Seven problems related to headlight switch have been reported for the 2002 Buick Century. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Buick Century based on all problems reported for the 2002 Century.
Traveling at night, once in heavy traffic with lights on low beam and other times in light or no traffic with lights on high beam, all outside lights go out creating a very dangerous situation. Does not matter if the manual switch is used or if the lights are on automatic. The only thing that makes them come back on is switching the high/ low beam switch. Miles traveled or length of time traveling makes no difference . . . Random occurrence. Replaced the headlight switches at a auto repair shop made no difference.
While driving, when high-beams were turned on the entire headlight system would shut down leaving driver with absolutely no visibility. Fortunately the headlights did come back on as the dimmer switch was activated and the low-beams did come back on. I can only use my low-beam headlights as this issue happens most times the switch is activated.
Headlights go out completely for a few seconds until the bright/dim is switched and then come on. This has happened infrequently since fall of 2014. Doesn't happen when at dealer service or when we test lights after returning home. Dealer says can't be repaired until they can get the incident to repeat. Lights are fine for a while & without warning the situation occurs again. Very alarming! a friend with a Buick regal 2002 has the same problem.
The contact owns a 2002 Buick Century. While traveling 50 mph the contact noticed that the high beams had suddenly shut off without warning, within a few seconds, the contact noticed that the headlights had began to operate normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the light switch was replaced. The current mileage was 111000 and the failure mileage was 80000.
The contact owns a 2002 Buick Century. While driving 50-55 mph at night, the headlights automatically illuminated. When the contact activated the high beams, the headlights went out completely. She had to activate the headlight switch again in order for them to operate. Occasionally, the high beams will turn on, but other times, they will not. The dealer stated that the entire multi-function switch needed to be replaced. The switch was replaced, but the contact believes that a recall should be issued. The failure mileage was 67,000 and current mileage was 72,000. Updated 05/08/09 updated 05/12/09. Updated 06/09/09.
The contact stated while driving at night he switched the low beam headlights to high beam headlights, resulting in total loss of exterior lighting. He swerved to miss oncoming traffic. After several attempts of turning the dimmer switch on and off the lights came back on without any further problems. He has not taken the vehicle to a dealer for inspection. No repairs have been made at this time.
The contact stated that while driving the headlights failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealership. They could not be repaired because the dealership could not duplicate the problem. The contact has been having problems with the headlights for about a month. When driving the vehicle at night the headlights go off, some times if he wiggled the switch the lights would come back on. He contacted the manufacturer, and they said there was no data of this occurring on other vehicles. Updated 11/29/05.