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Electrical system

Buick Century Electrical problems by year

213 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Buick Century's electrical system. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.

Electrical complaints by model year

YearElectrical complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20056000
20045000
200324100
200226000
200118000
200020000
199916000
199826000
199719100
19964000
19956000
199411110
19927021
19917100
19904010
19894100
19881000
19872000
19863002
19851000
19842000
19831000
19770001

Electrical recalls

Latest Century electrical complaints

2005 Buick CenturyElectrical systemDriver assistance

No abs light on but they don't work. But also there is hot wire running at all times I don't know where it coming from my o2 sensor keep coming on

Filed Incident Electrical system · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11652849
2003 Buick CenturyElectrical systemLightsFuel system

The vehicle's gas tank won't hold much and clicks as if full. Also, when on uneven pavement or ground, the ⛽ gas warning light comes on, even after gas was just put in. In addition, at times I smell a "burning electrical" smell and the headlights go out, the brights fail to "click" on or goes off by itself. The turn signal lights have to be turned manually to blink. All turn signal lights have been replaced multiple times and this does not fix the problem. The back turn signals work and light up, but not the front & blink at a faster rate. Even one side headlight engagement was replaced and the problems still exist.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11403916
1998 Buick CenturyElectrical systemLights

My vehicle's window controls and lock controls are no longer working, when locking the door or the window will go down but will not come up. The rest of the windows control throughout the car will not work as well. The lighting in the car flickers if you would push the lot or the window control. Anterior light is no longer working. None of this works even when parked or driving down the road.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11385397
2003 Buick CenturyElectrical system

Horn button is part of air bag. The horn button shorts out and the horn blows all the time. Have to remove fuse to stop horn blowing. Had to replace air bag to fix. In a few months the problem reoccurred. Its too expensive to replace air bags so I am left without a horn this is a safety issue. Can the manufacturer provide a fix? The internet shows this is a very common problem for a lot of gm cars.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or otherNHTSA 11362671
2000 Buick CenturyElectrical systemLights

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 buick century. On several occasions, while driving, the headlights failed to illuminate without warning. Additionally, when the high beam switch was activated, the check engine, abs, and traction control warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11206049
2004 Buick CenturyElectrical systemLightsAcceleration & cruise 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 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.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 11101549
2000 Buick CenturyTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemLights

Defective odometer readings, gear indicators disappeared. The odometer reading disappeared, and the gear indicator disappeared on instrument cluster. I have no way to read my odometer, nor do I know what gear I am in, prnd21. Now I can accidently be in reverse and not even know it. This is an extremely dangerous situation, and there should be a recall on this. Mechanic charges $100.00 To fix, and also states they can insert any odometer reading that I would like to have. This should be illegal. I no longer...

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have a valid odometer reading for my yearly inspections, or if I were to sell my vehicle. I could drive in 1st gear and burn up my transmission and shut down in the middle of the interstate and cause a serious accident or be run over for dead stopped on roads. My instrument panel has not had an accurate fuel guage reading in years, it comes and goes. I have been able to figure out gas usage by mileage, now that is no longer possible. I must fill up weekly just so I know I wont run out of gas. The car only has 55,000 original miles on it. This is just not right. I extremely upset about this and dont know how to get it fixed properly and covered from the dealerships. You should have a lifetime warranty on your odometer reading and knowing what gear you are in. Please advise and look forward to hearing from you concerning this very serious safety issue.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Interior lightingNHTSA 11084851
1999 Buick CenturyElectrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 buick century. While driving various speeds, the shift gear board and odometer lighting failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to fountain buick (8701 s orange blossom trail a, orlando, fl 32809) where it was diagnosed that the instrument panel lights needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11040328
1999 Buick CenturyElectrical systemLights

1) Need headlight adjustment instructions for a known recall. 2) Every door window motor in the buick failed on each window preventing the windows from lowering if in the up position or prevented the windows from raising if in a lowered position. The windows had to be duct taped shut in order to prevent rain from entering the vehicle cab and the failures happened over 2015 to 2016 and each had to be replaced with new motors. There are large numbers of buick owners across the internet complaining about this issue...

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but I don't believe buick ever issued a recall but I believe they should have. If this isn't a recall, it should be because of the large number of vehicles experiencing this known failure. The closest buick dealer to us is sam leman chevrolet buick, 1040 west center st., Eureka, il. 309-467-2351.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11039787
2002 Buick CenturyElectrical systemAcceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

Intake leaking antifreeze - cost too much to repair for me. My only car to get to work. Replacing bearings today for sticking back brakes. All interior accessories are broken; cosmetic mirror, ashtray, center console, passenger windshield wiper stripped motor, 1 window working. Still owe on car but cannot fix everything. Any help ????

Filed Incident Electrical system · Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 10970588
2003 Buick CenturyElectrical systemLights

When driving at night all lights go out, interior and driving lights, resuming when clicking bright light switch. Driving at 65 mph.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 10825311
2003 Buick CenturyElectrical systemBody, doors & structureAcceleration & cruise controlCrash

I had driven my 2003 buick century at least halfway into a parking space in a parking lot when it suddenly lurched forward like a bat out of hell, leaping up over a curb on an upward slope, swiping a cement lightpost on the left, crashing into another car across its left front, bumping down over a curb, then crashing up and over two more curbs. With divine help I was able to avoid other cars and steer it to a stop, then drive gingerly into the original parking space. Since I was originally in the process of slowing...

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to a stop, my right foot was on the brake at all times. I had never heard of many automakers' infamous "sudden unintended acceleration" manufacturing defect and had no idea what was happening as the car went from 1 or 2 mph to full throttle instantly. With both hands grasping the steering wheel while the car jerked violently, I was unable to shift into neutral, as I was attempting to avoid other parked vehicles. I emerged with no broken bones, but the car was totaled. Because I am a "little old lady," the insurance company deems me "l00% responsible," in spite of my clean driving record. But "sudden unintended acceleration" fits my scenario to a tee.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Structure · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10821600
2005 Buick CenturyElectrical systemLights

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 buick century. While driving approximately 60 mph, the low beams stopped working and hindered the contact's visibility while the vehicle was in motion. The contact had to hold the switch to get the high beams to remain illuminated due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the multi-function switch on the column for the lights needed to be replaced, including prematurely deteriorated ground wires. The dealer stated that the parts were to be ordered,...

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but were not yet available for them to provide a specific date of when the part would be available to complete the repair. The contact left the vehicle at the dealer until the part was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 10820455

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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