Most common 2005 Buick Century problems
Share of the 19 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 2005 Buick Century owners say
Lights
A few times in the last 2 years the headlights have turned off while driving for no reason. Once while I was in the car with a friend who also owns a Buick the issue occurred and he told me his car had been recalled for the same issue. I contacted Buick, who denied any knowledge of the issue, they referred me to my local Buick dealer who was aware of the problem but indicated my model was not one that had been recalled. As GM said they had no liability, I paid my local Buick dealer to diagnose the issue, which they determined was a faulty headlight sensor. The part was replaced at my expense on July 1, 2015. 3 weeks ago the issue occurred again, driving on a dark country road the headlights went out. I contacted GM again, they assigned a file # 8-1631489873 but assumed no responsibility, again telling me to deal with my local Buick dealer.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Buick Century. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the low beams stopped working and hindered the contact's visibility while the vehicle was in motion. The contact had to hold the switch to get the high beams to remain illuminated due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the multi-function switch on the column for the lights needed to be replaced, including prematurely deteriorated ground wires. The dealer stated that the parts were to be ordered, but were not yet available for them to provide a specific date of when the part would be available to complete the repair. The contact left the vehicle at the dealer until the part was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Buick Century. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the low beams stopped working and hindered the contact's visibility while the vehicle was in motion. The contact had to hold the switch to get the high beams to remain illuminated due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the multi-function switch on the column for the lights needed to be replaced, including prematurely deteriorated ground wires. The dealer stated that the parts were to be ordered, but were not yet available for them to provide a specific date of when the part would be available to complete the repair. The contact left the vehicle at the dealer until the part was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
No abs light on but they don't work. But also there is hot wire running at all times I don't know where it coming from my o2 sensor keep coming on
Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Buick Century. The contact stated that the headlight bulbs were positioned too close to the plastic cover lens causing the plastic cover to fog. The failure would cause reduced visibility of the roadway and the contact believed the failure could potentially cause a fire. The dealer advised they were not able to assist with the defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 57,000 and the current mileage was 72,617. Updated 12/21/10 the consumer stated the transmission was slipping, the rotors, tires and seat belts needed to be replaced. Updated 12/3/10
Emergency brake will not engage. Vehicle rolls forward after the brake has been engaged when parking on a hill. Vehicle was taken in to get repaired, the drums were tightened and car stopped rolling forward. 6 months later the car is rolling again when parked on a hill.
2005 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 2005 Buick Century a good car?
Based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Century rates better than average: 87% 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 2005 Buick Century?
The lights — 9 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about headlights. Next are the electrical system (6) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 2005 Buick Century have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 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 2005 Buick Century problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 29% 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.