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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
74,000 miles · Jun 9, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND APPROACHING A CROSSROADS ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND WAS HIT BY THE CONTACT. THIS WAS A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE, BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND APPROACHING A CROSSROADS ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND WAS HIT BY THE CONTACT. THIS WAS A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE, BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE TOWING COMPANY WHERE IT REMAINS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA ODI #10159405

17,952 miles · Mar 2, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE REAR BRAKES MADE A GROANING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE REAR BRAKES. THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED. TOOK VEHICLE TO SCHUMACHER DEALERSHIPIN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA. THEY FOUND THE WHEEL…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE REAR BRAKES MADE A GROANING NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE REAR BRAKES. THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED. TOOK VEHICLE TO SCHUMACHER DEALERSHIPIN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA. THEY FOUND THE WHEEL CYLINDERS LEAKING AND BRKAE SHOES SOAKED WITH FLUID, AND THEY REPLACED THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AND BRAKE SHOES. THE TOTAL BILL WAS $735.09 WITH $618.17 FOR TOTAL BRAKE JOB.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10151594

79,200 miles · Feb 3, 2006
Visibility

WIPERS HAVE FAILED TWICE DURING MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN. WIPER ARMS GET OUT OF SYNC AND HANG UP TOGETHER IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. DEALER HAS CHARGED TO TIGHTEN NUT ON BLADES, BUT HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A CROWDED BRIDGE AT NIGHT IN THE DRIVING RAIN CREATING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10149410

47,600 miles · Dec 6, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL/COOLANT LEAK FROM DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD GASKET ON 2002 BUICK CENTURY SPECIAL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10144602

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 …

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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 · Dec 2, 2005
Exterior Lighting

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THEM ON WITH THE MANUAL SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SUGGESTED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH SHO…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THEM ON WITH THE MANUAL SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SUGGESTED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH SHOULD BE REPLACED, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT SURE THIS WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10144329

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2005
Exterior Lighting

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HIGH BEAMS DID NOT WORK ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. HE HAD TO SWITCH BACK TO LOW BEAMS AND THEN THE HIGH BEAMS WORKED WHEN SWITCHING BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINE D THE ELECTRICAL DIMMER SWITCH AND RELAY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE PART COULD BE BURNING UP A…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HIGH BEAMS DID NOT WORK ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. HE HAD TO SWITCH BACK TO LOW BEAMS AND THEN THE HIGH BEAMS WORKED WHEN SWITCHING BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINE D THE ELECTRICAL DIMMER SWITCH AND RELAY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE PART COULD BE BURNING UP AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BECAUSE ALL OF THE LIGHTS COULD GO OUT IN THE FUTURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10143524

82,000 miles · Nov 23, 2005
Exterior Lighting

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HE SWITCHED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF EXTERIOR LIGHTING. HE SWERVED TO MISS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF TURNING THE DIMMER SWITCH ON AND OFF THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. HE HAS NOT TAKEN…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HE SWITCHED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF EXTERIOR LIGHTING. HE SWERVED TO MISS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF TURNING THE DIMMER SWITCH ON AND OFF THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10143516

74,000 miles · Oct 24, 2005
Exterior Lighting

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FOR ABOUT A MONTH. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF,…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FOR ABOUT A MONTH. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF, SOME TIMES IF HE WIGGLED THE SWITCH THE LIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO DATA OF THIS OCCURRING ON OTHER VEHICLES.*AK UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10140662

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2005
Structure

CONSUMER 2002 BUICK CENTURY FRONT END ASSEMBLY FELL OFF. WHEN CONSUMER RELEASED THE TENSION OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL THE SLIP JOINT ON THE LOWER END OF THE STEERING COLUMN DROPPED LEAVING CONSUMER WITH NO STEERING. *TS ***NAR RECEIVED 9-29-05*** THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE 2 BOLTS THAT HELD THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ONTO …

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CONSUMER 2002 BUICK CENTURY FRONT END ASSEMBLY FELL OFF. WHEN CONSUMER RELEASED THE TENSION OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL THE SLIP JOINT ON THE LOWER END OF THE STEERING COLUMN DROPPED LEAVING CONSUMER WITH NO STEERING. *TS ***NAR RECEIVED 9-29-05*** THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE 2 BOLTS THAT HELD THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ONTO THE FRAME UNDER THE BODY. THE DEALER RE-INSTALLED BOTH REAR SUBFRAME BOLTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10138869

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.