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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

154 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE COOLANT LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED WARNING THE CONSUMER OF A PROBLEM, SUBSEQUENTLY THE WATER PUMP IN THE CONSUMER'S 2002 BUICK CENTURY FAILED. *NM FOR THE SECOND TIME THE COOLANT SENSOR IS NOT WORKING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10115620

4,000 miles · Jan 5, 2005
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF INTEMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10106842

1,000 miles · Jan 5, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN IT RAINS THE BRAKES SQUEAL. EVEN WHEN THE HUMIDITY IS HIGH THE BRAKES WILL NOT HOLD. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SKIDS FORWARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED, AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10103680

33,918 miles · Jan 5, 2005
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

AT A STOP ON A HILL WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A MINOR VEHICLE ROLL BACK ONCE THE FOOT WAS OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE ROLLBACK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS…

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AT A STOP ON A HILL WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A MINOR VEHICLE ROLL BACK ONCE THE FOOT WAS OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE ROLLBACK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED IT ROLLED BACK A DISTANCE OF 15 FEET AT A SPEED OF 15MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED DISABLING BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. THE HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM DO NOT MERGE. THEY ACT AS TWO SEPARATE SPOTLIGHTS AND DISTANCE APPEARS TO BE LIMITED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT EVENTUALLY GENERAL MOTORS REPURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10103177

61,000 miles · Dec 21, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET FAILURE (LEAKING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF COOLANT/WATER INTO CRANKCASE) WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10104240

15,000 miles · Dec 14, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED, BUT DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK....GMC HA DBRAKE PROBLEMS IN THE PAST, WHICH THEY FAILED TO ADMIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT INDEPENDENT GARAGE AT OWNER'…

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CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED, BUT DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK....GMC HA DBRAKE PROBLEMS IN THE PAST, WHICH THEY FAILED TO ADMIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT INDEPENDENT GARAGE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10103783

31,000 miles · Nov 17, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY BUICK DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE COOLANT HAD BECOME SLUDGY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE DRAINED, CLEANED AND REFILLED AND WOULD COST ME $129.00. I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE THIS, AND THE REPRESENTATIVE COULDN'T TELL ME WHY, BUT THAT THEY CAUGHT IT EA…

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I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY BUICK DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE COOLANT HAD BECOME SLUDGY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE DRAINED, CLEANED AND REFILLED AND WOULD COST ME $129.00. I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE THIS, AND THE REPRESENTATIVE COULDN'T TELL ME WHY, BUT THAT THEY CAUGHT IT EARLY AND WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. I THEN TOOK A LOOK ON THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST GM FOR THEIR DEXCOOL COOLANT PROBLEMS IN THEIR CARS, ESPECIALLY THE V6'S. I CALLED THE DEALER TO TELL THEM THAT I HAD A PROBLEM WITH HAVING TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR AND THAT I WAS ALSO CONCERNED WITH POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO MY SYSTEM, INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEMS AND THE EFFECT THAT WOULD HAVE IN THE FUTURE. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY AN OUTSIDE AGENCY BECAUSE GM IS NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE TO HANDLE IT. WHILE NOT CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE PHYSICAL DANGER, IT DOES CERTAINLY CAUSE A SECONDARY DANGER TO MOTORISTS WHO BREAK DOWN ON THE ROAD AND THE OTHER MOTORISTS AROUND THEM. PLEASE STEP IN AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100092

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THERE WAS NO FAILURE, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN. I REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE ROTORS HAD ALREADY BEEN TURNED DOWN BELOW RECOMMENDATION. THE SIZE SHOULD HAVE BEEN 1.270" WITH THE MAXIMUM TURNING DOWN TOO 1. 2 +/-. BUT THEY WERE ALREADY BELOW THE MINIMUM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10095809

56,000 miles · Aug 27, 2004
Exterior Lighting

I HAVE A 2002 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM. THE MULTIFUNCTION LIGHT, WIPER, CRUISE SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY FAILS AND I LOSE MY HEADLIGHTS. I WAS DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND I HAD TO TURN ON MY HAZARDS AND FIND A PLACE TO STOP WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. ON TWO OTHER OCCASSIONS I HAD OTHER MOTORISTS FL…

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I HAVE A 2002 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM. THE MULTIFUNCTION LIGHT, WIPER, CRUISE SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY FAILS AND I LOSE MY HEADLIGHTS. I WAS DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED AND I HAD TO TURN ON MY HAZARDS AND FIND A PLACE TO STOP WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. ON TWO OTHER OCCASSIONS I HAD OTHER MOTORISTS FLASH ME TO LET ME KNOW TO TURN ON MY LIGHTS. THE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED A LOT SINCE AND I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE SWITCH TO GET IT TO WORK. THIS FAILURE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND HAS PUT ME AT SERIOUS RISK. I HAVE NOW FIGURED OUT THAT JIGGLING THE SWITCH WILL BRING THE LIGHTS BACK ON BUT THAT IS NO HELP IF I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY ARE OUT. I WENT TO THE BUICK DEALER AND THEY WANT NEARLY $500.00 TO FIX THIS. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT AND I WILL HAVE TO PARK THE CAR FOR A FEW OF WEEKS UNTIL I CAN AFFORD TO FIX IT. MY REAL CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO HAVE BUICK CONTACT ME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088696

41,254 miles · Jul 30, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONTINUE TO HAVE A ROUGH IDLING ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10083027

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.