IllustrationI HAVE THREE LIGHTS COMING ON {CHECK ENGINE SOON}{ANTI LOCK &TRAC OFF} THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER TWO YEARS AND SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE GARAGE IS NOT GETTING IT REPAIRED. I AM TOLD WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE ON I LOSE ANTILOCK BREAKS AND TRACTION CONTROL. *NM ] ]
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Century years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
140–25K
2925–50K
1850–75K
1775–100K
17100–150K
6150K+
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 reportsDT: THE LUGS NUTS AND BOLTS ON THE WHEELS ARE STRIPPING. CONSUMER WENT TO GET NEW TIRES, AND TIRE SERVICE DEALER SAID NUTS AND BOLTS LOCATED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WERE DEFECTIVE AND STRIPPED. NO INDICATION AS TO HOW OR WHY THIS OCCURS BUT THE THREADS ARE NOT MAUFACTURED PROPERLY AND ARE DEFECTIVE. *AK *JB
DT: CONTACT STATED WHEN TURNING BRIGHT LIGHTS THEY WILL BE ON BRIGHT FOR A WHILE , THEN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF AND VEHICLE WILL BE IN TOTAL DARKNESS UNTIL SHE CLICING BACK TO THE REGULAR HEADLIGHTS. THIS HAPPENED JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME SHE PUT ON BRIGHT LIGHTS. SHE HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM OVER A YEAR AND SHE HAD …
Read full complaint
DT: CONTACT STATED WHEN TURNING BRIGHT LIGHTS THEY WILL BE ON BRIGHT FOR A WHILE , THEN THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF AND VEHICLE WILL BE IN TOTAL DARKNESS UNTIL SHE CLICING BACK TO THE REGULAR HEADLIGHTS. THIS HAPPENED JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME SHE PUT ON BRIGHT LIGHTS. SHE HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM OVER A YEAR AND SHE HAD COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY IT WOULD COST $118.00 AN HOUR TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *AK
DT: CONTACT STATED THERE WAS SMALL LEVER ON THE SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL THAT WAS USED TO RAISE THE STEERING WHEEL UP OR DOWN. CONTACT'S HUSBAND RAISED IT UP ON 7-28-05, AND COULD NOT GET IT TO COME DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD CONTACT THAT WARRANTY WOULD EXPIRE ON 7-5-05 AND SHE WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT. HAD THE …
Read full complaint
DT: CONTACT STATED THERE WAS SMALL LEVER ON THE SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL THAT WAS USED TO RAISE THE STEERING WHEEL UP OR DOWN. CONTACT'S HUSBAND RAISED IT UP ON 7-28-05, AND COULD NOT GET IT TO COME DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD CONTACT THAT WARRANTY WOULD EXPIRE ON 7-5-05 AND SHE WILL HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT. HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL EVER SINCE THE DAY AFTER THEY BOUGHT THE CAR,AROUND 7-2002. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ON 7-5-202. TO FIX IT THE DEALER JERKED IT INTO POSITION. SINCE THEN HER HUSBAND HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME THING, AND EACH TIME, THE DEALER JUST JERKED IT INTO PLACE. THE CAR HAS ONLY 14,000 MILES ON IT.*AK
BEGAN HEARING POPPING NOISE ACROSS FRONT, FROM WHEEL AREAS. TOOK INTO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. THEY DROVE IT AND HEARD THE NOISE BUT COULDN'T FIND WHAT IT WAS. KEPT GETTING WORSE AND ON 8/31/04, THEY CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAD A VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY SUPPOSED FIXED I…
Read full complaint
BEGAN HEARING POPPING NOISE ACROSS FRONT, FROM WHEEL AREAS. TOOK INTO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. THEY DROVE IT AND HEARD THE NOISE BUT COULDN'T FIND WHAT IT WAS. KEPT GETTING WORSE AND ON 8/31/04, THEY CONTACTED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAD A VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY SUPPOSED FIXED IT, BUT NOW IT'S DOING IT AGAIN. DOESN'T MATTER IF THE ROADS ARE WET OR DRY. NOW, ANOTHER PROBLEM. ON 5/28/05, I MADE A TRIP AND STOPPED FOR FUEL AND WENT TO A FAST FOOD PLACE NEXT TO THE GAS STATION AND WHILE WAITING FOR MY ORDER, AN ALERT BELL STARTED DINGING AND MY FUEL GAUGE WENT DOWN TO THE EMPTY MARK. I COULD NOT FIND ANYPLACE OPEN TO GET HELP (MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY). AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 4 MILES DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE GAGE CAME BACK TO THE FULL MARK. IT DID NOT BUCK OR ACT UP BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. ALSO, LOW TIRE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. TIRE PRESSURE IS OK.
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. REPLACED GASKET.
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER MOTOR COMES ON SQUIRTING WASHER FLUID. THE DIRECTIONAL ARM CONTROL MUST BE HELD TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO STOP THE WASHER PUMP FROM OPERATING. AS THE VEHICLE WARMS UP, THE PROBLEM CEASES UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY WITH ONLY 7800…
Read full complaint
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER MOTOR COMES ON SQUIRTING WASHER FLUID. THE DIRECTIONAL ARM CONTROL MUST BE HELD TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO STOP THE WASHER PUMP FROM OPERATING. AS THE VEHICLE WARMS UP, THE PROBLEM CEASES UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY WITH ONLY 7800 MILES. DUE TO AGE, IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY.
WHEEL AND/OR HUB CAP SQUEAKS ARE EVIDENT AT LOWER ROAD SPEEDS. I COMPLAINED TO DEALER IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, AND THE NOISE FROM THE WHEEL/HUB CAPS WAS GETTING WORSE. AT THAT TIME THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND/OR DEALER.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP IN THE VERTICLE POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY ON 10/17/03. CRANK ARM BROKEN. IT HAPPENED DURING SNOW STORMS, THE WIPERS FAILED AFTER A COUPLE OF INCHES OF LIGHT SNOW GOT ON THE WINDSHIELD . *AK
WIRING UNDER FUSE PANEL CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED WIRES IN FUSE BOX. NO FUSES BLEW TO PROTECT WIRING. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.