← New search

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
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 …

Read full complaint

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 · Jun 11, 2014
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlWheels

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

NHTSA ODI #10597617

105,000 miles · Jul 15, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WA…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED ON THE THIRD OCCURRENCE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE. THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE WAS DISABLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. UPDATED 10/01/2010. *LJ UPDATED 10/04/10

NHTSA ODI #10343417

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2005
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. SHE TRIED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE OFF SWITCH FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL IT DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND HE HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKES. ONCE THE VEHICLE STOPPED THE RPMS INCREASED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE …

Read full complaint

DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. SHE TRIED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE OFF SWITCH FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL IT DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND HE HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKES. ONCE THE VEHICLE STOPPED THE RPMS INCREASED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND COULD FEEL SOMETHING IN THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WAS METAL ON THE OIL DIPSTICK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. UPDATED 01/11/05. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10144503

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

MY 2002 BUICK CENTURY ODOMETER IS OVER RECORDING MILES BY 4%. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE BUICK DEALER TWO TIMES I AM INFORMED THAT GM RESPONDED THAT THERE ARE NO FEDERAL REGULATIONS REGARDING THE ACCURACY OF AN ODOMETER. BUICK (G.M.) RESPONDED THAT 4% ERROR IS ACCEPTABLE TO THEM. I HAVE A COPY OF THE G.M. RESPONSE TO THE DEALER(…

Read full complaint

MY 2002 BUICK CENTURY ODOMETER IS OVER RECORDING MILES BY 4%. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE BUICK DEALER TWO TIMES I AM INFORMED THAT GM RESPONDED THAT THERE ARE NO FEDERAL REGULATIONS REGARDING THE ACCURACY OF AN ODOMETER. BUICK (G.M.) RESPONDED THAT 4% ERROR IS ACCEPTABLE TO THEM. I HAVE A COPY OF THE G.M. RESPONSE TO THE DEALER(G.M. DOCUMENT ID#1216409---SERVICE VME-ODOMETER ACCURACY, #PI00746-(12/24/2002). WHEN I FILE MY FEDERAL TAX RETURN-FORM 2106 BUSINESS EXPENSE SINCE I TRAVEL 40,000 MILES A YEAR I WOULD BE OVER REPORTING 1.600 MILES AT A 4% RATE. IS THERE A FEDERAL REGULATION REGARDING THE ACCURACY OF AN ODOMETER. I AM ABLE TO FIND STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS REGARDING FRAUD AND ROLL-BACK OF AN ODOMETER BUT NOTHING REGARDING THE ACCURACY. THIS WOULD ALSO HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE REGULATED FUEL MPG REQUIREMENTS. ANY PUBLISHED MPG WOULD NEED TO BE REDUCED BY 4%.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10013618

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN BRAKING FROM SPEEDS OF 30 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DOAN BUICK, WESTRIDGE ROAD, ROCHESTER NY. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS OF YET. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8019162

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

GAS PEDAL IS TOO LOW, CAUSING DRIVER TO FEEL PRESSURE WHEN ACCELERATING. OWNER STATES THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND IS AWARE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT IF THE PEDAL EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH FORWARD IT MAY BE MORE COMFORTABLE AND EASIER ON LEG. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8017142

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.