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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.

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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

Engine complaints

8 reports
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115,000 miles · Jun 17, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemFire

I WAS AT THE GAS STATION TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE GAS STATION MANY COULD OF BEEN KILLED AND OR INJURED

NHTSA ODI #11102249

150,000 miles · Apr 4, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

INTAKE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE - COST TOO MUCH TO REPAIR FOR ME. MY ONLY CAR TO GET TO WORK. REPLACING BEARINGS TODAY FOR STICKING BACK BRAKES. ALL INTERIOR ACCESSORIES ARE BROKEN; COSMETIC MIRROR, ASHTRAY, CENTER CONSOLE, PASSENGER WINDSHIELD WIPER STRIPPED MOTOR, 1 WINDOW WORKING. STILL OWE ON CAR BUT CANNOT FIX EVERYTHING. ANY …

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INTAKE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE - COST TOO MUCH TO REPAIR FOR ME. MY ONLY CAR TO GET TO WORK. REPLACING BEARINGS TODAY FOR STICKING BACK BRAKES. ALL INTERIOR ACCESSORIES ARE BROKEN; COSMETIC MIRROR, ASHTRAY, CENTER CONSOLE, PASSENGER WINDSHIELD WIPER STRIPPED MOTOR, 1 WINDOW WORKING. STILL OWE ON CAR BUT CANNOT FIX EVERYTHING. ANY HELP ????

NHTSA ODI #10970588

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10837605

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10678493

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM FAMILY AUTO EASLEY SC, IVE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS ON THIS CAR THAT DIDNT HELP, RADIATORS, THERMASTAT, WATER PUMP, HOSES REPLACE, ALTERNATOR, COOLANT RECOVERY TANK HAS BROWN SLUDGE INSIDE, THE WINDOWS DIDNT WORK, ITS MOIST INSIDE FROM THE FLOOR BEING WET HAD A HEATING CORE PUT IN DIDNT HELP, THE CARPET ON …

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I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM FAMILY AUTO EASLEY SC, IVE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS ON THIS CAR THAT DIDNT HELP, RADIATORS, THERMASTAT, WATER PUMP, HOSES REPLACE, ALTERNATOR, COOLANT RECOVERY TANK HAS BROWN SLUDGE INSIDE, THE WINDOWS DIDNT WORK, ITS MOIST INSIDE FROM THE FLOOR BEING WET HAD A HEATING CORE PUT IN DIDNT HELP, THE CARPET ON THE INSIDE IS DAMAGED, THE PAINT IS COMING OFF, HAD A ALTERNATOR PUT IN , RUN HOT ALL THE TIME, DOSNT MATTER, BUY COOLANT, OIL PUT WATER IN IT, MANIFOLD GASKET IS BAD IN IT IVE LOST POWER SEVERAL TIMES, THE LAST TIME I DID IT WAS ON NOV 6 THIS YEAR ON THE WAY TO WORK LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING RAN INTO A GURAD GATE RIGHT BESIDE A DUMPSTER, I HAD TO GET IT TOWED, ITS IN THE SHOP GETTING THE BUMPER FIXED, I HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR, I HAD TO GET MY CAR REFINANCE WITH DILCO OF GREENVILLE SC HE COULDNT BELIEVE HOW MUCH I WAS CHARGE FOR THIS CAR OVER 13,000.00 DOLLARS, SO I WAS OVER CHARGED AND SOLD A LEMON AND ITS NOT FAIR TO ME AND THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE FOR ME OR ANYONE TO DRIVE, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE A CAR WITHOUT BEING AFRIAD IF IM GOING TO MAKE IT OR NOT OR GET STRANDED

NHTSA ODI #10659795

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

234,730 miles · Dec 8, 2012
EngineService Brakes

I HAVE A 2002 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED AND WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE LOW TRAC LIGHT CAME ON, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHUTTERING AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN BRAKING. IT ALSO PULLS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE BRAKES ARE HARD TO PRESS. WHEN I TURN THE CAR O…

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I HAVE A 2002 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED AND WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE LOW TRAC LIGHT CAME ON, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHUTTERING AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN BRAKING. IT ALSO PULLS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE BRAKES ARE HARD TO PRESS. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND THERE ARE NONE OF THE SYMPTOMS UNTIL THE LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAULTY WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND WAS GOING TO GET IT REPAIRED WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR OVERHEATED. I GET THE CAR SERVICED REGULARLY AND IT HAS NEVER OVERHEATED BEFORE. AFTER HAVING THE THERMOSTAT AND THE WATER PUMP CHANGED I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS EITHER THE INTAKE GASKET OR THE HEAD GASKET. I WAS TOLD THE DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE BREAKS THE GASKETS DOWN AND THE CAR COULD LEAK ANTIFREEZE WITHOUT BEING NOTICED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME WHERE IT'LL HAVE TO SIT UNTIL I CAN AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. I OWN THE CAR AND I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD THE PRICES THAT MECHANICS WANT TO CHARGE TO FIX THE GASKETS. I FOUND INFORMATION ONLINE THAT BUICK KNEW ABOUT THE DEXCOOL AND HAD A RECALL BUT IT'S NO LONGER ACTIVE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY. I THINK THEY SHOULD FIX THEIR MISTAKES AND NOT MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS PAY FOR THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487750

87,784 miles · Sep 24, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,784 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,556.

NHTSA ODI #10476912

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.