IllustrationTL* 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.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Century years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 reports2003 BUICK CENTURY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED FOR THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. IT WOULD ACCELERATE UP TO 60 MPH, EVEN WHEN HER FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE VERY HIGH, WHEN THE ACCELER…
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2003 BUICK CENTURY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED FOR THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. IT WOULD ACCELERATE UP TO 60 MPH, EVEN WHEN HER FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE VERY HIGH, WHEN THE ACCELERATION OCCURRED.
2003 BUICK CENTURY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TIE ROD ENDS RECALL INFORMATION. *SMD THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED AND ADJUSTED THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD. UPDATED 10/28/13
ALL LIGHTS (EXT AND CONTROL PANEL) WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT. IF I QUICKLY FLICK THE LIGHT CONTROL LEVER THEY COME BACK ON. THIS IS AN INTERMITTANT PROBLEM BUT QUITE UN NERVING! I HAVE SEEN NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLITEN. *TR
THE CAR WILL SPEED UP ON ITS OWN WHILE THE FOOT IS OFF THE PEDAL. ALSO, WHEN I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT A LIGHT, THE CAR WILL START REVVING UP AS IF I HAD MY FOOT ON BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED TO NO AVAIL. WHAT COULD THESE BE? I AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY I WI…
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THE CAR WILL SPEED UP ON ITS OWN WHILE THE FOOT IS OFF THE PEDAL. ALSO, WHEN I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT A LIGHT, THE CAR WILL START REVVING UP AS IF I HAD MY FOOT ON BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED TO NO AVAIL. WHAT COULD THESE BE? I AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY I WILL GET IN AN ACCIDENT DO TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE HEADLIGHTS STILL DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAD TO BE USED WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, BOTH HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE HEADLIGHTS STILL DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAD TO BE USED WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN MAY HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,300. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH FAILED AND THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THE ROCKER PANELS WERE COMPLATELY RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED FOR DIAGNOSIS AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PANELS WERE BEYOND REPAIR AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TRADE THE VEHICLE FOR A NEWER ONE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S P…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THE ROCKER PANELS WERE COMPLATELY RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED FOR DIAGNOSIS AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PANELS WERE BEYOND REPAIR AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TRADE THE VEHICLE FOR A NEWER ONE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S PERSONAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE RADIATOR MOUNTS WERE RUSTED AND ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,000. UPDATED 08/07/12*LJ
FIRESTONE FR710 TIRES PURCHASED IN 2011 ARE EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION AROUND THE SHOULDER OF THE TIRE STARTING WITH RIGHT FRONT TIRE. TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES OF MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES. ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED EVERY 6000 MILES OR LESS AND ALL OTHER VEHICLE COMPONENTS SUSPENSION, TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS, AND ALI…
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FIRESTONE FR710 TIRES PURCHASED IN 2011 ARE EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION AROUND THE SHOULDER OF THE TIRE STARTING WITH RIGHT FRONT TIRE. TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES OF MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES. ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED EVERY 6000 MILES OR LESS AND ALL OTHER VEHICLE COMPONENTS SUSPENSION, TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS, AND ALIGNMENT ARE ALL WITHIN SPEC PER. TOOK SAID VEHICLE TO TWO OTHER TIRE SHOPS TO CONFIRM TIRE SHOULDER SEPARATION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROCKER PANELS WERE CORRODED ON BOTH SIDES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROCKER PANELS WERE CORRODED ON BOTH SIDES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. ..UPDATED 03/21/12 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY BUICK, THE RUST WAS TRAVELING UP TO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND WAS BEYOND REPAIR. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE LEARNED THE RADIATOR SUPPORTS HAVE ALSO ROTTED OUT. UPDATED 03/23/12
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.