IllustrationMY LIGHTS ARE ON THE DASHBOARD AND IT'S SAYING ANIT-LOCK BRAKES AND TRAC-OFF. THERE'S A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.
2002 Buick Century
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Century years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Buick Century are substantially higher than the model-year median of 28.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Century years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
140–25K
2925–50K
1850–75K
1775–100K
17100–150K
6150K+
101 reports with mileage · 53 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports
Wheels complaints
5 reportsTIRE FEELS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO SPIN. NO GRIP. *TR
WHEN I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT ABOUT 32,000 MILES THE MECHANIC INDICATED THE OIL WAS A QUART LOW. I HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES AND THE MECHANIC NOTED OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE. AT 55,000 MILES THE CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT A COST OF $800 TO $900. GM FACES A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN CANAD…
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WHEN I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT ABOUT 32,000 MILES THE MECHANIC INDICATED THE OIL WAS A QUART LOW. I HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES AND THE MECHANIC NOTED OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE. AT 55,000 MILES THE CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT A COST OF $800 TO $900. GM FACES A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN CANADA FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND MANY U.S. BLOGS INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SERVICE STATIONS ARE REPORTING THAT THIS FAILURE IS COMMON AND DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES. BECAUSE OF THIS, BUICK SAYS IT HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. IN ADDITION TO THE GASKET PROBLEM, I HAD TO REPLACE THE WIPE BLADE MECHANISM AND LEAKING WHEEL BEARINGS. THESE, TOO, WERE PREMATURE PROBLEMS AND NOT DUE TO ANY ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF CAR MAINTENANCE. GM WILL NOT RECOGNIZE A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS DUE TO THE FACT I WENT TO A LOCAL PRECISION TUNE FOR MAINTENANCE. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM MOVED ABOUT 45 MINUTES AWAY FROM MY HOME MAKING IT VERY INCONVENIENT TO GO THERE FOR MAINTENANCE. *AK
DT: THE LUGS NUTS AND BOLTS ON THE WHEELS ARE STRIPPING. CONSUMER WENT TO GET NEW TIRES, AND TIRE SERVICE DEALER SAID NUTS AND BOLTS LOCATED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WERE DEFECTIVE AND STRIPPED. NO INDICATION AS TO HOW OR WHY THIS OCCURS BUT THE THREADS ARE NOT MAUFACTURED PROPERLY AND ARE DEFECTIVE. *AK *JB
WHEEL AND/OR HUB CAP SQUEAKS ARE EVIDENT AT LOWER ROAD SPEEDS. I COMPLAINED TO DEALER IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, AND THE NOISE FROM THE WHEEL/HUB CAPS WAS GETTING WORSE. AT THAT TIME THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND/OR DEALER.*AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.