NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
23 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Mar 19, 2021
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFuel/propulsion System
THE VEHICLE'S GAS TANK WON'T HOLD MUCH AND CLICKS AS IF FULL. ALSO, WHEN ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR GROUND, THE ⛽ GAS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, EVEN AFTER GAS WAS JUST PUT IN. IN ADDITION, AT TIMES I SMELL A "BURNING ELECTRICAL" SMELL AND THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, THE BRIGHTS FAIL TO "CLICK" ON OR GOES OFF BY ITSELF. THE TURN SIGN…
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THE VEHICLE'S GAS TANK WON'T HOLD MUCH AND CLICKS AS IF FULL. ALSO, WHEN ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR GROUND, THE ⛽ GAS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, EVEN AFTER GAS WAS JUST PUT IN. IN ADDITION, AT TIMES I SMELL A "BURNING ELECTRICAL" SMELL AND THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, THE BRIGHTS FAIL TO "CLICK" ON OR GOES OFF BY ITSELF. THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS HAVE TO BE TURNED MANUALLY TO BLINK. ALL TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THIS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE BACK TURN SIGNALS WORK AND LIGHT UP, BUT NOT THE FRONT & BLINK AT A FASTER RATE. EVEN ONE SIDE HEADLIGHT ENGAGEMENT WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST.
NHTSA ODI #11403916
62,000 miles · Oct 4, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
HORN BUTTON IS PART OF AIR BAG. THE HORN BUTTON SHORTS OUT AND THE HORN BLOWS ALL THE TIME. HAVE TO REMOVE FUSE TO STOP HORN BLOWING. HAD TO REPLACE AIR BAG TO FIX. IN A FEW MONTHS THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. ITS TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AIR BAGS SO I AM LEFT WITHOUT A HORN THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CAN THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDE A FIX?…
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HORN BUTTON IS PART OF AIR BAG. THE HORN BUTTON SHORTS OUT AND THE HORN BLOWS ALL THE TIME. HAVE TO REMOVE FUSE TO STOP HORN BLOWING. HAD TO REPLACE AIR BAG TO FIX. IN A FEW MONTHS THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. ITS TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AIR BAGS SO I AM LEFT WITHOUT A HORN THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CAN THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDE A FIX? THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF GM CARS.
NHTSA ODI #11362671
138,000 miles · Feb 10, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ALL LIGHTS GO OUT, INTERIOR AND DRIVING LIGHTS, RESUMING WHEN CLICKING BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCH. DRIVING AT 65 MPH.
NHTSA ODI #10825311
120,000 miles · Jan 22, 2016
Electrical SystemStructureVehicle Speed ControlCrash
I HAD DRIVEN MY 2003 BUICK CENTURY AT LEAST HALFWAY INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT WHEN IT SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL, LEAPING UP OVER A CURB ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, SWIPING A CEMENT LIGHTPOST ON THE LEFT, CRASHING INTO ANOTHER CAR ACROSS ITS LEFT FRONT, BUMPING DOWN OVER A CURB, THEN CRASHING UP AND OVER…
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I HAD DRIVEN MY 2003 BUICK CENTURY AT LEAST HALFWAY INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT WHEN IT SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL, LEAPING UP OVER A CURB ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, SWIPING A CEMENT LIGHTPOST ON THE LEFT, CRASHING INTO ANOTHER CAR ACROSS ITS LEFT FRONT, BUMPING DOWN OVER A CURB, THEN CRASHING UP AND OVER TWO MORE CURBS. WITH DIVINE HELP I WAS ABLE TO AVOID OTHER CARS AND STEER IT TO A STOP, THEN DRIVE GINGERLY INTO THE ORIGINAL PARKING SPACE. SINCE I WAS ORIGINALLY IN THE PROCESS OF SLOWING TO A STOP, MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AT ALL TIMES. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF MANY AUTOMAKERS' INFAMOUS "SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING AS THE CAR WENT FROM 1 OR 2 MPH TO FULL THROTTLE INSTANTLY. WITH BOTH HANDS GRASPING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY, I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID OTHER PARKED VEHICLES. I EMERGED WITH NO BROKEN BONES, BUT THE CAR WAS TOTALED. BECAUSE I AM A "LITTLE OLD LADY," THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMS ME "L00% RESPONSIBLE," IN SPITE OF MY CLEAN DRIVING RECORD. BUT "SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" FITS MY SCENARIO TO A TEE.
