Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Buick Century owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
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. …
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. …
Tl contact owns a 2002 Buick Century. While driving approximately 60 MPH the ABS braking system and the track off warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that when the vehicle was turned off and back on the light did not illuminate instantly but came back on after driving a few miles. The vehicle was taken to the dealer .the technicians diagnosed the failure to be the speed sensor and the left front wheel hub that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000. Updated 02/18/11 the consumer stated after six months, it was finally discovered the ABS was not working properly. The consumer also stated replacing the wheel hub didn't fix the problem. The consumer stated the real problem was a wire harness that ran past a sharp edge under the air filter. …
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. 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 appears to be limited. The consumer stated that eventually general motors repurchased the vehicle.
My 2002 Buick Century developed a problem with the following lights coming on - service engine light, anti lock. I had the car at my local Buick dealer and repairs was made to the right front wheel. This work was done under warrunty. I had to make several trips back to the dealer to get the lights stopped from coming on, now the lights are coming on again and it is very annoying. The problem started last May 2003. It was corrected around August 2003 now in April 2004 it is starting again. I have no idea if I am having brake problems with these lights intermittently coming on. They are constantly coming on in damp weather.
2002 Buick Century with brake failure customer states that brake problems this early only means more problems to come* the consumer stated the vehicle was service for a brake squeak for a period of 1 to 2 days after it rained the consumer was told there was no problem, but the dealer did clean and adjust the rear brakes. The consumer stated the brake continued to squeak. A year and 1 month later, the anti-lock brake light illuminated due to water intrusion on the hub. The consumer was told the brake squeak and water intrusion were un-related.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving at any speed, the rear brakes made a groaning noise. The dealership determined the rear wheel cylinders were leaking brake fluid onto the rear brakes. The rear wheel cylinders and brakes were replaced. Took vehicle to schumacher dealershipin west palm beach, florida. They found the wheel cylinders leaking and brkae shoes soaked with fluid, and they replaced the rear wheel cylinders and brake shoes. The total bill was $735.09 with $618.17 for total brake job.
I have a 2002 Buick Century cusedan and while turning or driving the low trac light comes on, the anti-lock brake light and the service light comes on and the brake pedal shutters and makes a loud noise when braking.....and sometimes just going down the road. When I turn the car off the lights go off and there are none of the symptoms until I hit an uneven spot in the road or go over a bump etc. The lights come on again.
Brake complaints in other Century years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2002 Buick Century?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the brakes of the 2002 Buick Century, 15% of the model year's 154 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Buick Century brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2002 Buick Century. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Buick Century brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles, and 29% before 25,000 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.