NHTSA — Exterior Lighting: Headlights Problems

6.6

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,348 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Buick Century lights problems

lights problem

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1998 Buick Century Owner Comments

problem #14

Jan 152007

Century 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 118,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

- the contact owns a 1998 Buick Century. During January 2007 the contact noticed that the head lights were not on while driving. The contact tried to turn them on with the on off switch but that did not work. The high beams would turn on while holding the lever, but the normal head beams lights did not. The contact explained that after moving the light lever the normal headlight beams turned on. A month after the failure began the head lights completely stopped working on 2/25/07. The contact was going to take the vehicle to the dealer and have it inspected. The contact believed that this failure was too soon for a vehicle with an odometer reading of 119,000 miles and about 9 years old. The failure mileage was 118500.

- Potomac, MD, USA

problem #13

Oct 101999

Century 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,369 miles
Headlight lens developed a cloudy film. This reduced the light illumination, and resulted in poor visibility. The lens could not be cleaned. The consumer believes the design of the lens is poor because it does not allow the consumer to clean the inside of the lens.

- New Smyrna Beach, FL, USA

problem #12

Sep 292003

Century

  • miles
Intermittently the headlights operate poorly while driving at night time. Independent shop could not find nothing wrong. Dealer notified.

- Seaman, OH, USA

problem #11

Oct 032000

(reported on)

Century

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer was waiting on an insert to be sent to her per the recall notice, dealer refuses to perform recall 98V-102 because vehicle is no longer under warranty and they want the consumer to pay for inspection and adjustment. Nlm

- Auburn, CA, USA

problem #10

Oct 062000

(reported on)

Century

  • miles
Headlights fail to luminate in the dark while driving. Driver would have poor visibility due to a lack of lighting. Took vehicle to two different dealers, and parts were replaced. Headlights were reaimed. Problem of poor visibility still exists.

- Paston, IL, USA

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problem #9

Sep 072000

(reported on)

Century

  • miles
Low bean from the head lights does not provide sufficient lighting, the light does not shine 50 feet in front of vehicle causing poor visibility..

- Berlin, PA, USA

problem #8

Jul 262000

(reported on)

Century

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Headlights are not bright enough which causes visual difficulty, and may result in a crash. Dealer cannot determine the cause.

- Moses Lake, WA, USA

problem #7

Jul 242000

(reported on)

Century

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Head light is poorly distributed on road and has hunge dark spots directly in the path of the vehicle. Also it does not provide enough light to safely make a turn into drive way.

- Glencoe, AL, USA

problem #6

Dec 271999

Century

  • miles
Water condensation always builds up on the inside of the headlight assembly after it rains, the dealership cliams that this is a normal occurrence and is not a problem. The problem is that this degrades the lighting intensity at night. This is a defective design because it also happens to my friends 2000 Buick Century. It can be vaildated by looking for watermarks on the inside of the headlight assembly.

- Howell, NJ, USA

problem #5

Jan 052000

Century

  • miles
The headlamp assembly has water condensation (water droplets) forming on the inside of the headlight assembly (if it rains for consecutive days) causing lower visabilty at night. It looks like it is a chronic problem, because my friends 2000 Buick Century has water residue marks on the inside of the headlight assembly.

- Howell, NJ, USA

problem #4

Feb 012000

(reported on)

Century

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driver cannot see road unless the vehicle's high beams are on. Low beams do not function properly. Dealer has tried to adjust the vehicle's headlights, but problem still exists.

- Lady Lake, FL, USA

problem #3

Oct 151998

Century

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Low beam head lights being used at 30 mph in a unlighted road or street are unsafe. Dealer / manufacturer notified, and informed consume rthat nothing could be done and they meet the FMVSS. Can NHTSA help or provide additional information in this matter.

- Beaufort, NC, USA

problem #2

Jan 151998

Century

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Head lights were repaired due to failure, after repairs were done, other parts began to malfucntion.

- Lady Lake, FL, USA

problem #1

Jul 221998

Century

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Spots on low beam light causing poor visibility.

- Las Vegas, NM, USA

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