NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
23 reportsClear category filter88,000 miles · Aug 22, 2011
Electrical SystemInterior LightingService Brakes, Electric
IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR MY 2003 BUICK CENTURY BEGAN WITH PANEL LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES MAKING THE GAUGES AND SPEEDOMETER IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. VERY EXPENSIVE ESTIMATE TO FIX. THEN IN FEBRUARY WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO SHOP AND THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO DO IT. AFTER THIRD TIM…
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IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR MY 2003 BUICK CENTURY BEGAN WITH PANEL LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES MAKING THE GAUGES AND SPEEDOMETER IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. VERY EXPENSIVE ESTIMATE TO FIX. THEN IN FEBRUARY WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO SHOP AND THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO DO IT. AFTER THIRD TIME HAD IT REPAIRED. TOOK WHOLE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO GET SENSOR $500. IN MARCH DRIVER SIDE WINDOW BEGAN GOING UP AND DOWN BY ITSELF. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE CAR ONLY DOES IT WHEN THE PANEL LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF. BAD VIBRATION IN THE CAR AROUND JUNE. HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED AND NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS. ON AUGUST 4, 2011 VIBRATION STARTED AGAIN, THEN STARTED A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN STARTING AND STOPPING. CAR VIBRATES SO BAD YOU CAN NOT HOLD STEERING WHEEL AT 45-50MPH. THIS POP AND VIBRATION IS NOW COMING FROM FRONT RIGHT SIDE. NOT SURE WHAT IT IS YET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10421081
60,000 miles · Dec 2, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON 2003 BUICK CENTURY DOESN'T WORK , I UNDERSTAND THIS IS COMMON ON THIS CAR AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I FEEL GM SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE. ALSO, THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN I WAS TOLD BY A GARAGE THAT IT WAS THE TYPE OF COOLANT THEY USED AND ALSO VERY COMMON ON THESE CARS. THESE ARE CLEARLY DEFECTS IN THEIR PRODUC…
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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON 2003 BUICK CENTURY DOESN'T WORK , I UNDERSTAND THIS IS COMMON ON THIS CAR AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I FEEL GM SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE. ALSO, THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN I WAS TOLD BY A GARAGE THAT IT WAS THE TYPE OF COOLANT THEY USED AND ALSO VERY COMMON ON THESE CARS. THESE ARE CLEARLY DEFECTS IN THEIR PRODUCT AND THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE BOUGHT AMERICAN CARS ALL MY LIFE BUT I,M DONE WITH THEM ,THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10369014
29,000 miles · Dec 1, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
WHEN I SWITCH TO HIGH BEAMS MY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT COMPLETELY. THEY ONLY GO BACK ON WHEN I SWITCH BACK TO DIMS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HAVEN'T OWNED UP TO IT AND HAD A RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10368470
86,000 miles · Nov 12, 2010
Electrical System
THE INTERNAL PANEL LIGHTS GO OFF WHEN I TURNED ON THE HEAD LIGHTS. I COULD NO LONGER READ MY GAUGES OR SPEEDOMETER. THE HEAD LIGHTS STILL WORK BUT I FEEL THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT THAT MANY ON THE INTERNET HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT WITH THERE HEAD LIGHTS GOING OFF. WHEN WILL MINE STOP WORKING? THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED WITH BUICKS S…
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THE INTERNAL PANEL LIGHTS GO OFF WHEN I TURNED ON THE HEAD LIGHTS. I COULD NO LONGER READ MY GAUGES OR SPEEDOMETER. THE HEAD LIGHTS STILL WORK BUT I FEEL THIS IS THE SAME COMPLAINT THAT MANY ON THE INTERNET HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT WITH THERE HEAD LIGHTS GOING OFF. WHEN WILL MINE STOP WORKING? THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED WITH BUICKS SINCE 1998 AND I CONSIDER VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE DEALER WANTS ALMOST 700.00 TO REPLACE THE DIMMER SWITCH THE CAR IS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10365498
86,375 miles · Nov 11, 2010
Electrical System
INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASED AND CAR IS PUT IN GEAR. IF CAR IN PARK WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND BRAKE ENGAGED LIGHTS ON PANEL ARE ON. HOWEVER, WHEN LIGHTS ARE MANUALLY TURNED ON THE PANEL LIGHTS GO OUT. WHEN LIGHTS MANUALLY TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS GO ON. ONCE IN GEAR THE LIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10365365
120,000 miles · Jun 24, 2010
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. THE GAUGES AND WARNING LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE FUEL LEVELS OR SPEEDS TRAVELED. THE DEALER ADVISED MAKING REPAIRS TO THE CONNECTION OR REPLACING THE CAPACITOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUST…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. THE GAUGES AND WARNING LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE FUEL LEVELS OR SPEEDS TRAVELED. THE DEALER ADVISED MAKING REPAIRS TO THE CONNECTION OR REPLACING THE CAPACITOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10339889
125,000 miles · Jan 3, 2010
Electrical System
FAULTY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON 2003 BUICK CENTURY. OTHER GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WERE RECALLED AND FIXED, BUT BUICK HAS NOT. COST TO REPLACE EXCEEDS $600. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10297892
120,400 miles · Dec 11, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
1) WHILE DRIVING ON A NARROW, CURVY, HILLY TWO LANE ROAD IN THE DARK I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON MY HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AS I WAS HAVING TROUBLE SEEING WHICH WAY THE ROAD WAYS TURNING. WHEN I CLICK THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT TOTALLY AND I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AT ALL. THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH ON THIS CAR IS THE GENERAL …
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1) WHILE DRIVING ON A NARROW, CURVY, HILLY TWO LANE ROAD IN THE DARK I ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON MY HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS AS I WAS HAVING TROUBLE SEEING WHICH WAY THE ROAD WAYS TURNING. WHEN I CLICK THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT TOTALLY AND I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AT ALL. THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH ON THIS CAR IS THE GENERAL MOTORS MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. I WENT OFF THE ROAD NARROWLY MISSING A LARGE BOULDER AND TREE. 2) I HAD TROUBLE GETTING THE HEADLIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. MY CAR NOW ONLY HAS LOW BEAM. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MUST BE FIDDLED WITH AND OPERATED MANY TIME TO TRY TO GETS THE HEADLIGHT TO COME BACK ON. IF I TRY TO GET THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND I MUST PLAY WITH THE SWITCH TO HAVE THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN YOU NEED TO TRAVEL NARROW HILLY ROADS IN RURAL AREAS WITHOUT ANY ROAD LIGHTS. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT YOU BECOME SURPRISED AND NEED A SECOND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS HAPPENED. IN THAT SECOND YOU BECOME A LITTLE DIS-ORIENTED AS YOU ARE TRYING TO GET THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON AND TRYING TO STOP. THE FAILURE IS STILL THERE AS I AM TRYING TO GET IT IN FOR REPAIR. 3) I WILL HAVE THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR IN THE NEXT FEW DAY AND WILL ASK FOR THE FAULTY SWITCH BACK. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH CHEVROLET IMPALA WHO TOLD ME HE HAD THE SAND PROBLEM WITH THIS GENERAL MOTORS MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. IT IS THE SAME SWITCH IN HIS CAR AS MINE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10295323
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2009
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
I HAVE A 2003 BUICK CENTURY V6 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT MY LIGHTS GO OUT IT IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS I WOULD LIKE TO NO THE PROBLEM AS I HAVE READ THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ALSO IF I HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH THEY WILL COME BACK ON BUT THEN GO BACK OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10274343
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED TO SHUT OFF. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN UNLOCKED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE CONTACTED. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10071712