2003 Buick Century

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Visibility & Lighting

Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 53 of 127 complaints (42%) mention it.

Complaints filed fell from 154 in 2002 to 127 in 2003.

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years.
Category	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	vs. 2003 Midsize Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)	2,950	2,950	2,950	2,950	2,950
Combined MPG	21	21	21	21	21
City / Highway MPG	18 / 26	18 / 26	18 / 26	18 / 27	18 / 27
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)	423	423	423	423	423
Complaints filed	145	154	127	39	19	Not compared
Recalls issued	5	2	2	2	2	Not compared
Crash-involved complaints	9	9	4	4	1	Not compared
Fire-involved complaints	2	4	2	0	0	Not compared
Injuries reported	5	11	2	5	1	Not compared
Deaths reported	0	0	0	0	0	Not compared
Configurations compared	1	1	1	1	1

2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

Visibility & Lighting: 53 of 127 NHTSA complaints (42%) mention it.

EPA rates it 21 MPG combined.

EPA estimates $2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
Configuration	Transmission	Cylinders	Displacement	Drivetrain	Fuel Type	Vehicle Class	City	Highway	Combined	Annual Fuel Cost	CO₂
Configuration 1	Automatic 4-spd	6	3.1L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	18 mpg	26 mpg	21 mpg	$2,950	423 g/mi

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
Category	Complaints	Crash-Involved	Fire-Involved	Injuries
Engine	15	0	1	0
Transmission & Drivetrain	6	0	0	0
Fuel System	4	0	0	0
Electrical	23	1	0	0
Brakes	17	0	0	0
Steering	7	0	0	0
Suspension, Wheels & Tires	10	1	0	1
Airbags & Restraints	3	1	0	0
Driver Assistance & Speed Control	6	2	0	0
Body, Seats & Latches	15	1	1	1
Visibility & Lighting	53	0	0	0
Other	4	0	0	0

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

STEERING · Campaign 09E005000 · Feb 17, 2009
Defect: DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.
Consequence: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES · Campaign 07E021000 · Mar 12, 2007
Defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Consequence: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.