Complaints
204
Crashes
10
Fires
7
Injuries
11
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Buick Century Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#117 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:97,710 mi
Fires:1
#214 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:57,363 mi
Fires:1
#310 complaints
Headlight/Taillight Failures
Avg mileage:78,217 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Buick Century.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 17 | — | 1 | 97,710 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 14 | — | 1 | 57,363 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 10 | — | — | 78,217 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 8 | — | 1 | 126,983 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 8 | — | — | 40,742 mi | |
| Brakes | 8 | — | — | 114,295 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 7 | — | 1 | 67,588 mi | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 7 | — | — | 37,500 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 6 | 1 | — | 94,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 | — | — | 55,447 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 | — | — | 37,740 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | — | — | 85,000 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
| Instrument Cluster | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 2 | — | — | — |
Electrical Faults
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
97,710
Engine & Cooling
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
57,363
Headlight/Taillight Failures
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
78,217
Engine Problems
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
126,983
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
40,742
Brakes
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
114,295
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
67,588
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
37,500
Steering Defects
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
94,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,447
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
37,740
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
85,000
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Instrument Cluster
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Buick Century. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Buick Century Years
2002 Buick Century — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Buick Century reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2002 Buick Century has 204 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 17 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Buick Century?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (17 complaints, avg 97,710 mi); Engine & Cooling (14 complaints, avg 57,363 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (10 complaints, avg 78,217 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Buick Century?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 76,930 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Buick Century?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Buick Century include 10 crash-related reports, 7 fire reports, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Buick Century have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Buick Century as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Buick Century?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (electrical faults) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Buick Century reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Buick Century
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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