2003 Buick Century: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Mar 19, 2021 · Electrical, Fuel system · IL

The vehicle's gas tank won't hold much and clicks as if full. Also, when on uneven pavement or ground, the ⛽ gas warning light comes on, even after gas was just put in. In addition, at times I smell a "burning electrical" smell and the headlights go out, the brights fail to "click" on or goes off by itself. The turn signal lights have to be turned manually to blink. All turn signal lights have been replaced multiple times and this does not fix the problem. The back turn signals work and light up, but not the front & blink at a faster rate. Even one side headlight engagement was replaced and the problems still exist.

Filed Oct 16, 2018 · Lights · 98,000 miles · MT

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick century. While driving various speeds, the headlights suddenly shut off. The contact indicated that the failure mainly occurred while switching from low to high beam and vice versa. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000. *tt

Filed Sep 5, 2017 · Lights · 132,704 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick century. While driving 35 MPH, the headlights failed to respond. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 132,704.

Filed Sep 16, 2016 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 110,782 miles · IA

Turn brights on and radio/clock light goes off. No headlights on during day driving, radio/clock light randomly goes on and back off. Head lights briefly gone off during night driving 3 different times only for maybe 5 seconds, but it only takes a second for a deer or object to appear at night or a car ahead braking suddenly. Speedometer back light does not illuminate for night driving. Trac off and anti lock warning lights continuously stay on, I have had my brakes replaced throughout the years of owning the car since october 2007 and the warning lights do not reset themselves as they should, they continuously stay on since 2009. I am tired of dealing with all of these electrical and lightening issues with this car. I have tried to find gm recall for these problems. Please tell me where and how I can have these defects fixed.

Filed Aug 1, 2016 · Lights · 185,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick century. While driving various speeds, the plastic headlight covers caused a haze over the headlights, which prevented them from illuminating correctly at night. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed by the technician to clean or replace the plastic headlight covers. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 185,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Jun 21, 2016 · Lights · 22,300 miles · NE

Purchased on 2004, used, the 2003 vehicle has consistently had the head lamps go out when in highbeams are activated. The dealer said this is a short and said it would cost me to fix them and this happens to many of these vehicles. Major safety issue when you are driving at night and the lights go out. Clicking the low beams on turn the lights back on. Since this seems to be a known issue, why is there. To a recall on this? This happens while the vehicle is in motion at all speeds. (only in the dark, since this is when the high bea,s are used!)

Filed Jun 3, 2016 · Lights · 55,000 miles · CO

When driving at night head lights just shut off briefly. It seems to do this on dims or brights. I see a lot of similar complaints and I don't see any recalls. They come back on, but I can't seem to determine if they come back on from messing with the switch or if they just come back on by themselves. I'm not sure if the taillights go out as well but if they do that's a hazard for those coming up behind on highway at 65 MPH. This is clearly a safety hazard that needs to be addressed!

Filed Mar 17, 2016 · Lights · 94,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick century. While driving 55 MPH, the low beam head lamps were activated, but failed to illuminate. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 94,000.

Filed Nov 4, 2015 · Lights · 152,000 miles · AL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick century. While driving 55 MPH, the headlights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who suggested that replacing the demo switch from the column may remedy the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also stated that the turn signal failed to signal. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000.

Filed Sep 11, 2015 · Lights · 100,000 miles · MN

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick century. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the headlights suddenly failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Jul 29, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 98,000 miles · CA

Pulled out of gas station to enter street and noticed headlights were not on. Pulled out the head light switch and nothing happened. I pulled back on the bright light switch and the lights came on. Mechanic had told me to try this since this same thing has happened before. Last year, I took the car to the buick dealer for something else, but I brought up having a diagnostics run to see if it would show anything about the light problem. They told me that it wouldn't show up. Now I am afraid to drive this car at night. I have read many letters on the internet regarding this problem. Gm should fix this problem. It would cost about $700.00 to get the switch replaced at the dealer. Does someone have to die if the lights go out while driving?

Filed May 8, 2014 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · TX

I was driving on the highway at about 4:00 am, when the lights suddenly went out, and I did not even have park lights. After about a half hour I was able to get the park lights to work and go on to our son's house using only my park lights. Then I finally got the lights to burn enough to finish my trip using low beams. The high beam would just go off and only the low beams would work. This has happened many times since then. I have had to replace the combination switch for the lights twice, and at this time,it needs to be replaced again because I cannot get the right rear signal light to operate. I have been told I need to replace the entire combination switch again. This is a very expensive repair to have done. Have there been many more reports of this dangerous problem of suddenly having no lights and having to have the whole combination switch replaced. Is there a recall for this problem with the electrical system?