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2004 Buick Century

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Buick Century do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 28.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

34 reports with mileage · 5 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 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 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 reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

11 reports
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170,000 miles · Jun 13, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES AND CORNERS YOU CAN'T DIM THE HEADLIGHTS. BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T ALLOW THE LEVER TO GO FAR ENOUGH TO CATCH. NOW MY HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN THE THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO. MY CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. MY A/C STOPS COOLING WHEN THE SPEED RE…

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THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES AND CORNERS YOU CAN'T DIM THE HEADLIGHTS. BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T ALLOW THE LEVER TO GO FAR ENOUGH TO CATCH. NOW MY HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN THE THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO. MY CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. MY A/C STOPS COOLING WHEN THE SPEED REACHES 60 MPH BUT IF I MOVE THE M.F.S. (AKA TURN SIGNAL) IT GETS COOL AGAIN FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE OTHER NIGHT MY LIGHTS WENT OFF WHEN I WAS MEETING A CAR WITH ITS HEADLIGHTS ON BRIGHT. IT WAS A DARK STRETCH OF ROAD. I ALMOST RAN IN THE DITCH.

NHTSA ODI #11101549

62,000 miles · Dec 21, 2017
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT NIGHT. ( I MAY HAVE FLASHED MY HIGH BEAMS TO SIGNAL A TRUCK THAT IT WAS SAFE TO CHANGE LANES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. INTERIOR LIGHTS STILL WORKING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NOTHING I DID WOULD BRING HEADLIGHTS BACK ON. VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM!! CAR MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 62,000. 12/2…

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HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT NIGHT. ( I MAY HAVE FLASHED MY HIGH BEAMS TO SIGNAL A TRUCK THAT IT WAS SAFE TO CHANGE LANES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. INTERIOR LIGHTS STILL WORKING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. NOTHING I DID WOULD BRING HEADLIGHTS BACK ON. VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM!! CAR MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 62,000. 12/21/2017 DATE.

NHTSA ODI #11056001

76,000 miles · Apr 3, 2016
Exterior Lighting

WHILE IN MOTION THE HIGH BEAM WILL GO OUT AND LOW BEAM WITH IT - NO LIGHTS AT ALL. YOU MUST PUSH OR PULL THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10853169

130,000 miles · Jan 6, 2015
Exterior Lighting

WE WERE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT RANDOMLY, THIS IS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IT DID NOT SEEM TO MATTER IF THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS ON OR IN THE AUTOMATIC POSITION.

NHTSA ODI #10670582

177,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHEN I TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS THE HEADLIGHTS WILL OCCASIONALLY TURN OFF COMPLETELY, INSTEAD. TO TURN BACK ON THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS I HAVE TO PULL THE HIGH BEAM LEVER BACK AND FORTH MULTIPLE TIMES. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN BACK ON THE HEADLIGHTS I ENGAGE THE HAZARDS SO THAT OTHER VEHICLES CAN STILL SEE ME ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638839

38,700 miles · Nov 28, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SWITCHING FROM HIGH BEAMS TO LOW BEAMS, ALL OF THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO HAVE THE HIGH AND LOW BEAM SWITCH REPLACED. THE VEHICLE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SWITCHING FROM HIGH BEAMS TO LOW BEAMS, ALL OF THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO HAVE THE HIGH AND LOW BEAM SWITCH REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,700. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE CONSUMER STATED EVERY TIME HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, ANOTHER COMPONENT FAILED. UPDATED 01/10/12

NHTSA ODI #10437493

125,887 miles · Nov 14, 2008
EquipmentExterior LightingVisibility

DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH AND THEY CAME BACK ON. IT DID THIS ABOUT THREE TIMES. FOUND OUT THAT IF WE TRIED TO USE THE DIMMER SWITCH THAT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU COULD USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS WAS TO HOLD THE SWITCH. TWO WEEKS LATER WENT …

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DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH AND THEY CAME BACK ON. IT DID THIS ABOUT THREE TIMES. FOUND OUT THAT IF WE TRIED TO USE THE DIMMER SWITCH THAT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU COULD USE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS WAS TO HOLD THE SWITCH. TWO WEEKS LATER WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE TURNED ON THE BLINKER TO TURN AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. HAD TO PULL THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND LUCKILY THEY CAME BACK ON. TONIGHT WE TOOK THE CAR OUT AND THE LIGHTS KEPT GOING OUT. THIS IS ON A 2004 BUICK CENTURY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248861

37,000 miles · Mar 13, 2008
Exterior Lighting

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TURN HIGH BEAMS ON HEAD LIGHTS WILL GO OFF AND YOU WILL HAVE TO PLAY WITH DIMMER SWITCH TO GET THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220993

33,500 miles · Mar 16, 2007
Exterior Lighting

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2004 BUICK CENTURY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. ON 02/15/07 AT 30 MPH ON A RURAL HIGHWAY THE HEADLIGHTS BLINKED OFF AND ON, AND THEN THEY WENT OUT AGAIN AND STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT 1/2 MILE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CURRENT ODOMETER READING WAS 33,800 MILES. ON THE NEXT…

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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2004 BUICK CENTURY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. ON 02/15/07 AT 30 MPH ON A RURAL HIGHWAY THE HEADLIGHTS BLINKED OFF AND ON, AND THEN THEY WENT OUT AGAIN AND STAYED OFF FOR ABOUT 1/2 MILE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CURRENT ODOMETER READING WAS 33,800 MILES. ON THE NEXT DAY HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE BUICK DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE DUSK DAWN SENSOR. AFTER THE REPAIRS HE DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND THE NEXT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF AGAIN. THE CONTACT HASN'T DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE THE LAST EVENT WITH THE LIGHTS TURNING OFF. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS GIVEN CASE# 71-495164830. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10185274

25,000 miles · Nov 10, 2005
Exterior Lighting

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. SHE HAD TO ENGAGE THE DIMMER SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO WORK PROPERLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE DIMMER SWITCH. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALE…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. SHE HAD TO ENGAGE THE DIMMER SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO WORK PROPERLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE DIMMER SWITCH. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH DID NOT DETECT ANYTHING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO FURTHER REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10142380

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.