Buick Century Complaints (2002)

154 consumer complaints on file.

#10248484November 11, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2002 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM, HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT 69K AT A COST OF OVER $700. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, FRONT LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AND THEY WERE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $350 EACH. NOW AT 80K THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT SO BADLY THE CAR CANNOT BE USED. THE APPROXIMATE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS $1400. CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW, FULLY MAINTAINED AND ADULT DRIVEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240072August 28, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGED. THE TRACTION AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235548July 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE COOLANT TANK AFTER I GOT A LOW COOLANT LIGHT WHEN THE COOLANT WAS NOT LOW AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE BUICK DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT OIL WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET INTO THE COOLANT CHANNELS OF THE MANIFOLD. THE OIL WAS INTERFERING WITH THE COOLANTS SENSOR CAUSING THE INDICATOR LIGHT TO COME ON. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE DRAINED, FLUSHED AND REFILLED AFTER THE MANIFOLD WAS REMOVED AND THE GASKET REPLACED. THIS WAS GOING TO COST OVER $800.00 THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE 3.1L ENGINE SO I ASKED WHY THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE TO WHICH HE RESPONDED THAT GM WOULD NOT COVER THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I DID NOT DO THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS; RESPONSE, POSSIBLE WATER MIGRATING INTO THE CYLINDERS OR OIL/WATER MIXING, ALL VERY BAD FOR THE ENGINE. BECAUSE I LIKE THE CAR, I HAD THE WORK DONE AS I USE THIS CAR FOR EXTENDED TRIPS AND I DO NOT WANT TO FIND MYSELF WITH AN ENGINE FAILURE. SINCE THIS DOES APPEAR TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH MAY BE AGGRAVATED BY THE USE OF DEXRON COOLING FLUID, I BELIEVE THAT GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS AND/OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR SUCH REPAIRS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234484July 15, 2008
STEERING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THE BUICK CENTURY 2002, MY CAR HAS THEM: 1. WINDOWS NOT WORKING, ONLY PASSENGERS' UP TO NOW 2. HARD UPSHIFTS ON TRANSMISSION 3. MILEAGE ON THE DIGITAL ODOMETER WON'T SHOW 4. VOLUME ON STEERING WHEEL NEVER CORRECTED SO, WHAT'S BEING DONE ABOUT IT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221828March 20, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 BUICK CENTURY FROM AUTO MALL, PUTNEY, VT ON 0/06/01- ONLY HAVE 57,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE NOW. AIR CONDITIONER FIXED 3 TIMES; STILL NOT WORKING; BRAKES FIXED; STILL SQUEAK BEFORE MY CAR COULD BE INSPECTED THE LINE FOR THE BACK BRAKE LIGHTS WHICH WERE RUSTED NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED IN FEB 2008 [$300]. ON MARCH 1, 2008 MY BRAKES WENT; BROUGHT TO NEAREST GARAGE; BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT AND WAS REPLACED [$200] I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE ROCKER PANELS WERE RUSTED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED INSPECTION. INFORMED DEALERSHIP; BROUGHT VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND ESTIMATE [$5,000]. WAS TOLD BY GMAC THAT VEHICLE'S WARRANTY ENDED ON 11/06/07. I AM AWAITING WORD WEATHER THEY WILL COVER SOME OF THE REPAIR WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222749March 20, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
2002 BUICK CENTURY WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ELECTRIC WINDOW CONTROLS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE. HEADLIGHTS STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED USING THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR OR THE HIGH BEAMS, APPARENTLY TRIGGERED ALL THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT. THE HEATER CONTROLS DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221101March 13, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HAD COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON PERIODICALLY AND WAS LOOSING COOLANT, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS, WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY FAULTY LIGHT, OR LEAK IN TANK. TOOK CAR FOR OIL CHANGE AND ASK TO LOOK FOR ANY LEAKS, FOUND COOLANT IN OIL. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WAS TOLD DUE TO COOLANT BEING DEXCOOL AND EATS THE GASKETS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211755December 12, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208750November 13, 2007
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
AT 44,9XX MILES THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW IN MY 2002 BUICK CENTURY FAILED. THE REGULATOR FAILED AND THE WINDOW DROPPED OF IT'S OWN ACCORD. I WAS ON A TRIP AND HAD TO LEAVE MY WINDOW OPEN FOR 2 DAYS UNTIL I RETURNED AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS. IT COST ME A $100.00, (EXTENDED WARRANTY), BUT THE BS WITH HAVING IT FAIL FOR NO REASON, JUST PISSES ME OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207044October 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BOUGHT VEHICLE IN 01.20.07 WITH 56,943 MILES (2002 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM). SOMETIME (AROUND 62,000 MILES) NOTICE ENGINE HESITATES, AFTER WARMING UP, HESITATION DISAPPEARS. ASKED MY MECHANIC AND HIS FIRST QUESTION WAS IF WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OFF THE TAIL PIPE, I SAID NO. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER, AT STARTUP (EARLY IN THE MORNING) THE TAIL PIPE SMOKED FOR A GOOD 2 TO 3 MINUTES, AGAIN, ONCE WARMED, STOPPED, AND ENGINE RUN WELL. THIS WENT ON FOR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS, DURING THIS PERIOD I ASKED AGAIN MY MECHANIC, BUT THIS TIME I MENTIONED THE WHITE SMOKE, NO OIL SMELL, HIS RESPONSE WAS I WAS BURNING ANTIFREEZE. WENT BACK TO DEALER TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO TO HELP ME, LEFT THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSIS, THEN THEY OFFER ME A 15% DISCOUNT ON PARTS OF AND ESTIMATED $1500.00 WORK. SINCE THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE, I CALLED BUICK, EXPLAIN SITUATION, AND ALSO MENTIONED FACT THAT AN ENGINE THIS AGE - MILEAGE - THIS KIND OF FAILURE WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. AFTER 4 CALLS FROM BUICK, IT TOOK BUICK 2 WEEKS TO COME BACK WITH HA RESOLUTION: THAT THE BEST THEY COULD DO WAS 15% DISCOUNT ON PARTS AND 15% ON LABOR. AT SOME POINT I WANTED TO PICKUP THE CAR AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. MEANTIME, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT NHTSA DID HANDLE THIS TYPE OF ISSUES. FURTHER RESEARCH IN THE NHTSA WEB SITE SHOWED THAT (LIKE MY MECHANIC TOLD ME) THIS WAS A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON 10.25.07 AT A FINAL COST OF $1,157.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207150October 23, 2007
