2002 Buick Century

Routine

Owners filed 154 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

101 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 30,00040,000 miles; the median is 62,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System14
010
Engine and Engine Cooling13
000
Exterior Lighting › Headlights7
000
Exterior Lighting7
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System6
010
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls5
000
Steering5
100
Service Brakes5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine5
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor4
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Steering09E005000
Filed Feb 17, 2009979 vehiclesDorman Products, Inc.

Defect. DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.

Risk. A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly › Pressure Relief Devices07E021000
Filed Mar 12, 2007742 vehiclesDelphi

Defect. CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

Risk. FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering
Filed Oct 3, 2023NJ

UNKNOWN; The issues started around 6 months ago. Just casually driving like usual, and my steering wheel would lock up and be ridiculously hard to turn, which is scary because its happened while turning through lights and intersections and trying to even just park my car. And on some of those occations the trac and abs sensors would come on, but not all the time.

Tires › Bead
Filed May 16, 2023FL

Right front Cooper GS5 Grand Touring 205/70 R15 96T with only 862 miles on it had a complete air loss/went completely flat when car was turning into a parking lot. This is one of a set of brand new tires on the car. The car was never driven on a highway after these were purchased. Only local driving at 45 to 50 MPH max. Tire was taken to a tire shop in hopes of getting it plugged/repaired. They found nothing had penetrated the tire. They could not pressurize the tire. Air was blowing out all around the outside bead and could not be seated. They put lubricant around the bead inside and out and gave it some rapid shots of air on the machine. It started to hold pressure but immediately had a roughly 4 inch section of the sidewall start to balloon out. Technician said he was afraid it was going to blow up in his face. He chalk marked the defective area on the tire and said the bead and sidewall had failed in that ballooning area and the tire was defective and not repairable.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 19, 2022TN

While letting off the gas in order to break, the accelerator pedal went to the floor on its own for about 3 seconds. Pushing on the break stopped the accelerator.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 25, 2022FL

I was driving at night switched headlights to high beams - few minutes later switched back to low beams and ALL LIGHTS dash and head lights went completely out . Tried to pull head light knob and nothing - pitch black . Luckily i was a short distance from my home. This is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ! I have found 33 complaints (so far) about this same problem. This definitely should qualify and be recalled . PLEASE take IMMEDIATE action . Thank you.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 10, 202078,000 milesCA

BOTH FRONT SIDES HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE ABS, SERVICE SOON, ALSO THE TRACTION OFF LIGHTS . COMES ON AND STAY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ONCE I TURN VEHICLE OFF IT GOES OFF.

Air BagsCrash4 injured
Filed Nov 28, 2018140,000 milesMO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, NECK, BOTH LEGS, AND ARMS. THERE WERE THREE MINORS IN THE BACK SEAT WHO SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR HEADS, BOTH LEGS, ARMS, AND BACKS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED FOR ALL OCCUPANTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jun 17, 2018115,000 milesIL

I WAS AT THE GAS STATION TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE GAS STATION MANY COULD OF BEEN KILLED AND OR INJURED

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 2, 201877,000 milesKS

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR

Electrical System
Filed Apr 4, 2017150,000 milesMT

INTAKE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE - COST TOO MUCH TO REPAIR FOR ME. MY ONLY CAR TO GET TO WORK. REPLACING BEARINGS TODAY FOR STICKING BACK BRAKES. ALL INTERIOR ACCESSORIES ARE BROKEN; COSMETIC MIRROR, ASHTRAY, CENTER CONSOLE, PASSENGER WINDSHIELD WIPER STRIPPED MOTOR, 1 WINDOW WORKING. STILL OWE ON CAR BUT CANNOT FIX EVERYTHING. ANY HELP ????

Exterior Lighting
Filed Mar 10, 201785,000 milesOH

TRAVELING AT NIGHT, ONCE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH LIGHTS ON LOW BEAM AND OTHER TIMES IN LIGHT OR NO TRAFFIC WITH LIGHTS ON HIGH BEAM, ALL OUTSIDE LIGHTS GO OUT CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. DOES NOT MATTER IF THE MANUAL SWITCH IS USED OR IF THE LIGHTS ARE ON AUTOMATIC. THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES THEM COME BACK ON IS SWITCHING THE HIGH/ LOW BEAM SWITCH. MILES TRAVELED OR LENGTH OF TIME TRAVELING MAKES NO DIFFERENCE ...RANDOM OCCURRENCE. REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCHES AT A AUTO REPAIR SHOP MADE NO DIFFERENCE.

Engine
Filed Feb 22, 2016LA

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.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 25, 2016PA

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.

Steering
Filed Oct 27, 2015MI

MY LIGHTS ARE ON THE DASHBOARD AND IT'S SAYING ANIT-LOCK BRAKES AND TRAC-OFF. THERE'S A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jul 5, 2015120,300 milesMI

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.

Power Train
Filed Jun 14, 201544,000 milesWI

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.

Interior Lighting
Filed Apr 1, 201551,000 milesOH

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.

Engine
Filed Jan 23, 2015IL

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.

SteeringCrash
Filed Dec 4, 2014108,000 milesMI

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

Electrical System
Filed Nov 20, 2014SC

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

Electrical System
Filed Oct 31, 201468,000 milesNJ

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.

20 of 154 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200519200Routine
200439200Routine
2003127220Routine
2002 — this page154240Routine
2001145520Routine
2000193710Routine
1999235540Above average
1998218400Above average
1997106410Routine
199680210Routine
199599110Routine
1994106641Fatalities reported
199354230Routine
199245321Fatalities reported
199138220Routine
199033230Routine

Compare every Century year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 17, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.