2003 Buick Century Exterior lighting Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11403916

Incident

Mar 19, 2021

BRIGHT LIGHTS WON'T STAY ON.

NHTSA ID

11153248

Incident

Jun 12, 2013

Mileage

79,846 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11140588

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

98,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11096874

Incident

Jun 12, 2013

Mileage

79,846 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11021460

Incident

Sep 3, 2017

Mileage

132,704 mi

TURN BRIGHTS ON AND RADIO/CLOCK LIGHT GOES OFF. NO HEADLIGHTS ON DURING DAY DRIVING, RADIO/CLOCK LIGHT RANDOMLY GOES ON AND BACK OFF. HEAD LIGHTS BRIEFLY GONE OFF DURING NIGHT DRIVING 3 DIFFERENT TIMES ONLY FOR MAYBE 5 SECONDS, BUT IT ONLY TAKES A SECOND FOR A DEER OR OBJECT TO APPEAR AT NIGHT OR A CAR AHEAD BRAKING SUDDENLY. SPEEDOMETER BACK LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. TRAC OFF AND ANTI LOCK WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY STAY ON, I HAVE HAD MY BRAKES REPLACED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OF OWNING THE CAR SINCE OCTOBER 2007 AND THE WARNING LIGHTS DO NOT RESET THEMSELVES AS THEY SHOULD, THEY CONTINUOUSLY STAY ON SINCE 2009. I AM TIRED OF DEALING WITH ALL OF THESE ELECTRICAL AND LIGHTENING ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND GM RECALL FOR THESE PROBLEMS. PLEASE TELL ME WHERE AND HOW I CAN HAVE THESE DEFECTS FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10907184

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

110,782 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS CAUSED A HAZE OVER THE HEADLIGHTS, WHICH PREVENTED THEM FROM ILLUMINATING CORRECTLY AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN TO CLEAN OR REPLACE THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10892161

Incident

Mar 5, 2013

Mileage

185,000 mi

PURCHASED ON 2004, USED, THE 2003 VEHICLE HAS CONSISTENTLY HAD THE HEAD LAMPS GO OUT WHEN IN HIGHBEAMS ARE ACTIVATED. THE DEALER SAID THIS IS A SHORT AND SAID IT WOULD COST ME TO FIX THEM AND THIS HAPPENS TO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS GO OUT. CLICKING THE LOW BEAMS ON TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON. SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE, WHY IS THERE. TO A RECALL ON THIS? THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT ALL SPEEDS. (ONLY IN THE DARK, SINCE THIS IS WHEN THE HIGH BEA,S ARE USED!)

NHTSA ID

10875487

Incident

Mar 23, 2005

Mileage

22,300 mi

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT HEAD LIGHTS JUST SHUT OFF BRIEFLY. IT SEEMS TO DO THIS ON DIMS OR BRIGHTS. I SEE A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND I DON'T SEE ANY RECALLS. THEY COME BACK ON, BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO DETERMINE IF THEY COME BACK ON FROM MESSING WITH THE SWITCH OR IF THEY JUST COME BACK ON BY THEMSELVES. I'M NOT SURE IF THE TAILLIGHTS GO OUT AS WELL BUT IF THEY DO THAT'S A HAZARD FOR THOSE COMING UP BEHIND ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!

NHTSA ID

10872464

Incident

Apr 13, 2016

Mileage

55,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS WERE ACTIVATED, BUT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ID

10850174

Incident

Mar 3, 2016

Mileage

94,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ALL LIGHTS GO OUT, INTERIOR AND DRIVING LIGHTS, RESUMING WHEN CLICKING BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCH. DRIVING AT 65 MPH.

