1997-2005 Buick Century: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1997-2005 Buick Century and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Entry/exit
- Passenger and cargo room
Cons
- Steering/handling
- Seat comfort
Vehicle Highlights
After a 15-season run in its prior form, Buick's staple sedan finally earned a total redesign. Introduced early in 1997, months after the model year began, the midsize sedan rode a wheelbase more than four inches longer than before. Overall length grew by more than five inches. Only a 4-door sedan went on sale; the former station wagon body style was now extinct. Structurally related to the latest Pontiac Grand Prix and similar to Buick's Regal sedan, the Century contained dual airbags and antilock brakes. Buick offered two trim levels: Custom and more posh Limited. Both used a 160-horsepower, 3.1-liter V6 engine, driving a 4-speed automatic transmission. Both models came only with front and rear bench seats, giving Century full 6-passenger capacity--a rarity in the midsize sedan market.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Buick Century Custom/Limited Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 4 | |
| Fuel Economy | 5 | |
| Ride Quality | 6 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 4 | |
| Quietness | 6 | |
| Controls/Materials | 5 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 5 | |
| Value within Class | 6 | |
| Total Score: | 50 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1997-2005 Buick Century. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1997-2005 Buick Century.
Year to Year Changes
1998 Buick Century:
Apart from reduced-power airbags, changes were few for 1998.
1999 Buick Century:
Traction control went into '99 models, as did a standard tire-inflation monitor. The Century's suspension was retuned, in an attempt to reduce body lean in turns.
2000 Buick Century:
Century's engine got a boost to 175 horsepower (up 15). Dual-zone climate control became standard, and a side airbag for the driver (but not the passenger) went into the Century Limited. A new Century 2000 Special Edition options package included a blacked-out grille and door moldings, body-colored exterior trim, alloy wheels, steering-wheel audio controls, and "Century 2000" emblems. The Limited's Special Edition group also included a split folding rear seatback.
2001 Buick Century:
New for 2001 was a Special Edition option package for Custom models. GM's OnStar assistance system became standard rather than optional on Limiteds.
2002 Buick Century:
Bucket seats became available for 2002.
2003 Buick Century:
Appearance changes for '03 include a graphite and chrome grille and body-colored exterior trim. Inside, there's new door-pillar and roof-rail trim backed with energy-absorbing foam for head-impact protection. Antilock brakes and traction control were made optional on some models.
2004 Buick Century:
Four-wheel disc brakes became standard and a side-impact airbag for the driver was a new option.
2005 Buick Century:
Buick's entry-level car makes a brief 2005 model-year run before ending production in late 2004. Buick replaced it with a midsize sedan called LaCrosse.
Our road test for the 1997-2005 Buick Century includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1997-2005 Buick Century and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1997-2005 Buick Century is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Smooth and reasonably quiet, the V6 engine provides adequate acceleration, but it growls when asked to deliver sufficient action for passing. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly and promptly. Wind and road noise are low at highway speeds. A test Century averaged 28 mpg in mostly highway driving, and 18.5 mpg in urban conditions. Only one suspension is used, and it's too soft for many drivers. Most bumps are absorbed well, but the body continues to bounce long after the initial impact. This limp suspension also allows too much body lean in turns, and makes the Century feel queasy over rough pavement surfaces. Retuning for '99 made the suspension deliver better control in turns, but body lean remains pronounced. Century has a spacious interior that provides adult-size room, front and rear. Four occupants would be happier than five or six, however. Tall, wide doors ease entry and exit. As for luggage, the roomy trunk has a wide, flat floor, but you have to reach over a wide bumper-level shelf for loading and unloading. Instruments are easy to read, but limited to a speedometer and fuel and coolant gauges. Most controls are clearly marked, easy for the driver to reach. Climate controls, however, are mounted low enough so they might interfere with a center passenger's knees. In addition, standard cloth seats are so softly padded that they might not suit everyone.
Value for the Money
Though Century performs admirably, it won't satisfy an enthusiastic driver. Still, it's quiet, comfortable, and economical for a 6-passenger automobile. Modern and well thought out, it retains the no-surprises theme that made the prior Century popular with older buyers.
