2004 Buick CENTURY: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10080158 · 2004-06-29 (June 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES ON HER CHEST AREA. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089493 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOWS WHEN ROLLED DOWN OR HALF WAY DOWN A LOUD VIBRATING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. THIS CAUSED PRESSURE TO THE EARS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED, BUT A SOLUTION HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER HAS A SECOND ADDRESS FOR THE WINTER 108 PINE PLACE, WILDWOOD, FL 34785, [phone removed]. *AK THE VIOLENT VIBRATION AND PRESSURE OCCURRED WHEN THE REAR WINDOW(S) WERE DOWN AND SEVERELY EFFECTED THE CONSUMER A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107066 · 2005-02-01 (February 1, 2005)
THE CONSUMER READ ABOUT DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS AND WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2004 BUICK REGAL. *BF *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10107066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124478 · 2005-06-27 (June 27, 2005)
THERE IS AN ELECTRIC SHORT IN MY VEHICLE AND THE CONSUMER WAS AFRAID IT WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND LOST THE RADIO. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER/HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE VEHICLE, AND FOR CONSUMER TO CALL NHTSA AND REPORT IT. *AK THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON 6/18/05 AND FINALLY STARTED BUT EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CLOCK WOULD GO OUT ALONG WITH OTHER UNITS. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142380 · 2005-11-10 (November 10, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. SHE HAD TO ENGAGE THE DIMMER SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO WORK PROPERLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE DIMMER SWITCH. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH DID NOT DETECT ANYTHING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO FURTHER REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153089 · 2006-03-18 (March 18, 2006)
THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO CONSUMER COMPLAINT # ODI CASE NUMBER 10061519. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME COMPLAINT OF THE SLOSHING OF THE GAS WITHIN THE TANK, BUT MY COMPLAINT GOES ONE STEP FURTHER , THERE IS A CLUNK CLUNK ASSOCIATED WITH THE SLOSHING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10153089 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175181 · 2006-12-05 (December 5, 2006)
MY PARENT'S VEHICLE, A 2004 BUICK CENTURY, COLLIDED WITH A GUARD RAIL ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO I-81 IN CHRISTIANSBURG, VA. THEY WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS/SHOULDER HARNESS. MAIN IMPACT WAS FRONT LEFT BUMPER, WHICH WAS PUSHED IN ~ 3 FEET IN A NARROW INDENTATION; HOOD WAS CRUMPLED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WERE TAKEN TO LOCAL HOSPITAL'S EMERGENCY ROOM. I SUSPECT THEIR INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVER HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE IS VERY EXTEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,646 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175181 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.