Total Complaints
35 filings
BUICK CENTURY · model year
35 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2005BUICKCENTURY carries 35 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 CENTURY is electrical system with 5 filings, followed by exterior lighting (4) and exterior lighting:headlights (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2005 CENTURY. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
35 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 4 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH | 1 |
STEERING
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
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
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.
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
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
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.
Mileage: 45,000
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.
Mileage: 118,000
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.
Mileage: 118,000
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.
Mileage: 80,000
HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. NO HEADLIGHTS OR BRIGHTS ONLY AVAILABLE.
Mileage: 65,000
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 M
Mileage: 82,500
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 M
Mileage: 82,500
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
Mileage: 121,000
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
Mileage: 140,193
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
Mileage: 140,193
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. WHEN HIGH/LOW BEAM SELECTOR WAS USED, LIGHTS RETURNED ON. SUSPECT FAULTY SWITCH?? *TR
Mileage: 48,740
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. WHEN HIGH/LOW BEAM SELECTOR WAS USED, LIGHTS RETURNED ON. SUSPECT FAULTY SWITCH?? *TR
Mileage: 48,740
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ACTIVATING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. WHEN ACTIVATING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD FLASH ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE IGNITION STARTER SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Mileage: 87,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE SMELL OF GASOLINE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OVERPOWERING ODOR WAS OFTEN UNBEARABLE TO WHERE HE WAS UNABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE OVERPOWERING AND OFFENSIVE ODOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,860.
Mileage: 76,860
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC COVER LENS CAUSING THE PLASTIC COVER TO FOG. THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE REDUCED VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY AND THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,617. UPDATED 12/21/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, THE ROTORS, TIRES AND SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/3/10
Mileage: 57,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC COVER LENS CAUSING THE PLASTIC COVER TO FOG. THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE REDUCED VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY AND THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,617. UPDATED 12/21/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, THE ROTORS, TIRES AND SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/3/10
Mileage: 57,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC COVER LENS CAUSING THE PLASTIC COVER TO FOG. THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE REDUCED VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY AND THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,617. UPDATED 12/21/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, THE ROTORS, TIRES AND SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/3/10
Mileage: 57,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS WERE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TO THE PLASTIC COVER LENS CAUSING THE PLASTIC COVER TO FOG. THE FAILURE WOULD CAUSE REDUCED VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY AND THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,617. UPDATED 12/21/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, THE ROTORS, TIRES AND SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/3/10
Mileage: 57,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.