RoadVitals

2005 Buick Century

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
19
Latest Apr 4, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Feb 17, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Buick Century, most frequently naming the exterior lighting, electrical and brakes categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 497 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical721.9%
  • Brakes39.4%
  • Seat belts26.3%
  • Engine26.3%
  • Interior & seats26.3%
  • Transmission13.1%
  • Airbags13.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

STEERING

Feb 17, 2009
979 units potentially affected
The defect: DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.
The risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.
DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

Mar 12, 2007
742 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Apr 4, 2025

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

NHTSA ID
11652849
Incident
Jul 12, 2011
Brakes
Filed Jun 16, 2016

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, DUE TO BRAKE LINE CORROSION. FORTUNATELY HAPPENED FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WHILE ONLY ABOUT 1000 FEET FROM HOME AND WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP.

NHTSA ID
10874731
Incident
Jun 15, 2016
Mileage
45,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 15, 2016

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, 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.

NHTSA ID
10820455
Incident
Jan 26, 2015
Mileage
118,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 2, 2015

A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON. ONCE WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR WITH A FRIEND WHO ALSO OWNS A BUICK THE ISSUE OCCURRED AND HE TOLD ME HIS CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED BUICK, WHO DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE, THEY REFERRED ME TO MY LOCAL BUICK DEALER WHO WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT INDICATED MY MODEL WAS NOT ONE THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED. AS GM SAID THEY HAD NO LIABILITY, I PAID MY LOCAL BUICK DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE, WHICH THEY DETERMINED WAS A FAULTY HEADLIGHT SENSOR. THE PART WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE ON JULY 1, 2015. 3 WEEKS AGO THE ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN, DRIVING ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I CONTACTED GM AGAIN, THEY ASSIGNED A FILE # 8-1631489873 BUT ASSUMED NO RESPONSIBILITY, AGAIN TELLING ME TO DEAL WITH MY LOCAL BUICK DEALER.

NHTSA ID
10787600
Incident
Oct 9, 2015
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 24, 2015

HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. NO HEADLIGHTS OR BRIGHTS ONLY AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10775893
Incident
Sep 1, 2014
Mileage
65,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 19, 2015

WE HAVE HAD OUR 2005 BUICK LACROSSE FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS NOW AND WANT TO REPORT THIS LIGHTING SAFETY CONCERN. THIS HEADLIGHT INCIDENT WITH OUR BUICK HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO US, THREE TIMES SINCE MID APRIL. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, WE WERE DRIVING ONE EVENING, SUDDENLY OUR LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AS IT WAS A DARK STRETCH OF ROAD, WITH TRAFFIC. I SLOWED AND FOUND A REASONABLE SAFE SPOT TO PULL OVER. I TRIED TURNING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IN SEVERAL POSITIONS WITH NO SUCCESS. WE NORMALLY KEEP THE HEADLAMP SWITCH IN THE AUTO POSITION. OUR LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS STILL WERE NOT COMING ON. I THEN FOUND I COUND TURN MY HIGH BEAMS ON, SO I DID TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AND BE ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. DRIVING WITH ONLY HIGH BEAMS IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL. IT CAN BE BLINDING TO ON COMING TRAFFIC AND I COULD HAVE BEEN CITED IF I HAD BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE. FROM WHERE MY LOW BEAMS WENT OUT, TO HOME WAS ABOUT 4.5 MILES. RIGHT BEFORE PULLING IN AT HOME MY LOW BEAMS CAME BACK ON. I TURNED OFF THE HIGH BEAMS AND STILL HAD THE LOW BEAMS. QUITE UNUSUAL. THEN WITHIN A 2 TO 3 WEEK STRETCH, MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT TWICE AGAIN. RIGHT AWAY, I TURNED ON MY HIGH BEAMS AND WITHIN 15 - 20 MINUTES, LOW BEAMS CAME BACK ON. WHILE I'M ABLE TO LIGHT UP THE ROAD USING THE HIGH BEAMS IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN - IT STILL IS NOT A SAFE ALTERNATIVE. THERE IS AN ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A MODULE PROBLEM, BAD WIRING, I JUST DON'T KNOW. I DID FIND OUT ON THE INTERNET, OTHER SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL DRIVERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE. LIGHTS GOING OUT FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU FOR RESEARCHING AND GETTING GM TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND HAVE THEM FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10717414
Incident
Apr 15, 2015
Mileage
82,500 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Sep 14, 2014

2005 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM. PURCHASED USED IN EXCELLENT CONDITION FROM FORD DEALERSHIP IN 2011. ELECTRIC WINDOWS WORKED FINE, THEN IN 2012, 1 OF THE WINDOWS JUST FELL DOWN THE TRACK. A CPL MONTHS LATER ANOTHER DID THE SAME THING AND THEN A CPL MORE MONTHS A THIRD ONE FELL. I REMOVED THE DOOR PANELS AS THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED AND COULD FEEL A CABLE LAYING LOOSE DOWN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE DOORWELL. I'M NOT SURE IF A "POSSIBLE PULLEY" OR THE CABLES THEIRSELVES BROKE, BUT THIS IS AN OBVIOUS ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL & YEAR FROM WHAT I READ ON CARPARTS.COM. I NOW HAVE PIECES OF 1"X2"'S WEDGED IN TO HOLD THEM UP BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDS. IF THIS IS ACTUALLY A COMMON ISSUE, AS I READ, THEN THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO MAKE IT AS A RECALL. THANK YOU **NOTE - I ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR BETWEEN 50-65 MI. A WEEK ON PAVED ROADS AND NO ROUGH DRIVING AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS EVER. A VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10632989
Incident
Sep 10, 2012
Mileage
121,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 20, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND PLACED IN NEUTRAL GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE NEEDED A PSI FUEL REGULATOR, SES LAMP LIGHT AND EGR VALVE . THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 140,193. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN. UPDATED 08/27/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10604816
Incident
Jun 12, 2014
Mileage
140,193 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIP5358D

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.

PIT5074Q

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads. The J-35616-64B is the latest test probe released for checking tension or probing the .64 series terminals. The test probe terminal has been released in the terminal repair kit (J-38125-620H) located in Lear Tray 7 part number 963716-2. There are 5 terminated leads in a package part number is 13505346, which can be ordered through your normal General Motors Customer Care and Aftersales parts channel.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buick Century by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005Viewing192041.9
2004392047.9
20031272044.2
20021542047.2
20011455049.5
20001937155.7
19992355051.5
19982184455.9
19971064456.0
1996802050.0
1995991044.8
19941066059.6
1993542059.0
1992453059.3
1991382158.6
1990332155.6
1989401151.9
1988164350.7
1987281555.3
1986223364.9
1985714
1984846
1983115
1982324
1981132
1980062
1979061
1978071
1977040
1976020
1975020
1974020
1973030

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.