NHTSA ODI #10821600
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2014
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ALARM SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ALARM SECURITY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10652003
45,000 miles · Aug 17, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
WHEN USING TURN SIGNALS CAR DIES, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH AND CLICK. IF I PULL OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT RESTARTS AND DRIVES FINE UNTIL I TRY THE TURN SIGNAL AGAIN THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENS. I ALSO HAD TO DISCONNECT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SENSOR OR ELSE THE SAME THING HAPPENS. FLASHING, CLICKING AND CAR DIES. NOW, WHENEVE…
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WHEN USING TURN SIGNALS CAR DIES, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH AND CLICK. IF I PULL OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT RESTARTS AND DRIVES FINE UNTIL I TRY THE TURN SIGNAL AGAIN THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENS. I ALSO HAD TO DISCONNECT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SENSOR OR ELSE THE SAME THING HAPPENS. FLASHING, CLICKING AND CAR DIES. NOW, WHENEVER CAR IS IN GEAR, CONSTANT DINGING AND IT WILL DRIVE FINE BUT I CANNOT USE THE TURN SIGNALS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10625827
98,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
PULLED OUT OF GAS STATION TO ENTER STREET AND NOTICED HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON. PULLED OUT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I PULLED BACK ON THE BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON. MECHANIC HAD TOLD ME TO TRY THIS SINCE THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. LAST YEAR, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE BUICK DEALER FOR SOMET…
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PULLED OUT OF GAS STATION TO ENTER STREET AND NOTICED HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON. PULLED OUT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I PULLED BACK ON THE BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON. MECHANIC HAD TOLD ME TO TRY THIS SINCE THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. LAST YEAR, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE BUICK DEALER FOR SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I BROUGHT UP HAVING A DIAGNOSTICS RUN TO SEE IF IT WOULD SHOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE LIGHT PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULDN'T SHOW UP. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. I HAVE READ MANY LETTERS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. GM SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT WOULD COST ABOUT $700.00 TO GET THE SWITCH REPLACED AT THE DEALER. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IF THE LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING? *JS
NHTSA ODI #10617431
100,000 miles · May 8, 2014
Electrical System
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 4:00 AM, WHEN THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT, AND I DID NOT EVEN HAVE PARK LIGHTS. AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR I WAS ABLE TO GET THE PARK LIGHTS TO WORK AND GO ON TO OUR SON'S HOUSE USING ONLY MY PARK LIGHTS. THEN I FINALLY GOT THE LIGHTS TO BURN ENOUGH TO FINISH MY TRIP USING LOW BEAMS. THE H…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 4:00 AM, WHEN THE LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT, AND I DID NOT EVEN HAVE PARK LIGHTS. AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR I WAS ABLE TO GET THE PARK LIGHTS TO WORK AND GO ON TO OUR SON'S HOUSE USING ONLY MY PARK LIGHTS. THEN I FINALLY GOT THE LIGHTS TO BURN ENOUGH TO FINISH MY TRIP USING LOW BEAMS. THE HIGH BEAM WOULD JUST GO OFF AND ONLY THE LOW BEAMS WOULD WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE THEN. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE COMBINATION SWITCH FOR THE LIGHTS TWICE, AND AT THIS TIME,IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN BECAUSE I CANNOT GET THE RIGHT REAR SIGNAL LIGHT TO OPERATE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE COMBINATION SWITCH AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO HAVE DONE. HAVE THERE BEEN MANY MORE REPORTS OF THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM OF SUDDENLY HAVING NO LIGHTS AND HAVING TO HAVE THE WHOLE COMBINATION SWITCH REPLACED. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10587273
170,000 miles · Apr 8, 2014
Electrical System
THE CAR LOCKS ITSELF WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE. WILL HAPPEN IF THE ENGINE IS ON OR OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10578145
15,000 miles · Apr 3, 2014
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER SHAKING THE KEY RING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA ODI #10577112