vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Buick CENTURY: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

127 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

63,546 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 94 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 127 complaints (29.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2318.1%
Steering behavior129.4%
Electrical and battery issues75.5%
Transmission and shifting32.4%
Engine operation10.8%
Fuel system concerns10.8%

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.

Exterior Lighting
37
Electrical System
20
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
8
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8
Engine And Engine Cooling
7
Steering
6
Structure
5
Vehicle Speed Control
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Exterior Lighting37
Electrical System20
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch8
Service Brakes, Hydraulic8
Engine And Engine Cooling7
Steering6
Structure5
Vehicle Speed Control5

Exterior Lighting: 37; Electrical System: 20; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Steering: 6; Structure: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
15
25,000 to 49,999
19
50,000 to 74,999
21
75,000 to 99,999
17
100,000 to 149,999
16
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00015
25,000 to 49,99919
50,000 to 74,99921
75,000 to 99,99917
100,000 to 149,99916
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 6

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 33 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.

2003
10
2004
17
2005
6
2006
6
2007
9
2008
8
2009
7
2010
17
2011
8
2012
4
2013
3
2014
11
2015
4
2016
8
2017
2
2018
3
2020
1
2021
2
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200310
200417
20056
20066
20079
20088
20097
201017
20118
20124
20133
201411
20154
20168
20172
20183
20201
20212
20231

2003: 10; 2004: 17; 2005: 6; 2006: 6; 2007: 9; 2008: 8; 2009: 7; 2010: 17; 2011: 8; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 11; 2015: 4; 2016: 8; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10026301 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED IS A DEFECTIVE VISIBILITY AND GMC SAID IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK *CB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026301 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10029519 · 2003-07-17 (July 17, 2003)

THE CONTROLS FOR THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ARE HARD TO OPERATE WHILE DRIVING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029519 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10033683 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES GRABBING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. THE CONSUMER FELT THE BRAKES WERE STILL UNSAFE. *AK THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO BACK. THERE WAS A WHINE COMING FROM THE ENGINE UPON DEACCELERATION SITTING AND STOPPING AND THEN WENT AWAY AS SOON AS THE GAS WAS DEPRESSED TO ACCELERATE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. (IDLE WAS ROUGH) THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND MADE NOISE WHEN WHEN APPLIED IN THE MORNING. *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033683 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034031 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)

WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED WHILE DRIVING ON A WET SURFACE VEHICLE FAILS TO STOP,RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE NOT YET DETERMINED. *AK *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034031 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10037718 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PRODUCED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE LIKE METAL TO METAL. THE BRAKE HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXITS. *AK *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037718 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10037754 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT 10-20 MPH FRONT PASSENGER TIRE HIT A CURB AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AIR BAG COVER EXPLODED IN THE AIR, AND LODGED ITSELF INTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037754 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10037905 · 2003-10-10 (October 10, 2003)

UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED OWNER THAT THIS WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT BECAUSE OF THE MATERIAL THE PADS ARE MADE OF, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. CONSUMER RECEIVED A LOANER 2003 CENTURY AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. *PH *…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,630 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037905 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10037930 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)

THE ALTERNATOR PRODUCED A LOUD HUMMING SOUND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THREE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037930 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.