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2005 Buick Century
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 2 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 3 |
| Nov 2007 | 1 | 4 |
| Apr 2008 | 1 | 5 |
| Dec 2008 | 1 | 6 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 7 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 8 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 9 |
| Oct 2011 | 1 | 10 |
| Dec 2013 | 1 | 11 |
| Jun 2014 | 1 | 12 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 13 |
| May 2015 | 1 | 14 |
| Sep 2015 | 1 | 15 |
| Nov 2015 | 1 | 16 |
| Jan 2016 | 1 | 17 |
| Jun 2016 | 1 | 18 |
| Apr 2025 | 1 | 19 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Exterior lighting825.0%
- 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.govFUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
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
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
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
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
HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. NO HEADLIGHTS OR BRIGHTS ONLY AVAILABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10775893
- Incident
- Sep 1, 2014
- Mileage
- 65,000 mi
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
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
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.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005Viewing | 19 | 2 | 0 | 41.9 |
| 2004 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 47.9 |
| 2003 | 127 | 2 | 0 | 44.2 |
| 2002 | 154 | 2 | 0 | 47.2 |
| 2001 | 145 | 5 | 0 | 49.5 |
| 2000 | 193 | 7 | 1 | 55.7 |
| 1999 | 235 | 5 | 0 | 51.5 |
| 1998 | 218 | 4 | 4 | 55.9 |
| 1997 | 106 | 4 | 4 | 56.0 |
| 1996 | 80 | 2 | 0 | 50.0 |
| 1995 | 99 | 1 | 0 | 44.8 |
| 1994 | 106 | 6 | 0 | 59.6 |
| 1993 | 54 | 2 | 0 | 59.0 |
| 1992 | 45 | 3 | 0 | 59.3 |
| 1991 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 58.6 |
| 1990 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 55.6 |
| 1989 | 40 | 1 | 1 | 51.9 |
| 1988 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 50.7 |
| 1987 | 28 | 1 | 5 | 55.3 |
| 1986 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 64.9 |
| 1985 | 7 | 1 | 4 | — |
| 1984 | 8 | 4 | 6 | — |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 | 5 | — |
| 1982 | 3 | 2 | 4 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 6 | 2 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
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.