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Lights

Buick Century Lighting problems by year

176 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Buick Century's lights. Headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals and interior lighting failures.

Lighting complaints by model year

YearLighting complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20059000
200411000
200349000
200224000
20015000
200014000
199923002
199821002
199710001
19962000
19953000
19942000
19922000
19901000
19790001

Lighting recalls

Latest Century lighting complaints

2002 Buick CenturyLightsBrakes

I was driving at night switched headlights to high beams - few minutes later switched back to low beams and ALL LIGHTS dash and head lights went completely out . Tried to pull head light knob and nothing - pitch black . Luckily i was a short distance from my home. This is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ! I have found 33 complaints (so far) about this same problem. This definitely should qualify and be recalled . PLEASE take IMMEDIATE action . Thank you.

Filed Incident Exterior lighting · Unknown or other · Service brakesNHTSA 11448914
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
2000 Buick CenturyLights

Our daughter was nearly killed by a driver with their lights off. Many drivers of late model cars are not aware that their lights are off because their dash is lit and their driving lights are on. There are no alerts telling people their lights are off!!!!! Our seat belts make noise, if a car door is open it alerts us. I have observed that approximately 10-20% of cars on a street or freeway are driving with their lights off. This is a major problem and needs to be solved. This is the second time I have complained with no result. If there is no action I will be filing a class action lawsuit in the name of my daughter against the ntsb to demand action. Please respond.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11266048
2000 Buick CenturyLights

I was driving at night when the headlights shut off, had to hit the dash near the light switch to turn the lights back on.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11209991
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
2003 Buick CenturyLights

BRIGHT LIGHTS WON'T STAY ON.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11153248
2003 Buick CenturyLights

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick century. While driving various speeds, the headlights suddenly shut off. The contact indicated that the failure mainly occurred while switching from low to high beam and vice versa. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000. *Tt*jb

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11140588
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
2003 Buick CenturyLights

Bright lights won't stay on and sometimes if you can get them to come on they will go out while driving. Was on a city street and turned right , they went off. Since then you can hold the bright light switch, but when you turn loose they goes off.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11096874
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...

Read the full complaint

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 CenturyLights

Dec 17,1999 manufacturer recall numbern990093 nhtsa recall number99v356 recall statusrecall incomplete summary these vehicles do not conform to the requirements of fmvss no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." The vertical head lamp adjusting device may not be calibrated properly. Safety risk driver visibility may be impaired increasing the risk of a crash.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11066889
2004 Buick CenturyLights

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.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11056001
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
2003 Buick CenturyLights

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick century. While driving 35 mph, the headlights failed to respond. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 132,704.

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 11021460

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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