2004 Buick CENTURY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
73,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 34 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 39 complaints (17.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 10.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 5.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
Exterior Lighting: 7; Air Bags: 5; Electrical System: 5; Engine: 4; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Service Brakes: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
2004: 3; 2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 3
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10524693 · 2013-07-13 (July 13, 2013)
THE GAS GAUGE IS NOT ACCURATE EVEN THROUGH IT SAYS NO FUEL IT STILL HAS PLENTY IN THE TANK. THE CAR REVERSE UP AND GOES ON ITS OWN WITHOUT USING THE GAS PEDAL AND WHEN YOU PUT THE BRAKES ON IT SHUTTERS. THE WINDOWS DON'T WORK VERY WELL ANYMORE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524693 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10595305 · 2014-05-31 (May 31, 2014)
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR INCREASE SPEED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE PEDAL WILL KEEP INCREASING SPEED SLIGHTLY MAKING YOU HIT BRAKES OR PULL OVER. I RESTART THE CAR AND SOMETIMES THIS WILL STOP IT SOMETIMES NOT. IT IS GETTING WORSE AND I HAVE HAD IT TO A DEALER WITH NO FINDING. I HAVE CONTACTED BUICK THROUGH EMAIL AND HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING YET. THE CAR WILL DO THIS EVEN IN THE CITY AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH WE HAVE TO BRAKE OR IT WILL GO FASTER AND FASTER. I HAVE CONTACTED ALL I KNOW TO AND CANNOT FIND WHAT IS GOING ON. I NEED SOME ASSISTANCE BEFORE TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10536063 · 2013-08-19 (August 19, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE TRAVELING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10566523 · 2014-02-28 (February 28, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE DEFECT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND NO REPAIRS WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 05/28/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEYS WERE TOO HEAVY IN THE IGNITION. SINCE REMOVING THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10437493 · 2011-11-28 (November 28, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SWITCHING FROM HIGH BEAMS TO LOW BEAMS, ALL OF THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO HAVE THE HIGH AND LOW BEAM SWITCH REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,700. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE CONSUMER STATED EVERY TIME HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, ANOTHER COMPONENT FAILED. UPDATED 01/…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10437493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11375490 · 2020-11-20 (November 20, 2020)
POWER SEAT WIRING HARNESS SORTED TO SEAT FRAME/SPRING
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11375490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10726670 · 2015-06-22 (June 22, 2015)
THE "SWAYBAR" FOR STEERING BROKE. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAYS HE HAS SEEN THIS ISSUE WITH BUICK CENTURYS BEFORE. IT COST APPROXIMATELY $825.00 TO FIX.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10726670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11101549 · 2018-06-13 (June 13, 2018)
THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN GOING AROUND CURVES AND CORNERS YOU CAN'T DIM THE HEADLIGHTS. BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T ALLOW THE LEVER TO GO FAR ENOUGH TO CATCH. NOW MY HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN THE THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO. MY CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. MY A/C STOPS COOLING WHEN THE SPEED REACHES 60 MPH BUT IF I MOVE THE M.F.S. (AKA TURN SIGNAL) IT GETS COOL AGAIN FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE OTHER NIGHT MY LIGHTS WENT OFF WHEN I WAS MEETING A CAR WITH ITS HEADLIGHTS ON BRIGHT. IT WAS A DARK STRETCH OF ROAD. I AL…
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11101549 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061519 · 2004-03-05 (March 5, 2004)
CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE FUEL SLASHING BACK AND FORTH IN THE FUEL TANK DUE TO THE FACT THE TANK WAS LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. ALSO, THERE WAS CRACKLING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT CRACKLING NOISE WAS DUE TO THE WEATHER, AND THE FUEL SLASHING WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10702249 · 2015-03-27 (March 27, 2015)
YOU COULD SMELL GAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO MY GARAGE AND THEY WENT ALL OVER IT AND COULD NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR THE SMELL. IT DIDN'T MATTER IF THE GAS TANK WAS FULL OR HALF FULL. WHEN THE WEATHER WAS WARM IT WAS MUCH WORSE. I AM WONDERING IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I AM AFRAID THE CAR WILL CATCH ON FILE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 106,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10702249 at NHTSA ↗