Used Buick Century Buying Guide: 1997-2005 Years, Recalls, Problems

A 1997-2005 Buick Century is a reasonable cheap commuter if you want a quiet, roomy sedan and don't care about handling, and the 2000-2005 cars with the 175-hp 3.1 V6 are the ones to look for. Consumer Guide puts good-condition prices at about $1,800 to $5,700. Check for an intermittent check-engine light and stalling, since chafed wiring near the A/C accumulator is a known fault on 1997-2001 cars, and confirm the 1999 ABS recall was done.

Consumer Guide says the earlier Century was popular with older buyers and this one kept the same no-surprises personality, which is why so many listings lean on a one-owner story. That story doesn't make every one a good buy. I went through Consumer Guide's used-car file, the IIHS ratings and NHTSA's recall data on Oct 19, 2026, and the picture is a car that is plain, fairly safe for its age and cheap to keep running, with a few year-specific gremlins.

The basics by year

The redesigned Century showed up early in 1997, months after that model year had started. It was a sedan only, related to the Pontiac Grand Prix and similar to the Buick Regal, which we cover separately in our used Regal guide. Custom and Limited trims both had a 3.1-liter V6 and a four-speed automatic, and front and rear bench seats gave it room for six, which was rare for a midsize car.

• 1998 -- reduced-power airbags, and not much else.
• 1999 -- traction control and a tire-inflation monitor were added, and the suspension was retuned to cut body lean.
• 2000 -- horsepower rose from 160 to 175, and the Limited got a driver-side airbag.
• 2001-2002 -- OnStar became standard on the Limited for 2001, and front bucket seats became available for 2002.
• 2003-2004 -- ABS and traction control became optional on some models for 2003. Four-wheel disc brakes were standard for 2004, and the driver side airbag became optional.
• 2005 -- a short run that ended late in 2004, before the LaCrosse took over.

That 2003 change is worth paying attention to. A later Century is not automatically better equipped, so check the build sheet or the instrument cluster for the ABS light at startup. Consumer Guide's test cars returned about 28 mpg on the highway and 18.5 in town, and the suspension is soft enough that the car leans and floats on a twisty road.

Crash test results

IIHS rates the 1997-2005 Century Acceptable overall in its moderate overlap frontal test, using results from a 1997 Grand Prix GT. Structure was Acceptable, and so was the right leg measure. The 2004 head restraints were rated Poor. NHTSA scores listed by Consumer Guide for a 1999 car are 4 stars driver and 3 passenger in front, and 3 and 3 in the side test. That is middling, and it's what you'd expect from a 1990s design.

Recalls worth checking

Run the VIN on our Buick recall check page. The NHTSA campaigns that actually list the Century include these.

• 99V170 (1999) -- the ABS motor could short to its case and heat a brake pipe enough to melt a nearby plastic fuel hose. That one is a fire risk.
• 00V160 (2000) -- a loose clamp on the fuel fill hose could let fuel leak.
• 00V143 (2000 with rear drum brakes) -- rear spindle rod bolt heads could separate and let the wheel shift.
• 00V228 (2000-01) -- seat belt buckle assemblies that weren't heat treated properly.
• 00V371 (2000-01) -- the driver side-impact air bag inflator could separate.
• 99V348 (1997) wipers, 98V102 and 99V356 (1997-99) headlamp aim, and 04V375 (1999) dim lighting for overhead signs.

From 2002 on, the NHTSA data I pulled showed only aftermarket parts campaigns, nothing from GM. Still run the VIN, because a model-year search can't tell you what was done on one specific car.

Known trouble spots

The wiring problem is the one I'd worry about most. Chafed wiring near the A/C accumulator on 1997-2001 cars can cause a check-engine light, an ABS warning light, stalling, poor drivability or a no-start, which is a miserable combination to chase on a used car. Early 1997-98 engines can tick from excess clearance between the pistons and wrist pins, which Consumer Guide says shouldn't cause a problem. 1997-98 cars may pop or groan from the rear stabilizer links and can shake in warm weather as the engine bounces in its mounts, which a new transmission mount fixes. 1999-2000 cars can overheat and lose coolant through a rough radiator filler neck, and on 2002 cars the wipers may park in the wrong spot.

Before you hand over money

Decode the VIN with our Buick VIN decoder, then look up the title on NMVTIS. A "grandma car" story is easy to tell and hard to prove, so a history report with steady odometer readings is worth more than the seller's word.

We sell CARFAX and AutoCheck reports as a licensed reseller and aren't affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or GM. As of mid October 2026 that worked out to about $5.50 for a guest report, about $4.50 if you're a member and about $6.75 for the two together, compared with about $39.99 to $44.99 elsewhere at retail. Please confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.

Sources

• Consumer Guide: 1997-05 Buick Century
• IIHS: Buick Century ratings
• NHTSA recallsByVehicle, Century 1997-2005, checked Oct. 19, 2026, e.g. 1999 Century
• NMVTIS