Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
150–25K
1925–50K
2150–75K
1775–100K
16100–150K
6150K+
94 reports with mileage · 33 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Exterior Lighting. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
127 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING,VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, AND NO PROBLEM WAS RECALLED FROM THE MACHINE. THEN, MECHANIC TOOK THE VEHICLE ON A TEST DRIVE . VEHICLE DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM. BUT MECHANIC I…
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WHILE DRIVING,VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, AND NO PROBLEM WAS RECALLED FROM THE MACHINE. THEN, MECHANIC TOOK THE VEHICLE ON A TEST DRIVE . VEHICLE DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM. BUT MECHANIC INSISTED THAT NO SOLUTION WAS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10083241
38,784 miles · May 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY 2003 BUICK CENTURY STARTED RUNNING BAD SO I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING DOWN THE ROCKER ARMS HAD STRIPPED OUT OF THE HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS 2000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY AND GM WOULD ONLY AGREE TO PAY FOR PARTS, I HAD TO PAY $1276.46 FOR LABOR. TO ME THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE PARTS AND I …
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MY 2003 BUICK CENTURY STARTED RUNNING BAD SO I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING DOWN THE ROCKER ARMS HAD STRIPPED OUT OF THE HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS 2000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY AND GM WOULD ONLY AGREE TO PAY FOR PARTS, I HAD TO PAY $1276.46 FOR LABOR. TO ME THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE PARTS AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR ANYTHING.
NHTSA ODI #10072393
Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages
AFTER BEING DRIVEN AND THEN PARKED TRUCK LID POPPED OPEN ONCE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10071714
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2004
Structure
CONSUMER NOTICED WATER RUNNING FROM THE DOOR FRAME AFTER OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10068703
46 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THERE WOULD BE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. AFTER THE BRAKES WARMED UP, THE NOISE DISAPPEARED. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER REPORTED THE PROBLEM EACH TIME HE HAD GONE TO THE DEALER. THE FI…
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WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THERE WOULD BE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. AFTER THE BRAKES WARMED UP, THE NOISE DISAPPEARED. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER REPORTED THE PROBLEM EACH TIME HE HAD GONE TO THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER SPRAYED THE BRAKE SHOES BUT THIS DID NOTHING. THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DONE. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10064984
28,000 miles · Feb 25, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DEALER REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10059787
Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2004
Suspension
VEHICLE CREEP FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON THE ROADWAY WHILE BEING DRIVEN. *PH THE VEHICLE WOULD WANDER FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING. THIS CONDITION REQUIRED THE DRIVER TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT THE VEHICLE'S STEERING. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT CONSIDERED THE CONDITION NORMAL. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10057164
8,300 miles · Nov 24, 2003
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE FRONT/ LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, UPON IMPACT NONEOF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10038263
9,630 miles · Oct 10, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires
UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED OWNER THAT THIS WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT BECAUSE OF THE MATERIAL THE PADS ARE MADE OF, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. CONSUMER RECEIVED A LOANER 2003 CENTURY AND EXPER…
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UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED OWNER THAT THIS WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT BECAUSE OF THE MATERIAL THE PADS ARE MADE OF, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. CONSUMER RECEIVED A LOANER 2003 CENTURY AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. *PH *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10037905
274 miles · Oct 2, 2003
Structure
THE WAY THE DASHBOARD IS DESIGNED IT GIVES OFF A REFLECTION OF ITSELF ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE REFLECTION IS MORE APPARENT IN THE SUNLIGHT. THIS RESULTS IN POOR VISIBILITY. MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT CONSUMER COVER THE DASHBOARD. BUT, ACCORDING TO OWNER'S MANUAL, SENSORS ON THE DASHBOARD SHOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE CORREC…
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THE WAY THE DASHBOARD IS DESIGNED IT GIVES OFF A REFLECTION OF ITSELF ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE REFLECTION IS MORE APPARENT IN THE SUNLIGHT. THIS RESULTS IN POOR VISIBILITY. MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT CONSUMER COVER THE DASHBOARD. BUT, ACCORDING TO OWNER'S MANUAL, SENSORS ON THE DASHBOARD SHOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE CORRECT MODEL YEAR IS 2004, NOT IN ARTEMIS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10042154
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2003 Buick Century Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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