Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
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.
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.
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.
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.
I have a 2002 Buick Century custom. The multifunction light, wiper, cruise switch intermittently fails and I lose my headlights. I was driving on a mountain road the first time it happened and I had to turn on my hazards and find a place to stop with a lot of traffic behind me. On two other occassions I had other motorists flash me to let me know to turn on my lights. The failure has happened a lot since and I have to jiggle the switch to get it to work. This failure is extremely dangerous and has put me at serious risk. I have now figured out that jiggling the switch will bring the lights back on but that is no help if I don't know when they are out. I went to the Buick dealer and they want nearly $500.00 to fix this. I don't have the money to fix it and I will have to park the car for a few of weeks until I can afford to fix it. …
Intermittent headlight failure. On several occasions, the headlights have turned off for no reason or warning. This includes the dash lights. This has happened approximately 6 times in the past two years resulting in an extremely dangerous situation. Four of the instances were on roads with no streetlights - an interstate highway, and winding country roads. The only remedy seems to be to move the turn signal lever, both up and down, (turning the cornering lights on - providing a much needed source of light), and back and forth, as if turning the high beam lights on and off. Eventually, the lights seem to come back on. Pulling and pushing the dash mounted light switch on and off does not affect the situation. When mentioned to the local Buick dealer's service writer, he had no idea what I was talking about or how to approach the problem.
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.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Buick Century. While driving 50-55 MPH at night, the headlights automatically illuminated. When the contact activated the high beams, the headlights went out completely. She had to activate the headlight switch again in order for them to operate. Occasionally, the high beams will turn on, but other times, they will not. The dealer stated that the entire multi-function switch needed to be replaced. The switch was replaced, but the contact believes that a recall should be issued. The failure mileage was 67,000 and current mileage was 72,000. Updated 05/08/09 updated 05/12/09. Updated 06/09/09.
Headlights on my 65,000mi 2002 Buick Century just quit and then come back on. This problem has occurred 4 four times. The other times it appeared as though I misclicked, but the last time I had to pull over and click the dimmer switch 30+ times. This is a real safety issue and I barely was able to stop in time from 55 MPH. The outer headlights are only on in low beam and the inner only on high beam. There are 4 headlights this can't be right all 4 should be on in high beam setting on. Need to check on this headlight operation issue, but felt I should pass this on that these GM models do this.
Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 2002 Buick Century at any speed on the road at night the headlights go off without any warning under all road conditions. Occasionally, the contact would turn on the high beam and toggle to regular beams so that the lights would turn on. The failure happened intermittently every evening. The body control module was replaced, but the lights still turn on and off. The contact was refereed to eq muffler to find the problem. The vehicle still had not been repaired. Updated 02/27/07.
Headlight complaints in other Century years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2002 Buick Century?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the lights of the 2002 Buick Century, 16% of the model year's 154 complaints. The component named most often is headlights (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Buick Century headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights 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 headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles, and 6% 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.