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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
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10837605

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2016
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING, WHEN HIGH-BEAMS WERE TURNED ON THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM WOULD SHUT DOWN LEAVING DRIVER WITH ABSOLUTELY NO VISIBILITY. FORTUNATELY THE HEADLIGHTS DID COME BACK ON AS THE DIMMER SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED AND THE LOW-BEAMS DID COME BACK ON. I CAN ONLY USE MY LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS AS THIS ISSUE HAPPENS MOST TIMES THE SWIT…

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WHILE DRIVING, WHEN HIGH-BEAMS WERE TURNED ON THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM WOULD SHUT DOWN LEAVING DRIVER WITH ABSOLUTELY NO VISIBILITY. FORTUNATELY THE HEADLIGHTS DID COME BACK ON AS THE DIMMER SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED AND THE LOW-BEAMS DID COME BACK ON. I CAN ONLY USE MY LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS AS THIS ISSUE HAPPENS MOST TIMES THE SWITCH IS ACTIVATED.

NHTSA ODI #10822187

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

120,300 miles · Jul 5, 2015
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT COMPLETELY FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE BRIGHT/DIM IS SWITCHED AND THEN COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED INFREQUENTLY SINCE FALL OF 2014. DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN AT DEALER SERVICE OR WHEN WE TEST LIGHTS AFTER RETURNING HOME. DEALER SAYS CAN'T BE REPAIRED UNTIL THEY CAN GET THE INCIDENT TO REPEAT. LIGHTS ARE FINE FOR …

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HEADLIGHTS GO OUT COMPLETELY FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE BRIGHT/DIM IS SWITCHED AND THEN COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED INFREQUENTLY SINCE FALL OF 2014. DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN AT DEALER SERVICE OR WHEN WE TEST LIGHTS AFTER RETURNING HOME. DEALER SAYS CAN'T BE REPAIRED UNTIL THEY CAN GET THE INCIDENT TO REPEAT. LIGHTS ARE FINE FOR A WHILE & WITHOUT WARNING THE SITUATION OCCURS AGAIN. VERY ALARMING! A FRIEND WITH A BUICK REGAL 2002 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10732028

44,000 miles · Jun 14, 2015
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS VERY HARSH SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS AND ALSO BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER WARMED UP AND ON HIGHWAY FOR AWHILE.

NHTSA ODI #10725142

51,000 miles · Apr 1, 2015
Exterior LightingInterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING INTERMITTENTLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ODI #10703095

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2015
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10678493

108,000 miles · Dec 4, 2014
SteeringSuspensionCrash

DRIVING THUR OHIO FROM MICH ,HIT LARGE POT HOLE, DID OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS DAMAGE TO THE STEERING, COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE, CAR MUST NOT BE MADE PROPERLY TO WITHSTAND HITTING POT HOLES, THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POT HOLES IN ALL STATES . THE STATE OF OHIO DOES NOT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE POT H…

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DRIVING THUR OHIO FROM MICH ,HIT LARGE POT HOLE, DID OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS DAMAGE TO THE STEERING, COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE, CAR MUST NOT BE MADE PROPERLY TO WITHSTAND HITTING POT HOLES, THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POT HOLES IN ALL STATES . THE STATE OF OHIO DOES NOT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE POT HOLES THEY ARE A DRIVE AT YOUR RISK STATE.... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10662163

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM FAMILY AUTO EASLEY SC, IVE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS ON THIS CAR THAT DIDNT HELP, RADIATORS, THERMASTAT, WATER PUMP, HOSES REPLACE, ALTERNATOR, COOLANT RECOVERY TANK HAS BROWN SLUDGE INSIDE, THE WINDOWS DIDNT WORK, ITS MOIST INSIDE FROM THE FLOOR BEING WET HAD A HEATING CORE PUT IN DIDNT HELP, THE CARPET ON …

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I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM FAMILY AUTO EASLEY SC, IVE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS ON THIS CAR THAT DIDNT HELP, RADIATORS, THERMASTAT, WATER PUMP, HOSES REPLACE, ALTERNATOR, COOLANT RECOVERY TANK HAS BROWN SLUDGE INSIDE, THE WINDOWS DIDNT WORK, ITS MOIST INSIDE FROM THE FLOOR BEING WET HAD A HEATING CORE PUT IN DIDNT HELP, THE CARPET ON THE INSIDE IS DAMAGED, THE PAINT IS COMING OFF, HAD A ALTERNATOR PUT IN , RUN HOT ALL THE TIME, DOSNT MATTER, BUY COOLANT, OIL PUT WATER IN IT, MANIFOLD GASKET IS BAD IN IT IVE LOST POWER SEVERAL TIMES, THE LAST TIME I DID IT WAS ON NOV 6 THIS YEAR ON THE WAY TO WORK LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING RAN INTO A GURAD GATE RIGHT BESIDE A DUMPSTER, I HAD TO GET IT TOWED, ITS IN THE SHOP GETTING THE BUMPER FIXED, I HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR, I HAD TO GET MY CAR REFINANCE WITH DILCO OF GREENVILLE SC HE COULDNT BELIEVE HOW MUCH I WAS CHARGE FOR THIS CAR OVER 13,000.00 DOLLARS, SO I WAS OVER CHARGED AND SOLD A LEMON AND ITS NOT FAIR TO ME AND THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE FOR ME OR ANYONE TO DRIVE, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE A CAR WITHOUT BEING AFRIAD IF IM GOING TO MAKE IT OR NOT OR GET STRANDED

NHTSA ODI #10659795

68,000 miles · Oct 31, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10651591

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.