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2002 BUICK CENTURY WITH WINDOW PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATED THAT ONE DEALER GAVE HER AN ESTIMATE $200 MORE THAN ANOTHER DEALER. SHE WENT WITH THE CHEAPER DEALER AND WINDOWS ARE WORKING FINE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE OTHER 2 WINDOWS HAD ALSO FAILED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202519September 11, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK AT 61,233 MILES,719 DOLLAR REPAIR. *JB UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB THE LOWER INTAKE MAIFOLD GASKET, THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED AS WELL. UPDATED .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200273August 13, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2002 BUICK CENTURY WITH BRAKE FAILURE CUSTOMER STATES THAT BRAKE PROBLEMS THIS EARLY ONLY MEANS MORE PROBLEMS TO COME**CC 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. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198852August 8, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE LIGHTS REMAINED OFF FOR TWO HOURS BEFORE ILLUMINATING AGAIN. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED 4 TIMES AT NIGHT AND THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198133August 1, 2007
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REGULATOR FOR THE DRIVER SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW HAS FAILED. THE WINDOW IS OFF TRACK AND THE REGULATOR NO LONGER WORKS. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195367July 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
WHEN I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AT ABOUT 32,000 MILES THE MECHANIC INDICATED THE OIL WAS A QUART LOW. I HAD THE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSHED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES AND THE MECHANIC NOTED OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE. AT 55,000 MILES THE CAR NOW NEEDS A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT A COST OF $800 TO $900. GM FACES A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN CANADA FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND MANY U.S. BLOGS INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SERVICE STATIONS ARE REPORTING THAT THIS FAILURE IS COMMON AND DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES. BECAUSE OF THIS, BUICK SAYS IT HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. IN ADDITION TO THE GASKET PROBLEM, I HAD TO REPLACE THE WIPE BLADE MECHANISM AND LEAKING WHEEL BEARINGS. THESE, TOO, WERE PREMATURE PROBLEMS AND NOT DUE TO ANY ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF CAR MAINTENANCE. GM WILL NOT RECOGNIZE A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS DUE TO THE FACT I WENT TO A LOCAL PRECISION TUNE FOR MAINTENANCE. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM MOVED ABOUT 45 MINUTES AWAY FROM MY HOME MAKING IT VERY INCONVENIENT TO GO THERE FOR MAINTENANCE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195293July 4, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
I GOT A BRAND NEW CAR, RECEIVED A LETTER SAYING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEEDED TO BE CHECKED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ALRIGHT. IN SEVERAL PAST WINTER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAYED IN UPRIGHT POSITION AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN, BLOCKING MY VISION, TOOK IT BACK, THEY PUT A NEW MOTOR IN IT, AND IT WORKED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WINTER, SAME THING HAPPENED, AND THEY FIXED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN 2003,2004,2005, AND 2006, MY WARRANTY RAN OUT IN 2007, SO THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ANY MORE. I EEL L LIKE THEY PROLONGING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS UNTIL MY WARRANTY RAN OUT, AND I WAS STUCK WITH THEM UPRIGHT WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE COMPUTER AND FOUND AT LEAST 6 MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191953May 29, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED A PIECE OF FUEL INJECTION DETACHED AND BLEW OFF THE VALVE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE REPAIR COST $1,200. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TO HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT NOTIFIED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,263. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190245May 9, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSIONS ON AMERICAN CARS ARE MESSING UP TOO EARLY. MY FRIEND'S DODGE CARAVAN WENT OUT AFTER THE 36000 MILE WARRANTY, MONTH LATER. OTHER CARS THE SOLENOID ON UPSHIFTS 1-2 AND 3-4 WERE CAUSING HARSH UPSHIFT PROBLEMS ON MANY CARS. OLD CARS BEFORE 2000, TRANSMISSIONS DID NOT FAIL FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS, TODAY'S MODEL TRANSMISSIONS WERE CAUSING PROBLEMS THE FIRST 3-5 YEARS. THESE PROBLEMS ON THE 2002 BUICK CENTURY HAPPENED THE LAST 3-5 YEARS. 1. HARSH UPSHIFTS ON TRANSMISSION, 1-2 3-4. 2. POWER WINDOWS, AFTER 3 YEARS, DIDN'T WORK ON REAR WINDOWS AND WERE TO SLOW ON THE FRONT WINDOWS. 3. STEERING WHEEL STEREO CONTROLS VOLUME WAS NEVER FIXED AFTER TAKING 5-10 TIMES FOR REPAIRS. THESE WERE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS I WAS SPENDING FOR 4-5 YEARS OF DRIVING. IF NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT THIS I WILL BE TURNING TOYOTA, CAMRY. YOUR ADVICE WILL VERY GLADLY BE APPRECIATED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187261April 8, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT GO DOWN, BUT STAY IN FRONT OF MY VISION, BLOCKING THE VIEW. I TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM , BUT EVERY YEAR IN WINTER THEY STILL STICK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIED. FOUR YEARS EVER WINTER THEY BLOCK MY VISION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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