WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF! *TR
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
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.
What owners actually said
154 reportsI HAVE A 2002 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED AND WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE LOW TRAC LIGHT CAME ON, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHUTTERING AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN BRAKING. IT ALSO PULLS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE BRAKES ARE HARD TO PRESS. WHEN I TURN THE CAR O…
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I HAVE A 2002 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED AND WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE LOW TRAC LIGHT CAME ON, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHUTTERING AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN BRAKING. IT ALSO PULLS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE BRAKES ARE HARD TO PRESS. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND THERE ARE NONE OF THE SYMPTOMS UNTIL THE LIGHTS COME ON AGAIN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAULTY WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND WAS GOING TO GET IT REPAIRED WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR OVERHEATED. I GET THE CAR SERVICED REGULARLY AND IT HAS NEVER OVERHEATED BEFORE. AFTER HAVING THE THERMOSTAT AND THE WATER PUMP CHANGED I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM IS EITHER THE INTAKE GASKET OR THE HEAD GASKET. I WAS TOLD THE DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE BREAKS THE GASKETS DOWN AND THE CAR COULD LEAK ANTIFREEZE WITHOUT BEING NOTICED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME WHERE IT'LL HAVE TO SIT UNTIL I CAN AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. I OWN THE CAR AND I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD THE PRICES THAT MECHANICS WANT TO CHARGE TO FIX THE GASKETS. I FOUND INFORMATION ONLINE THAT BUICK KNEW ABOUT THE DEXCOOL AND HAD A RECALL BUT IT'S NO LONGER ACTIVE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY. I THINK THEY SHOULD FIX THEIR MISTAKES AND NOT MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS PAY FOR THEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,784 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,556.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE GLUE TO REINSTALL THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE GLUE TO REINSTALL THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 8/8/12 *CN UPDATED 08/14/12
HAD SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON PERIODICALLY AND WAS LOOSING COOLANT, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS, WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY FAULTY LIGHT, OR LEAK IN TANK. TOOK CAR FOR OIL CHANGE AND ASK TO LOOK FOR ANY LEAKS, FOUND COOLANT IN OIL. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WAS TOLD DUE TO COOLANT BEING DEXCOOL AN…
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HAD SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON PERIODICALLY AND WAS LOOSING COOLANT, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS, WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY FAULTY LIGHT, OR LEAK IN TANK. TOOK CAR FOR OIL CHANGE AND ASK TO LOOK FOR ANY LEAKS, FOUND COOLANT IN OIL. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WAS TOLD DUE TO COOLANT BEING DEXCOOL AND EATS THE GASKETS. *TR
THIS LATEST SERIES OF INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE BRAKING HARD. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WITH A GRINDING SOUND OCCURRING. THE "ANTI LOCK" BRAKE LIGHT GOES ON, THE "TRAC OFF" LIGHT GOES ON AND THE "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" LIGHT GOES ON. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, BOTH WHILE BRAKING AND WHEN I'M NOT BRAKING I WILL HEAR THE GRIN…
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THIS LATEST SERIES OF INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE BRAKING HARD. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WITH A GRINDING SOUND OCCURRING. THE "ANTI LOCK" BRAKE LIGHT GOES ON, THE "TRAC OFF" LIGHT GOES ON AND THE "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" LIGHT GOES ON. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, BOTH WHILE BRAKING AND WHEN I'M NOT BRAKING I WILL HEAR THE GRINDING SOUND AND THEN THE LIGHTS MIGHT GO ON AND STAY ON TILL THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND HAPPENS ON MOST OF MY DRIVING TRIPS. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND IT TOOK TILL MAY TO DETERMINE THAT IT WAS A FAULTY WIRE HARNESS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. I ONLY FOUND THIS SOLUTION BY GOING ON THE INTERNET. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO SETS OF INSTANCES IS THAT TURNING LEFT AND SLOWING DOWN TRIGGERED THE ISSUE FROM A YEAR AGO WHILE THERE SEEMS TO BE NO TRIGGER FOR THE CURRENT SERIES OF ANTI LOCK FAILURES. IT SEEMS THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND WHEN IT KICKS IN WHILE BRAKING IT TAKES LONGER TO STOP THE CAR. I WOULD THINK THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD REQUIRE A FULL INVESTIGATION BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT.
ELECTRONIC ODOMETER LIGHT FAILED. THEREFORE ONE CAN NOT READ THE ODOMETER. FROM TALKING WITH THE SERVICE TECH AT THE BUICK DEALERSHIP IN ANDERSON, INDIANA HE SAID IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. SOUNDS LIKE A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART. HE TOLD ME THE COST TO GET A NEW ODOMETER TO IS AROUND $250 TO…
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ELECTRONIC ODOMETER LIGHT FAILED. THEREFORE ONE CAN NOT READ THE ODOMETER. FROM TALKING WITH THE SERVICE TECH AT THE BUICK DEALERSHIP IN ANDERSON, INDIANA HE SAID IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. SOUNDS LIKE A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PART. HE TOLD ME THE COST TO GET A NEW ODOMETER TO IS AROUND $250 TO $300. THE ODOMETER STILL OPERATES IT JUST CAN NOT BE READ BECAUSE THE LED LIGHT WENT OUT. THE LED LIGHT CAN NOT BE REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN THE WHOLE UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAULTY! THE DIGITAL ODOMETER DOES NOT WORK. THE GEAR SHIFT DISPLAY (PRND321) DOES NOT WORK EITHER! I HAVE TO FEEL WHEN I SWITCH FROM PARK TO DRIVE. DURING VEHICLE INSPECTIONS I HAVE TO GUESS MY CORRECT MILEAGE, BECAUSE IT'S BLANK! I REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER ON FEBRUARY 28, 2010. IN OCTOBER…
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INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAULTY! THE DIGITAL ODOMETER DOES NOT WORK. THE GEAR SHIFT DISPLAY (PRND321) DOES NOT WORK EITHER! I HAVE TO FEEL WHEN I SWITCH FROM PARK TO DRIVE. DURING VEHICLE INSPECTIONS I HAVE TO GUESS MY CORRECT MILEAGE, BECAUSE IT'S BLANK! I REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER ON FEBRUARY 28, 2010. IN OCTOBER 2011 THE EXPLAINED PROBLEMS RECURRED! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL WAS BEING CHANGED WHEN HE WAS INFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE HUBS WERE DETACHING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN A REMOTELY DARK AREA WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE ENGAGED BUT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN A REMOTELY DARK AREA WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE ENGAGED BUT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,267.
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.
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