IllustrationTHE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE AIR BAG.*JB
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 reportsTHE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS SEVERELY IMPACTED BUT THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER HAD A CONCUSSION AND SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED 8 STICHES. *NLM
WHILE EXITING A DRIVEWAY, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS GREATLY IMPACTED IN THE CENTER DRIVER SIDE DOOR, CONSUMER WENT THROUGH THE SIDE WINDOW AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR
UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICE THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT FRAME; SLIDDERS AND BOLTS HAVE RUSTED. THIS CAN RESULT IN SEAT COMING UNATTACHED IF VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO FIX PROBLEM INDICATING THAT "THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE". TS
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. THE STEERING WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN PARKING, THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER-REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSES. (INTERNAL GEAR FAILURE-REPLACED) *SCC
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
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL/T-BONE COLLISION AT 65-70 MPH IMPACT AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HAD SNEEZED AND RAN OFF OF THE ROAD STRIKING A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY, WENT AIRBORNE FOR OVER 100 FEET AND LANDED ON THE FRONT OF A VEHICLE, FLIPPED OVER SIDE TO SIDE, AND STRUC…
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THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL/T-BONE COLLISION AT 65-70 MPH IMPACT AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HAD SNEEZED AND RAN OFF OF THE ROAD STRIKING A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY, WENT AIRBORNE FOR OVER 100 FEET AND LANDED ON THE FRONT OF A VEHICLE, FLIPPED OVER SIDE TO SIDE, AND STRUCK FOUR TREES AND TWO FENCE POSTS HAD COME TO A STOP ON THE TIRES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BUICK INVESTIGATOR SUGGESTED THAT THE AIR BAGS WORKED AS DESIGNED. *SCC
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
THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND TAG LIGHT STOPPED WORKING DUE TO FRAYING OF WIRES NEAR TRUNK HINGE. FRAYING ALSO CASED THE "TRUNK/DOOR" LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON DASH UNTIL REPAIRED. CHEAP PLASTIC COVERING DID NOTHING TO PREVENT FRAYING FROM CONTACT WITH TRUNK HINGE. AT 3000 MILES, HAD TO GO TO DEALER THREE TIMES TO HAVE STEERING COLUMN …
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THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND TAG LIGHT STOPPED WORKING DUE TO FRAYING OF WIRES NEAR TRUNK HINGE. FRAYING ALSO CASED THE "TRUNK/DOOR" LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON DASH UNTIL REPAIRED. CHEAP PLASTIC COVERING DID NOTHING TO PREVENT FRAYING FROM CONTACT WITH TRUNK HINGE. AT 3000 MILES, HAD TO GO TO DEALER THREE TIMES TO HAVE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED DUE TO LOUD NOISE WHEN WHEEL WAS TURNED. SUN VISORS ARE HARD TO USE, THEY HIT REARVIEW MIRROR WHEN ADJUSTED. INADEQUATE EVEN WHEN USED. VERY LOUD POPPING SOUND ON DRIVER'S SIDE AT TIMES UNDER BRAKE PEDAL. GOOD CAR OTHERWISE.
THERE IS GLARE FROM DASHBOARD ON WINDSHIELD CAUSED BY A SEAM ON TOP OF DASHBOARD. DEALER TEST DROVE VEHICLE, AND AGREED THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. CONSUMER COULD PURCHASE A REFLECTOR COVER FOR THE DASHBOARD. *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.