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2003 Buick Century

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Century years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Buick Century are substantially higher than the model-year median of 28.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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
87,253 miles · Jan 22, 2015
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel/propulsion System

EVERY BUICK OWNER, I HAVE TALKED TO AT ABOUT 80,000 TO 100,000 MILES HAS TO REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND BOLTS. THIS IS ABOUT A $1200.00 JOB, GASKETS AND BOLTS SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678391

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

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2014
Power Train

THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE PARK, REVERSE, DRIVE HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR YEARS MY 84 YEAR OLD UNCLE NEVER NEW WHAT GEAR HE WAS IN AND HE GAVE ME THE CAR IN 09 AND WE CALL ON IT AND THEY TOLD US THEIR WAS NO RECALL AND 9 MONTH AGO IT FINALLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY WE HAVE TO COUNT SO WE KNOW WHAT GEAR WE ARE IN AND YOU CAN'T …

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THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE PARK, REVERSE, DRIVE HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR YEARS MY 84 YEAR OLD UNCLE NEVER NEW WHAT GEAR HE WAS IN AND HE GAVE ME THE CAR IN 09 AND WE CALL ON IT AND THEY TOLD US THEIR WAS NO RECALL AND 9 MONTH AGO IT FINALLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY WE HAVE TO COUNT SO WE KNOW WHAT GEAR WE ARE IN AND YOU CAN'T SEE THE MILEAGE I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE OLDER PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651656

38,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINE ROTTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINE ROTTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ALL FOUR BRAKE LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ODI #10638885

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

40,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10617359

37,000 miles · Jul 28, 2014
Power TrainSteeringSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND JERK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING A TURN OR APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER MORE THAN FIVE TIMES AND THE RACK AND…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND JERK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING A TURN OR APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER MORE THAN FIVE TIMES AND THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURES PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E005000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ODI #10616986

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

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.