Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Buick Century submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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 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.
BOTH FRONT SIDES HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE ABS, SERVICE SOON, ALSO THE TRACTION OFF LIGHTS . COMES ON AND STAY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ONCE I TURN VEHICLE OFF IT GOES OFF.
APPLIED BRAKES FOR THE STOP SIGN AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AS IT TURNED OUT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED OUT AND FLUID WAS LOST. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. WHEN REVERSING OR MAKING A U-TURN, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
TIRE FEELS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO SPIN. NO GRIP. *TR
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. *TR
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. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME WHERE IT'LL HAVE TO SIT UNTIL I CAN AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. I OWN THE CAR AND I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD THE PRICES THAT MECHANICS WANT TO CHARGE TO FIX THE GASKETS. I FOUND INFORMATION ONLINE THAT BUICK KNEW ABOUT THE DEXCOOL AND HAD A RECALL BUT IT'S NO LONGER ACTIVE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY. I THINK THEY SHOULD FIX THEIR MISTAKES AND NOT MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS PAY FOR THEM. *TR
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. IT SEEMS THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND WHEN IT KICKS IN WHILE BRAKING IT TAKES LONGER TO STOP THE CAR. I WOULD THINK THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD REQUIRE A FULL INVESTIGATION BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT.
TL*THE 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 *BF 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. THE SHARP EDGE CUT INTO THE BROWN OR BLUE WIRE THAT CAME FROM THE LEFT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WHICH CAUSED THE TRAC OFF LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE ABS WOULD BECOME DISABLES. UPDATED EVOQ 02/18/11
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.
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
TL* - THE CONTACT PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2002 BUICK CENTURY, FROM BUICK LANDMARK AUTOMOBILE OF TUSCALOOSA ON 10/22/2002 WITH 24733 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IN JUNE 2006 THE CONTACT SAID THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE CLICKING NOISES WHEN TURNING RIGHT. IN 6/7/2006 A GOODYEAR STORE REPLACED THE RF HUB ASSEMBLY AND THE RF OUTLET TIE ROD AT A COST OF $542.91. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS WAS VIBRATING CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO COME ON WHEN IN SLOW SPEED LEFT TURNING. TWO DAYS AFTER THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME NOISES. THE ABS LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LEIGH BUICK OF TUSCALOOSA ON 7/6/2006 LOCATED AT 3200 SKYLAND BLVD TUSCALOOSA AL 35405 TEL.205-556-1111. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT HUB, AT A COST OF $456.92. TWO DAYS LATER THE CONTACT BEGAN TO HEAR THE SAME NOISE AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE LEFT FRONT HUB WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE A FEW DAYS AFTER, BUT NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE AND BEGAN TO VIBRATE VERY HARD MAKING THE CAR UN-DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON A FLATBED TRUCK ON 8/21/06. ON 8/23/06 THE DEALER REPLACED 2 BULBS AND THE THIRD BRAKE, THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY. SHORTLY AFTER, WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE CONTACT COULD NOT APPLY THE BRAKE AT ALL WHILE TURNING. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT TURNED ON, BUT IT TURNED OFF WHEN COMPLETING THE TURN. THE CONTACT ALSO SENSED A BURNING SMELL. THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE PUMP VALVE BLOCK REPLACED AND THE ABS PUMP MOUNT FLUID. THE TWO REAR POWER WINDOWS DO NOT CLOSE, THE DIGITAL ODOMETER AND DIGITAL PANELS ARE NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT CAN NOT TELL THE MILEAGE, SPEED OR GEAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WANTS TO MAKE A COMPLAINT SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES. *NM UPDATED 2/21/2007 - *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PADS ON THE VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE. THE BRAKE PADS BEGAN TO SEPARATE AFTER 64500 MILES. THE SERVICE DEALER IDENTIFIED THE SEPARATION. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB
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.*AK
I HAVE THREE LIGHTS COMING ON {CHECK ENGINE SOON}{ANTI LOCK &TRAC OFF} THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER TWO YEARS AND SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE GARAGE IS NOT GETTING IT REPAIRED. I AM TOLD WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE ON I LOSE ANTILOCK BREAKS AND TRACTION CONTROL. *NM ] ]
WHEN IT RAINS THE BRAKES SQUEAL. EVEN WHEN THE HUMIDITY IS HIGH THE BRAKES WILL NOT HOLD. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SKIDS FORWARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED, AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. *AK *JB
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. *AK 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. *TC
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED, BUT DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK....GMC HA DBRAKE PROBLEMS IN THE PAST, WHICH THEY FAILED TO ADMIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT INDEPENDENT GARAGE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK
THERE WAS NO FAILURE, BUT COULD HAVE BEEN. I REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE ROTORS HAD ALREADY BEEN TURNED DOWN BELOW RECOMMENDATION. THE SIZE SHOULD HAVE BEEN 1.270" WITH THE MAXIMUM TURNING DOWN TOO 1. 2 +/-. BUT THEY WERE ALREADY BELOW THE MINIMUM. *AK
THE BRAKE PADS WORE OUT PREMATURELY TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE MAKING A GRINDING METAL TO METAL NOISE. THE BRAKES WERE NOT ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WHEN APPLIED. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ADJUSTED THE REAR BRAKES.*AK
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.*AK
WHEN REAR BRAKE LININGS ARE WET OR DAMP, A TERRIBLE NOISE FOLLOWS APPLICATION ALONG WITH SEVERE GRABBING AND LOCK UP OF ONE REAR WHEEL. IT HAPPENS CONTINUALLY UNTIL BRAKES DRY OUT FROM USE. NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED BUT VERY DEFINITELY COULD ON SLICK SURFACE ROADS. DEALER AND BUICK MTR. DIVISION REFUSE TO ASSIST. 12,000 MILES ON 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THANK YOU. *LA
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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