2002 Buick CENTURY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
154 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 101 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 154 complaints (11.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 30 | 19.5% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 4.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 14 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 7 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 7 |
Electrical System: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling: 14; Exterior Lighting: 10; Engine: 8; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 8; Service Brakes: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 7; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 29 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 29; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 53 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2002: 12; 2003: 13; 2004: 15; 2005: 21; 2006: 9; 2007: 17; 2008: 8; 2009: 3; 2010: 11; 2011: 9; 2012: 5; 2013: 4; 2014: 10; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2020: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10042892 · 2003-11-18 (November 18, 2003)
WHILE STOPPED ON AN INCLINE, THE CONSUMER REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK SEVERAL FEET. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE ROLL BACK WAS DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TORQUE OF THE WHEELS.*AK THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. *JB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043042 · 2003-10-16 (October 16, 2003)
WHEN REAR BRAKE LININGS ARE WET OR DAMP, A TERRIBLE NOISE FOLLOWS APPLICATION ALONG WITH SEVERE GRABBING AND LOCK UP OF ONE REAR WHEEL. IT HAPPENS CONTINUALLY UNTIL BRAKES DRY OUT FROM USE. NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED BUT VERY DEFINITELY COULD ON SLICK SURFACE ROADS. DEALER AND BUICK MTR. DIVISION REFUSE TO ASSIST. 12,000 MILES ON 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THANK YOU. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043042 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049460 · 2003-12-09 (December 9, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL IS STARTING TO FLAKE OFF. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103177 · 2005-01-05 (January 5, 2005)
AT A STOP ON A HILL WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A MINOR VEHICLE ROLL BACK ONCE THE FOOT WAS OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE ROLLBACK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED IT ROLLED BACK A DISTANCE OF 15 FEET AT A SPEED OF 15MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED DISABLING BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. THE HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM DO NOT MERGE. THEY ACT AS TWO SEPARATE SPOTLIGHTS AND DISTANCE APPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,918 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103177 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138869 · 2005-09-28 (September 28, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10138869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144503 · 2005-12-05 (December 5, 2005)
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 P…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009142 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE AIR BAG.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009142 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116735 · 2005-04-11 (April 11, 2005)
WIRING UNDER FUSE PANEL CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED WIRES IN FUSE BOX. NO FUSES BLEW TO PROTECT WIRING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10650769 · 2014-10-28 (October 28, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. ..UPDATED 05/20/15 *BF UPDATED 7/6/2015 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050727 · 2003-12-18 (December 18, 2003)
ON 12/12/03 AFTER PULLING INTO THE LOCAL SNAPPY CARWASH, OUR 2002 BUICK CENTURY WOULD NOT CRANK THE ENGINE. THE IGNITION WOULD WIND UP BUT NOT ENGAGE THE ENGINE. WE CALLED OUR DEALERSHIP, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS 44,000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY IS NOW UP, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WERE PREPARED TO DO TO HELP US. WE CALLED OTHER DEALERSHIPS AND THEY RESPONDED THE SAME. WE HAD TO LEAVE IT AND RENT A CAR BECAUSE OF TRAVEL THAT COULD NOT BE POSTPONED. UPON OUR RETURN MONDAY NIGHT, MY HUSBAND DECIDED TO CHECK IF THE CAR WOULD START…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369872 · 2010-12-10 (December 10, 2010)
2002 BUICK CENTURY INTAKE MANIFOLD/GASKET FAILS AT 31K MILES. COOLANT IN THE ENGINE AND MIXED WITH THE OIL. ALL OF THE PRIOR SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE WERE PERFORMED AT GM DEALERSHIPS (WHERE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED PRIOR TO FAILURE). OIL, LUBE, ROTATIONS DONE WITHOUT WAITING FOR INDICATOR LIGHTS (2-4 TIMES PER YEAR), ALL RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES COMPLETED (INCLUDING NEW BRAKES, THROTTLE BODY AND FUEL INJECTOR SVCS). THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE REGARDING DEXCOOL EATING AWAY THE GASKETS BUT GM FILED BANKRUPTCY TO AVOID FULL SETTLEMENT AND NOW DEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,939 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369872 at NHTSA ↗