1998 Buick Century Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/12/2026

20Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints

9.2%Of all 218 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION20 · 9.2%

Unspecified / other16 · 7.3%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP14 · 6.4%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS14 · 6.4%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN12 · 5.5%

Share of the 218 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1998 Buick Century overview page.

What owners report

“ENGINE IS STARTED AND TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN DRIVE OR REVERSE THE VEHICLE DOESN'T MOVE. AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL.”NHTSA complaint 9005243 — filed 02/06/2002

“HAD SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO REVERSE WHEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. WAS UNABLE TO STEER FORWARD OR REVERSE. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK…”NHTSA complaint 862707 — filed 05/30/2000

“AGAIN NEARLY 20 TIMES WHEN REVERSE WHEN ACTIVATED, THE CAR DID NOT GO INTO REVERSE BUT THE ENGINE ROARED LOUDER. UNTIL THE GEARS WERE TAKEN…”NHTSA complaint 717122 — filed 01/09/2000

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1998 Buick Century have power train:automatic transmission problems?

Power Train:automatic Transmission is the most-reported problem area on the 1998 Buick Century: 20 of 218 complaints on file (9.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1998 Buick Century have in total?

218 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 9 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, 9 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.