Though Century performs admirably, it won't satisfy an enthusiastic driver. Still, it's quiet, comfortable, and economical for a 6-passenger automobile. Modern and well thought out, it retains the no-surprises theme that made the prior Century popular with older buyers.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Buick Century Custom/Limited Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 4 | |
| Fuel Economy | 5 | |
| Ride Quality | 6 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 4 | |
| Quietness | 6 | |
| Controls/Materials | 5 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 4 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 5 | |
| Value within Class | 6 | |
| Total Score: | 50 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Buick Century includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Buick Century .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Check-engine light:
Chafed wiring harness near the A/C accumulator can cause check-engine light, no-start, ABS warning light, stalling, or poor drivability. (1997-2001)
Engine noise:
A ticking sound in the engine is caused by excessive clearance between the piston bores and wrist pins. Although this should not cause a problem, GM will replace all pistons under normal warranty. (1997-98)
Engine temperature:
Overheating and coolant loss may be due to rough surface on radiator filler neck. Neck should be sanded smooth and cap replaced. (1999-2000)
Keyless entry:
The remote keyless entry may not have much range, requiring a new receiver (with foil antenna) to be installed. (1997)
Suspension noise:
A popping or groaning from the rear of the car is caused by the stabilizer shaft links. Redesigned links are available. (1997-98)
Vehicle shake:
In warm weather the engine bounces in its mounts, causing a shaking sensation throughout the whole car. A new transmission mount should be installed under normal warranty. (1997-98)
Wipers:
The wipers may not stop in the correct position due to a problem with the wiper motor bracket. (2002)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $380 |
| Alternator | $320 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $980 |
| Brakes | $330 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $1,100 |
| Exhaust System | $400 |
| Radiator | $380 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $720 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $315 |
Our price chart for this generation Buick Century details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 2005 | |||
| Century | $7,800-9,200 | $7,000-8,300 | $4,000-4,700 |
| 2004 | |||
| Century | $6,700-7,800 | $5,900-6,900 | $3,100-3,600 |
| 2003 | |||
| Century | $5,600-6,500 | $4,800-5,600 | $2,300-2,700 |
| 2002 | |||
| Century | $4,700-5,500 | $3,900-4,600 | $1,800-2,100 |
| 2001 | |||
| Century | $4,000-4,700 | $3,300-3,900 | $1,300-1,500 |
| 2000 | |||
| Century | $3,500-4,100 | $2,800-3,300 | $900-1,100 |
| 1999 | |||
| Century | $3,100-3,700 | $2,400-2,900 | $700-900 |
| 1998 | |||
| Century | $2,700-3,300 | $2,000-2,500 | $600-700 |
| 1997 | |||
| Century | $2,400-2,900 | $1,700-2,100 | $500-600 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Buick Century include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 4-door sedan | |
| Wheelbase, in. | 109.0 | |
| Overall Length, in. | 194.6 | |
| Overall Width, in. | 72.7 | |
| Overall Height, in. | 56.6 | |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3335 | |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 16.7 | |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 17.0 | |
| Seating Capacity | 6 | |
| Front Head Room, in. | 39.3 | |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.4 | |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 37.4 | |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 37.5 | |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
Only one powertrain went into Buick's Century: a 3.1-liter overhead-valve V6 engine, rated at 160 horsepower, driving a 4-speed automatic transmission.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: USA
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Buick Century include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | 1999 Century |
|---|---|
| Front Impact, Driver | 4 |
| Front Impact, Passenger | 3 |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 1997-2005 Buick Century directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
1997:
Windshield wipers may stop working, due to separation between drive pin and crescent in crank-arm assembly.
1998:
Vertical headlamp-adjusting device may not be calibrated properly.
1999:
ABS motor in some cars "shorts" to its case and grounds through brake fluid pipe; can cause extreme heating of brake pipe, which could melt nearby plastic fuel hose.
1999:
Lights on some cars may provide substandard illumination, reducing driver's ability to read overhead signs at night.
2000 w/rear drum brakes:
Bolt heads on rear spindle rod can separate and affected wheel can shift, causing loss of control.
2000:
Clamp that secures flexible fuel-fill hose to metal fill tube on a few cars may be loose and could separate, causing fuel leakage.
2000-01:
Some seatbelt assemblies were not properly heat treated and do not pass the load-bearing requirement.
2001:
Airbag labels on sunvisors are not standard size.
2001:
Driver's side airbag inflator separates from the airbag module during deployment, causing the airbag to deploy improperly.
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