RoadVitals

1997 Buick Century Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Jul 5, 2012
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 106 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Buick Century submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 5, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC WHO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE WIRING OF THE TURN SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,887. ... UPDATED 08-07-12 *BF THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 08/09/12*JB

NHTSA ID
10464291
Incident
Jul 1, 2011
Mileage
89,887 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 15, 2004

TAIL LIGHTS WILL NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY . DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AKI

NHTSA ID
10103799
Incident
Oct 8, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 26, 2004

SAFETY CONCERN RELATIVE TO HEAD LIGHT LENS FOGGING FROM THE SUN. (NAR) *PH DEALER NOTIFIED. *CB

NHTSA ID
10065212
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 6, 2004

HEADLIGHTS HAVE AN ACCUMULATION OF CONDENSATION BUILDING UP INSIDE THE LENS. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10048062
Incident
Oct 2, 2003
Mileage
65,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 23, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR *JB

NHTSA ID
8021418
Incident
Oct 7, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 23, 2002

BOTH HEADLIGHT COVERS WHICH CAME AS CLEAR PLASTIC HAVE DEVELOPED A FILM IN SIDE OF THEM WHICH THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO TRY TO REMOVE AS HE WOULD HAVE TO BREAK THE SEAL. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING SLOWLY WORSE AND IS SOMEWHAT RESTRICTING THE HEADLIGHS ABILITY TO LET LIGHT PASS THROUGH. REPLACEMENT COST AT $288.OO EACH WOULD BE $604.80 INCLUDING TAX. A LITTLE STEEP FOR TWO PIECES OF PLASTIC. ANYWAY I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED. THANKS.*AK

NHTSA ID
758531
Incident
Jan 2, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 1, 1999

DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAILED.MGM

NHTSA ID
606898
Incident
May 13, 1997
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 21, 1997

DESIGN OF THE HEAD LAMPS CREATE POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ID
525302
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 23, 1997

DESIGN OF HEADLIGHTS CREATES SHADOW OR DARK AREA ON EACH SIDE OF VEHICLE, IMPAIRS DRIVERS VISION, CANNOT SEE TO LEFT/RIGHT WHEN MAKING TURNS AT INTERSECTION/AROUND SHARP CORNERS, COULD CAUSE CRASH. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
816566
Incident
Sep 19, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .