Most common 2002 Buick Century problems
Share of the 154 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Century complaints by model year
Best Century years: 2005, 2004, 1996. Years to avoid: 1999, 1998, 2000. Compare all years →
What 2002 Buick Century owners say
Engine & cooling all 33 →
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 ????
I currently have a 2002 Buick Century custom with 107000 miles on it. I had a starter catch fire cause of a large buildup of oil coming from either the head gasket or the manifold gasket. This issue needs to be addressed. Driving at high engine temperature with cause a major safety issue for anyone driving short or long distant.
Electrical system all 24 →
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 ????
This is an addendum to complaint/odi #10499646...this was the scariest experience of my life, driving alone in darkness, at 55mph, and without warning, headlights & dash just shut-off !! No other vehicles on road to help light my way, couldn't see anything, almost ran off the road & got killed, only had this car 10days!! Thought I got a good deal too, but now I'm stuck with a car I can't drive at night. Spoke directly with GM customer relations specialist on 3 separate occasions, who sent me to their GM dealership for inspection. After GM rep spoke with their dealership, they decided due to the age of the vehicle, and mileage, they're not responsible to assist!! I cannot understand, nor will I accept, how this situation could be anything other than a "safety issue"!! …
Lights all 24 →
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.
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.
2002 Buick Century engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Buick Century a good car?
Based on 154 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Century rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Century at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Buick Century?
The engine & cooling — 33 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system. Next are the electrical system (24) and lights (24).
How many recalls does the 2002 Buick Century have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Buick Century. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Century?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2004 and 1996. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 1998 and 2000. See the full Buick Century years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Buick Century problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 43% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.