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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
140,000 miles · Oct 28, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. ..UPDATED 05/20/15 *BF UPDATED 7/6/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10650769

108,152 miles · Oct 2, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

THE ODOMETER CLUSTER LIGHTS GO OUT AND SOMETIMES COME BACK ON FOR A FEW MINUTES AND BACK OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEREFORE YOU CAN NOT SEE MILEAGE AND THE SHIFTING OF GEARS. THE DEALER RECOMMENDS SENDING IT BACK TO THE FACTORY FOR 2 WEEKS WHILE THEY REPAIR IT AT A COST OF $ 2000.00 OR DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT REPAIRING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10640858

123,980 miles · Sep 10, 2014
Service Brakes

APPLIED BRAKES FOR THE STOP SIGN AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AS IT TURNED OUT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED OUT AND FLUID WAS LOST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632332

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. WHEN REVERSING OR MAKING A U-TURN, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. WHEN REVERSING OR MAKING A U-TURN, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10627042

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2014
Exterior Lighting

WHEN I BOUGHT MY 2002 BUICK CENTURY IN 2003, I ASKED THE DEALER TO TURN OFF THE DRL ON THE CAR. THEY INSISTED THEY COULD NOT BECAUSE OF MANUFACTURER & HIGHWAY SAFETY LAWS, BUT SAID I COULD CONTACT THE MFG. BUT THAT IT REQUIRED MUCH PAPERWORK & AN EXTENSIVELY SATISFACTORY REASON FOR THIS TO BE DONE, SO I QUIT ASKING. ONCE AGAIN I…

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WHEN I BOUGHT MY 2002 BUICK CENTURY IN 2003, I ASKED THE DEALER TO TURN OFF THE DRL ON THE CAR. THEY INSISTED THEY COULD NOT BECAUSE OF MANUFACTURER & HIGHWAY SAFETY LAWS, BUT SAID I COULD CONTACT THE MFG. BUT THAT IT REQUIRED MUCH PAPERWORK & AN EXTENSIVELY SATISFACTORY REASON FOR THIS TO BE DONE, SO I QUIT ASKING. ONCE AGAIN I HAVE DECIDED TO TRY TO GET THE DRL ON MY CAR TURNED OFF, SINCE IT SEEMS TO CAUSE SO MUCH CONFUSION TO ON COMING TRAFFIC WHEN I AM SIGNALING TO CHANGE LANE OR TURN. I CONTACTED BUICK & GOT CUSTOMER SUPPORT REP, THAT HAD NO IDEA WHAT DRL EVEN IS, & DECLINED TO ESCALATE MY CASE UP. AT BEST SHE TOLD ME TO GO TO A DEALER. SO THE DEALER TELLS ME TO GO THE THE MFG. THEN THE MFG TELLS ME TO GO TO THE DEALER. CAN YOU DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME? ALL I WANT IS TO DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT THE PARKING LIGHTS ON! I THOUGHT IT WAS ILLEGAL TO DRIVE WITH PARKING LIGHTS ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621883

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2014
Electrical System

WHEN I PUT KEY IN IGNITION TO START CAR, THE POSITION OF GEARS GOES DARK. IF I JIGGLE THE KEY, OR TURN IT BACK (VERY SLIGHTLY) THE PANEL LIGHTS UP MOMENTARILY. IT IS SCARY DRIVING WITH NO INDICATION OF WHICH GEAR I AM IN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CLUSTER? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605196

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2014
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlWheels

TIRE FEELS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO SPIN. NO GRIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597617

47,400 miles · Oct 16, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL IN THE RADIATOR. IN ADDITION, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL IN THE RADIATOR. IN ADDITION, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,400. UPDATED 11/14/13*LJ UPDATED 11/18/2013 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10548104

134,764 miles · Jun 25, 2013
Service Brakes

I HAVE A 2002 BUICK CENTURY CUSEDAN AND WHILE TURNING OR DRIVING THE LOW TRAC LIGHT COMES ON, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT AND THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SHUTTERS AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN BRAKING.....AND SOMETIMES JUST GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND THERE ARE NONE OF THE …

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I HAVE A 2002 BUICK CENTURY CUSEDAN AND WHILE TURNING OR DRIVING THE LOW TRAC LIGHT COMES ON, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT AND THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SHUTTERS AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN BRAKING.....AND SOMETIMES JUST GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND THERE ARE NONE OF THE SYMPTOMS UNTIL I HIT AN UNEVEN SPOT IN THE ROAD OR GO OVER A BUMP ETC. THE LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521787

154,705 miles · Mar 2, 2013
Electrical System

THIS IS AN ADDENDUM TO COMPLAINT/ODI #10499646...THIS WAS THE SCARIEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE, DRIVING ALONE IN DARKNESS, AT 55MPH, AND WITHOUT WARNING, HEADLIGHTS & DASH JUST SHUT-OFF !! NO OTHER VEHICLES ON ROAD TO HELP LIGHT MY WAY, COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD & GOT KILLED, ONLY HAD THIS CAR 10DAYS!! THOUGHT…

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THIS IS AN ADDENDUM TO COMPLAINT/ODI #10499646...THIS WAS THE SCARIEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE, DRIVING ALONE IN DARKNESS, AT 55MPH, AND WITHOUT WARNING, HEADLIGHTS & DASH JUST SHUT-OFF !! NO OTHER VEHICLES ON ROAD TO HELP LIGHT MY WAY, COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD & GOT KILLED, ONLY HAD THIS CAR 10DAYS!! THOUGHT I GOT A GOOD DEAL TOO, BUT NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE AT NIGHT. SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH GM CUSTOMER RELATIONS SPECIALIST ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHO SENT ME TO THEIR GM DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. AFTER GM REP SPOKE WITH THEIR DEALERSHIP, THEY DECIDED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, AND MILEAGE, THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO ASSIST!! I CANNOT UNDERSTAND, NOR WILL I ACCEPT, HOW THIS SITUATION COULD BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A "SAFETY ISSUE"!! NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED ON THIS SAME VEHICLE, AND MANY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, JUST FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE, WAITING FOR THE NEXT POOR, UNSUSPECTING BUYER. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GM PRODUCT, AND I WILL ALSO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO DISCOURAGE "ANYONE" I KNOW FROM DOING SO. THEY WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, WHICH IS NOW MY PROBLEM. AS I TOLD THE GM REP, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOT LIVED TO TELL "THEIR" STORY...(NO RESPONSE FROM THEM ON THAT COMMENT). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10501009

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.