Most common 2004 Buick Century problems
Share of the 39 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Century complaints by model year
Best Century years: 2005, 2004, 1996. Years to avoid: 1999, 1998, 2000. Compare all years →
What 2004 Buick Century owners say
Lights
The multi function switch does not work properly. When going around curves and corners you can't dim the headlights. Because the steering wheel doesn't allow the lever to go far enough to catch. Now my headlights will not turn on when the they are suppose to. My cruise control doesn't work. My A/C stops cooling when the speed reaches 60 MPH but if I move the m.f.s. (aka turn signal) it gets cool again for a few minutes. The other night my lights went off when I was meeting a car with its headlights on bright. It was a dark stretch of road. I almost ran in the ditch.
Headlights went off while driving on interstate at night. ( I May have flashed my high beams to signal a truck that it was safe to change lanes before this happened. Interior lights still working when this happened. Nothing I did would bring headlights back on. Very dangerous problem!! Car mileage approximately 62,000. 12/21/2017 date.
Fuel & propulsion system
You could smell gas inside and outside the car. I took it to my garage and they went all over it and could not find any reason for the smell. It didn't matter if the gas tank was full or half full. When the weather was warm it was much worse. I am wondering if there have been any other complaints about this problem. I am afraid the car will catch on file.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Buick Century. The contact noticed that the fuel gauges were inoperative and displayed inaccurate readings on the instrument panel. The dial constantly displays that the fuel system does not have any gasoline. She is in the process of having the vehicle diagnosed to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer has not been notified. The failure mileage was 78,000 and current mileage was 116,000.
Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Buick Century. The contact stated that while her son was driving at approximately 35 MPH, the air bags deployed independently without warning. The air bag hit the contact's arm and face leaving minor marks and bruises. The driver did not seek medical attention for his injuries. The contact's son was able to pull the vehicle off to the side of the road and then called the contact. The contact arrived at the scene and drove the vehicle home without further incident. The contact stated that the windshield and dashboard were damaged. The dealer nor the manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 156,000.
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 extensive. Updated 12/05/06.
2004 Buick Century engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Buick Century a good car?
Based on 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Century rates better than average: 80% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Century at the same age. It is one of the best Century years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Buick Century?
The lights — 11 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about headlights. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (6) and air bags (6).
How many recalls does the 2004 Buick Century have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2004 Buick Century. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Century?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2004 and 1996. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 1998 and 2000. See the full Buick Century years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Buick Century problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 76,000 miles; 35% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.