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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2022
Exterior LightingService BrakesUnknown Or Other

I was driving at night switched headlights to high beams - few minutes later switched back to low beams and ALL LIGHTS dash and head lights went completely out . Tried to pull head light knob and nothing - pitch black . Luckily i was a short distance from my home. This is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ! I have found 33 complaints (s…

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I was driving at night switched headlights to high beams - few minutes later switched back to low beams and ALL LIGHTS dash and head lights went completely out . Tried to pull head light knob and nothing - pitch black . Luckily i was a short distance from my home. This is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ! I have found 33 complaints (so far) about this same problem. This definitely should qualify and be recalled . PLEASE take IMMEDIATE action . Thank you.

NHTSA ODI #11448914

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2015
SteeringUnknown Or OtherWheels

MY LIGHTS ARE ON THE DASHBOARD AND IT'S SAYING ANIT-LOCK BRAKES AND TRAC-OFF. THERE'S A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA ODI #10786419

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2011
Unknown Or Other

2002 BUICK CENTURY, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINDATED AND THE TRACK OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STAED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON THE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE INSTANTLY BUT CAME BACK ON AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES. *BF

NHTSA ODI #10383808

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
StructureUnknown Or Other

THE REAR DEFROST HAD 5 LINES THAT QUIT, ALSO CAUSED RADIO ANTENNA THAT IS ON THE REAR WINDOW TO QUIT WHEN TURNING ON REAR DEFROST. WINDOW WAS REPLACED AND SAME THING HAS HAPPENED WITH SECOND WINDOW. DEALERSHIP ACCUSED ME OF DAMAGING WINDOW AND WILL NOT REPLACE SECOND WINDOW UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO HAVE CHIRPING NOISE NEAR SPEEDOMET…

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THE REAR DEFROST HAD 5 LINES THAT QUIT, ALSO CAUSED RADIO ANTENNA THAT IS ON THE REAR WINDOW TO QUIT WHEN TURNING ON REAR DEFROST. WINDOW WAS REPLACED AND SAME THING HAS HAPPENED WITH SECOND WINDOW. DEALERSHIP ACCUSED ME OF DAMAGING WINDOW AND WILL NOT REPLACE SECOND WINDOW UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO HAVE CHIRPING NOISE NEAR SPEEDOMETER THAT DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX AFTER 4 REPAIR ATTEMPTS. DEALERSHIP HAS DESTROYED ENTIRE DASHBOARD TRYING TO REPAIR NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #10069746

23,600 miles · May 7, 2003
Unknown Or Other

THE ODOMETER ON MY RECENTLY PURCHASED 2002 BUICK CENTURY (FROM A BUICK DEALER WITH 22,000 MILES AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY) APPEARS TO BE OFF BY APPROXIMATELY 4%. ON A RECENT TRIP OF 450 MILES (A TRIP TAKEN AND MEASURED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST), MY ENDING TRIP MILEAGE REGISTERED AS 467 MILES (AN OVERAGE OF 17 MILES). ON THE RETUR…

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THE ODOMETER ON MY RECENTLY PURCHASED 2002 BUICK CENTURY (FROM A BUICK DEALER WITH 22,000 MILES AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY) APPEARS TO BE OFF BY APPROXIMATELY 4%. ON A RECENT TRIP OF 450 MILES (A TRIP TAKEN AND MEASURED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST), MY ENDING TRIP MILEAGE REGISTERED AS 467 MILES (AN OVERAGE OF 17 MILES). ON THE RETURN TRIP, I USED NUMEROUS INTERSTATE MILEAGE MARKERS TO COMPARE DISTANCES. FOR EACH 100 MILES TRAVELED, THE ODOMETER REGISTERS IT AS 104 MILES. TO ME, THIS IS AN ISSUE OF THE SPEEDOMETER NOT BEING CORRECT, PLUS MORE MILES ARE REGISTERING THAN ARE ACTUALLY BEING PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THIS AFFECTS SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE RESALE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER OFFERED ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. OTHER THAN SAYING THE MILEAGE MARKERS MUST BE OFF - THEY SUGGESTED I USE DIFFERENT SIZE TIRES. (TO MY KNOWLEDGE THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE). IS THERE NO WAY TO RECALIBRATE THE SPEEDOMETER? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018342

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.