIVING THE LOANER, APPLIED ON BRAKES AND PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING.*AK
ON NOV. 9TH 2001, WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO ATLANTA, THE CRUISE CONTROL FROZE UP AT 70 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE IT OR TURN IT OFF AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND , THEY WERE LOCKED UP ALSO. THINKING THAT THE ACCELERATOR MIGHT BE STUCK I TAPPED IT LIGHTLY AND THE CAR SPED UP TO 85 MPH. I WAS IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC AND FINALLY AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO DISENGAGE. THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL OFF AND I DECIDED TO TURN IT OFF. IT INSTEAD REENGAGED AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE FOR AWHILE. WE FINALLY GOT ONTO I-285 LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO GET OFF. AS WE GOT UP TO SPEED IT ONCE AGAIN REENGAGED AND IT TOOK ME NEARLY 8 MILES TO GET IT OFF AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES, EACH TIME I WAS NOT ABLE TO EXIT. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF AT THE EXIT TO OUR DAUGHTERS HOUSE AND I UNPLUGGED IT UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN A CAR IN MY LIFE. 85 MPH IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC & NO BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET/BUICK DEALER (BENNETT CHEVROLET/BUICK) ON MONDAY THE 12TH. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CRUSE CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT. I THOUGHT THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL FOR A FATAL CRASH. WE WERE LUCKY, PLEASE SEE THAT THIS HAPPENS TO NO ONE ELSE, THEY MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *AK
MY WIFE MARIA NENA A. FLORIDO WAS INVOLVED IN A TOTAL WRECK ACCIDENT. IT TOOK PLACE BEFORE THE EXIT OF PIONEER BOULEVARD. SHE WAS DRIVING AROUND 60 MPH ON U.S. HIGHWAY 91 HEADING EASTBOUND IN CERRITOS, CA. SHE WAS ON THE SECOND LANE FROM THE OUTER LANE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED TO WIGGLE AND BEGUN MOVING TOWARDS THE RIGHT LANE. SHE TRIED TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL TO STAY ON THE LANE. WHEN SHE APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. THE DRIVER'S DOOR SLAMMED INTO THE GUARDRAIL FACING IN THE OPPOITE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC. WITHOUT THE GUARDRAIL,THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL.*AK
WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, VEHICLE BEGAN SLOWING SO CONSUMER ACCELERATED, VEHICLE HESITATED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN TOOK OFF, CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A RAPID RATE, CONSUMER KEPT FOOT ON BRAKE SLOWING VEHICLE, CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF, BRAKES WERE SO HOT THAT FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE WHEELS, CONSUMER THREW SNOW ON TIRES TO EXTINGUISH FIRE ON BOTH TIRES, BRAKE DISCS WERE GLOWING ORANGE, CONSUMER TRADED VEHICLE FOR A 2000 MODEL, HOWEVER WAS $5000 MORE AND FEELS SHE IS ENTITLED TO SOME COMPENSATION. *SLC
AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY I PULLED UP TO THE CLOSED GARAGE DOOR AND AS I PULLED TO WITHIN A FEW FEET OF THE DOOR I PUT THE BRAKES ON BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I WAS BASICALLY AT IDLE SPEED BUT THE CAR KEPT GOING THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AT WHICH TIME I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID PROCEEDING THROUGH THE HOUSE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH OTHER CARS, I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WE HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE THEN AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN.
WHEN REAR BRAKES GETS DAMP BACK WHEELS WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS NORMAL. *AK THE DEALER STATES THAT THE RUBBING AND THE GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM REAR BRAKE IS CAUSED BY BRAKE DUST. *YH
CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH RECALL PROCEDURE AND REPAIR (99V-170), DEALERSHIP PROBLEM. *MJS
NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR RECALL 99V170 FOR THE ABS MOTOR WHICH MAY SHORT AND RESULT IN A UNDERHOOD FIRE. NLM
CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR NHTSA RECALL 99V170000/ ANUFACTURER RECALL 99033. AFTER ARRIVING AT THE DEALERSHIP , CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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