NHTSA ID

10825311

Incident

Jan 22, 2016

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO SUGGESTED THAT REPLACING THE DEMO SWITCH FROM THE COLUMN MAY REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO SIGNAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ID

10788354

Incident

Dec 4, 2011

Mileage

152,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10763118

Incident

Oct 27, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHEN USING TURN SIGNALS CAR DIES, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH AND CLICK. IF I PULL OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK IT RESTARTS AND DRIVES FINE UNTIL I TRY THE TURN SIGNAL AGAIN THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENS. I ALSO HAD TO DISCONNECT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SENSOR OR ELSE THE SAME THING HAPPENS. FLASHING, CLICKING AND CAR DIES. NOW, WHENEVER CAR IS IN GEAR, CONSTANT DINGING AND IT WILL DRIVE FINE BUT I CANNOT USE THE TURN SIGNALS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10625827

Incident

Aug 13, 2012

Mileage

45,000 mi

PULLED OUT OF GAS STATION TO ENTER STREET AND NOTICED HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON. PULLED OUT THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I PULLED BACK ON THE BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCH AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON. MECHANIC HAD TOLD ME TO TRY THIS SINCE THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. LAST YEAR, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE BUICK DEALER FOR SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I BROUGHT UP HAVING A DIAGNOSTICS RUN TO SEE IF IT WOULD SHOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE LIGHT PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULDN'T SHOW UP. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR AT NIGHT. I HAVE READ MANY LETTERS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. GM SHOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT WOULD COST ABOUT $700.00 TO GET THE SWITCH REPLACED AT THE DEALER. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IF THE LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING? *JS

NHTSA ID

10617431

Incident

Jul 26, 2014

Mileage

98,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10519430

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10488788

Incident

Dec 5, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10487959

Incident

Dec 10, 2012

Mileage

54,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT MY HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND THEN TURNED BACK ON, THIS MORNING AS I LEFT FOR WORK THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT COME ON AT ALL, THE BRIGHTS ONLY WORKED IF I HELD THE BAR BACK AS IT WOULD NOT STAY ON BY CLICKING IT. AFTER READING ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE SURE THIS GETS TAKEN CARE OF? *TR

NHTSA ID

10382693

Incident

Feb 15, 2011

Mileage

196,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, MY HEADLIGHTS JUST GO OUT! THIS HAS HAPPENED OFTEN IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF. I COMMUTE AN HOUR TO WORK AND IT HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THEY ARE ON MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY, IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THEY ARE ON LOW OR HIGH BEAM. I DISCOVERED THAT THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON IF I HIT THE DIMMER SWITCH. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS WORTHY OF INVESTIGATION AND A RECALL BEING ISSUED. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR A RECALL? WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED IN A HEAD ON CRASH? *TR

NHTSA ID

10378189

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

THIRD INCIDENT WHERE 2003 BUICK CENTURY HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM) TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT; NO CONTROLS OR BUTTONS TOUCHED. FIRST INCIDENT AT 155,000 MILES, SECOND INCIDENT AT 160,000, AND NOW THIRD INCIDENT AT 162,500 MILES. SITUATION LASTS 10 SECONDS AND THEN HEADLIGHTS RETURN. TURNING DIMMER SWITCH MAKES NO DIFFERENCE AND NOR DOES HIGH BEAM CONTROL. NO DIAGNOSTIC CODE APPEARS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NO RECALL OR TECHNICAL BULLETIN ISSUED.

NHTSA ID

10375989

Incident

Jan 6, 2011

Mileage

162,700 mi

03 BUICK CENTURY HEADLAMPS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING WITH HIGH BEAMS 'STILL EARLY IN DIAG HAVE NOT REPAIRED YET { GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT }. *TR

NHTSA ID

10372612

Incident

Dec 25, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHEN I SWITCH TO HIGH BEAMS MY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT COMPLETELY. THEY ONLY GO BACK ON WHEN I SWITCH BACK TO DIMS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HAVEN'T OWNED UP TO IT AND HAD A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10368470

Incident

Apr 1, 2007

Mileage

29,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS IN ACTIVATION. SUDDENLY, THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CAUTION AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. UPDATED 2/23/11 *CN ALSO, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/31/11

NHTSA ID

10365800

Incident

Dec 31, 2007

Mileage

67,000 mi

DRIVING IN THE DARK WITH HIGH BEAMS ON, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY, HAD TO ACTIVATE LOW BEAMS TO GET LIGHTS BACK ON. THIS IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY.

NHTSA ID

10364954

Incident

Oct 20, 2010

Mileage

156,000 mi