"How reliable is the 2004 Buick Century?"

"Based on 51 NHTSA complaints, the 2004 Buick Century has a median complaint mileage of 90000 miles. The most common issue is EXTERIOR LIGHTING."

"What are common problems with the 2004 Buick Century?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Buick Century is EXTERIOR LIGHTING, accounting for a significant portion of the 51 total complaints filed."

2004 Buick Century: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 51 complaints

Total Complaints

90,000mi

Median Mileage

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

38,700 25th Percentile

90,000 Median Mileage

130,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AIR BAGS

ENGINE

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VISIBILITY

SUSPENSION

SERVICE BRAKES

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"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 TH..."

"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"

"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 BE..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28