2002 Buick CENTURY: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004341 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)
THE 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004341 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 10009145 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE FRONT SEAT BOLTS RUSTED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,997 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013618 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
MY 2002 BUICK CENTURY ODOMETER IS OVER RECORDING MILES BY 4%. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE BUICK DEALER TWO TIMES I AM INFORMED THAT GM RESPONDED THAT THERE ARE NO FEDERAL REGULATIONS REGARDING THE ACCURACY OF AN ODOMETER. BUICK (G.M.) RESPONDED THAT 4% ERROR IS ACCEPTABLE TO THEM. I HAVE A COPY OF THE G.M. RESPONSE TO THE DEALER(G.M. DOCUMENT ID#1216409---SERVICE VME-ODOMETER ACCURACY, #PI00746-(12/24/2002). WHEN I FILE MY FEDERAL TAX RETURN-FORM 2106 BUSINESS EXPENSE SINCE I TRAVEL 40,000 MILES A YEAR I WOULD BE OVER REPORTING 1.600 MILES AT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013929 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
EACH TIME I EXIT MY 2002 BUICK CENTURY I GET SHOCKED. IT HAS INCREASED IN INTENSITY, AND I SOMETIMES GET SHOCKED TWICE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP LOOK IT OVER, AS WELL AS CHECK TO SEE IF ANY OF THE RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, AS IT WAS A PROGRAM CAR. I WAS ASSURED THAT NONE OF THE NUMEROUS RECALLS ON THE 2002 BUICK CENTURY APPLIED TO MY CARE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT MY BEING SHOCKED WHEN I EXIT THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING IT. THIS CONCERNS ME A GREAT DEAL, AS I HAVE R…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,344 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018342 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)
THE ODOMETER ON MY RECENTLY PURCHASED 2002 BUICK CENTURY (FROM A BUICK DEALER WITH 22,000 MILES AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY) APPEARS TO BE OFF BY APPROXIMATELY 4%. ON A RECENT TRIP OF 450 MILES (A TRIP TAKEN AND MEASURED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST), MY ENDING TRIP MILEAGE REGISTERED AS 467 MILES (AN OVERAGE OF 17 MILES). ON THE RETURN TRIP, I USED NUMEROUS INTERSTATE MILEAGE MARKERS TO COMPARE DISTANCES. FOR EACH 100 MILES TRAVELED, THE ODOMETER REGISTERS IT AS 104 MILES. TO ME, THIS IS AN ISSUE OF THE SPEEDOMETER NOT BEING CORRECT, PLUS MORE MILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020362 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
LETTER FROM STANLEY WOHLMUTH(CA) RE STATUS OF HIS MESSAGE TO NHTSA CONCERNING THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIRBAGS IN THE 2002, BUICK CENTURY IN WHICH HIS WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT. REPLY TO WASHINGTON, DC OFC, REF ES03-001376/S/BRENNER O3/21/03. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037988 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
VEHICLE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT.*MR AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING, THE CONSUMER WAS HURT IN THE ACCIDENT. ENCLOSED IS A PICTURE SHOWING DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS QUESTIONING WHETHER THE AIR BAGS WERE DEFECTIVE AND WHAT CAUSED THEM TO MALFUNCTION. PLEASE RESPOND PROMPTLY IN RESOLVING MATTERS. *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037988 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.