FaultScore

2000 Buick Century headlight problems

16 of the 249 complaints about the 2000 Buick Century are about the lighting — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 58,900 miles.

A

16

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Exterior Lighting 6 37.5%
Headlights 5 31.3%
Interior Lighting 2 12.5%
Switch 1 6.3%
Switch 1 6.3%
High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch 1 6.3%

Lights across every Buick Century year

1997 10 6.2%
1998 23 14.3%
1999 24 14.9%
2000 16 9.9%
2002 27 16.8%
2003 50 31.1%
2004 11 6.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Apple Valley, MN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

OUR DAUGHTER WAS NEARLY KILLED BY A DRIVER WITH THEIR LIGHTS OFF. MANY DRIVERS OF LATE MODEL CARS ARE NOT AWARE THAT THEIR LIGHTS ARE OFF BECAUSE THEIR DASH IS LIT AND THEIR DRIVING LIGHTS ARE ON. THERE ARE NO ALERTS TELLING PEOPLE THEIR LIGHTS ARE OFF!!!!! OUR SEAT BELTS MAKE NOISE, IF A CAR DOOR IS OPEN IT ALERTS US. I HAVE OBSERVED THAT APPROXIMATELY 10-20% OF CARS ON A STREET OR FREEWAY ARE DRIVING WITH THEIR LIGHTS OFF. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE SOLVED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE COMPLAINED WITH NO RESULT. IF THERE IS NO ACTION I WILL BE FILING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN THE NAME OF MY DAUGHTER AGAINST THE NTSB TO DEMAND ACTION. PLEASE RESPOND.

NHTSA complaint #11266048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Browerville, MN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF, HAD TO HIT THE DASH NEAR THE LIGHT SWITCH TO TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON.

NHTSA complaint #11209991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200,000 miles Rockaway Beach, MO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED, THE CHECK ENGINE, ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #11206049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Asheville, NC

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DEFECTIVE ODOMETER READINGS, GEAR INDICATORS DISAPPEARED. THE ODOMETER READING DISAPPEARED, AND THE GEAR INDICATOR DISAPPEARED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I HAVE NO WAY TO READ MY ODOMETER, NOR DO I KNOW WHAT GEAR I AM IN, PRND21. NOW I CAN ACCIDENTLY BE IN REVERSE AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. MECHANIC CHARGES $100.00 TO FIX, AND ALSO STATES THEY CAN INSERT ANY ODOMETER READING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE. THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL. I NO LONGER HAVE A VALID ODOMETER READING FOR MY YEARLY INSPECTIONS, OR IF I WERE TO SELL MY VEHICLE. I COULD DRIVE IN 1ST GEAR AND BURN UP MY TRANSMISSION AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR BE RUN OVER FOR DEAD STOPPED ON ROADS. MY INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS NOT HAD AN ACCURATE FUEL GUAGE READING IN YEARS, IT COMES AND GOES. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT GAS USAGE BY MILEAGE, NOW THAT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE. I MUST FILL UP WEEKLY JUST SO I KNOW I WONT RUN OUT OF GAS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. THIS IS JUST NOT RIGHT. I EXTREMELY UPSET ABOUT THIS AND DONT KNOW HOW TO GET IT FIXED PROPERLY AND COVERED FROM THE DEALERSHIPS. YOU SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON YOUR ODOMETER READING AND KNOWING WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN. PLEASE ADVISE AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU CONCERNING THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11084851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Asheville, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DEFECTIVE ODOMETER READINGS, GEAR INDICATORS DISAPPEARED. THE ODOMETER READING DISAPPEARED, AND THE GEAR INDICATOR DISAPPEARED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I HAVE NO WAY TO READ MY ODOMETER, NOR DO I KNOW WHAT GEAR I AM IN, PRND21. NOW I CAN ACCIDENTLY BE IN REVERSE AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. MECHANIC CHARGES $100.00 TO FIX, AND ALSO STATES THEY CAN INSERT ANY ODOMETER READING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE. THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL. I NO LONGER HAVE A VALID ODOMETER READING FOR MY YEARLY INSPECTIONS, OR IF I WERE TO SELL MY VEHICLE. I COULD DRIVE IN 1ST GEAR AND BURN UP MY TRANSMISSION AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR BE RUN OVER FOR DEAD STOPPED ON ROADS. MY INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS NOT HAD AN ACCURATE FUEL GUAGE READING IN YEARS, IT COMES AND GOES. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT GAS USAGE BY MILEAGE, NOW THAT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE. I MUST FILL UP WEEKLY JUST SO I KNOW I WONT RUN OUT OF GAS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. THIS IS JUST NOT RIGHT. I EXTREMELY UPSET ABOUT THIS AND DONT KNOW HOW TO GET IT FIXED PROPERLY AND COVERED FROM THE DEALERSHIPS. YOU SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON YOUR ODOMETER READING AND KNOWING WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN. PLEASE ADVISE AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU CONCERNING THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11084851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 178,000 miles Louisville, TN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I KEEP GETTING MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON, THE ABS, AND THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT, THEY WONT GO OFF. THE FUEL LINE THAT GOES INTO THE GAS TANK /NECK LEAKS WHEN GAS GETS PUMPED INTO IT. THE ODOMETER MILEAGE DISPLAY P.R.N.D.L. WONT WORK AND NEITHER WILL THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATOR FOR THE CLIMATE CONTROL GAUGE.

NHTSA complaint #10860618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,000 miles Taos, NM

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, WHICH CONTROLS THE LIGHTS FOR THE VEHICLE, FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA complaint #10243460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Camp Hill, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

DURING NIGHT DRIVING HEADLIGHT SWITCH WILL DISENGAGE ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA complaint #10115222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,900 miles ST Louis, MO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

TURN SIGNAL SWITCH FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER 59000 MILES AND 3 1/2 YEARS OF CAR LIFE. I HAVE NEVER REPLACED THIS ITEM ON ANY CAR I HAVE OWNED. PART COSTED $400.00.

NHTSA complaint #10058209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,000 miles Pepperell, MA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO SWITCH TO LOW BEAM AND CONSUMER IS FORCED TO HAVE HIGH BEAM ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA complaint #10001798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beloit, WI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER IS NOW EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE DASH LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GOING OUT.

NHTSA complaint #8016359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beloit, WI

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER IS NOW EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE DASH LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY GOING OUT.

NHTSA complaint #8016359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Winter Park, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVEN AT NIGHT. DEALER HAS TRIED ADJUSTING HEADLIGHTS 6 TIMES, AND EACH TIME PROBLEM GETS WORSE PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8015266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Painesville, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT POSITIONED OR AIMED CORRECTLY TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LIGHTING AT A DISTANCE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #897994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Green BAY, WI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM IS FLAWED BECAUSE THE LOW BEAM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, INSTEAD OF LIGHTING THE ROAD AHEAD FULLY THE LIGHT SPREADS ONLY TO THE SIDE END OF THE FRONT FENDER ON BOTH SIDES RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. NLM

NHTSA complaint #560014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Green BAY, WI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

LOW BEAM LIGHT CASTS A SHADOW ON BOTH SIDES WHEN USED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED,AND UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD LIGHT SYSTEM WAS FLAWED AND DAMAGES.

NHTSA complaint #879929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2000 Buick Century problems

← Full 2000 Buick Century report