Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 33 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.
The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words
I WAS AT THE GAS STATION TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE GAS STATION MANY COULD OF BEEN KILLED AND OR INJURED
INTAKE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE - COST TOO MUCH TO REPAIR FOR ME. MY ONLY CAR TO GET TO WORK. REPLACING BEARINGS TODAY FOR STICKING BACK BRAKES. ALL INTERIOR ACCESSORIES ARE BROKEN; COSMETIC MIRROR, ASHTRAY, CENTER CONSOLE, PASSENGER WINDSHIELD WIPER STRIPPED MOTOR, 1 WINDOW WORKING. STILL OWE ON CAR BUT CANNOT FIX EVERYTHING. ANY HELP ????
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM FAMILY AUTO EASLEY SC, IVE HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS ON THIS CAR THAT DIDNT HELP, RADIATORS, THERMASTAT, WATER PUMP, HOSES REPLACE, ALTERNATOR, COOLANT RECOVERY TANK HAS BROWN SLUDGE INSIDE, THE WINDOWS DIDNT WORK, ITS MOIST INSIDE FROM THE FLOOR BEING WET HAD A HEATING CORE PUT IN DIDNT HELP, THE CARPET ON THE INSIDE IS DAMAGED, THE PAINT IS COMING OFF, HAD A ALTERNATOR PUT IN , RUN HOT ALL THE TIME, DOSNT MATTER, BUY COOLANT, OIL PUT WATER IN IT, MANIFOLD GASKET IS BAD IN IT IVE LOST POWER SEVERAL TIMES, THE LAST TIME I DID IT WAS ON NOV 6 THIS YEAR ON THE WAY TO WORK LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING RAN INTO A GURAD GATE RIGHT BESIDE A DUMPSTER, I HAD TO GET IT TOWED, ITS IN THE SHOP GETTING THE BUMPER FIXED, I HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR, I HAD TO GET MY CAR REFINANCE WITH DILCO OF GREENVILLE SC HE COULDNT BELIEVE HOW MUCH I WAS CHARGE FOR THIS CAR OVER 13,000.00 DOLLARS, SO I WAS OVER CHARGED AND SOLD A LEMON AND ITS NOT FAIR TO ME AND THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE FOR ME OR ANYONE TO DRIVE, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE A CAR WITHOUT BEING AFRIAD IF IM GOING TO MAKE IT OR NOT OR GET STRANDED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE WHEN THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL IN THE RADIATOR. IN ADDITION, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,400. UPDATED 11/14/13*LJ UPDATED 11/18/2013 *JS
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,784 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,556.
HAD SERVICE ENGINE 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
2002 BUICK CENTURY. CONSUMER STATES DESIGN DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS WIFE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE WAS STUCK. HOWEVER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE RADIATOR WAS ALMOST ON THE GROUND AND IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING DETACHED. SHE WAS REFERRED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE BODY SHOP STATED THE RADIATOR MOUNT WAS DRY ROTTED BEYOND REPAIR AND SHOULD HAVE NEVER OCCURRED IN AN EIGHT YEAR OLD VEHICLE. **JB UPDATED 10/20/11.*JB
I HAVE A 2002 BUICK CENTURY AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS TO BE REPLACED SINCE GM DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL OF WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE. I AM AFRAID I WILL BREAK DOWN IN THE CAR WITH NO HELP. I AM A WIDOW WHO IS CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THE CAR. I HAVE PAID THE CAR IN FULL AND JUST WANT THEM TO FIX WHAT THEY SCREWED UP. I WAS NOT EVEN AWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL MY LOW COOLANT LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND I NOTICED THERE IS A LEAK. *TR
2002 BUICK CENTURY INTAKE MANIFOLD/GASKET FAILS AT 31K MILES. COOLANT IN THE ENGINE AND MIXED WITH THE OIL. ALL OF THE PRIOR SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE WERE PERFORMED AT GM DEALERSHIPS (WHERE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED PRIOR TO FAILURE). OIL, LUBE, ROTATIONS DONE WITHOUT WAITING FOR INDICATOR LIGHTS (2-4 TIMES PER YEAR), ALL RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES COMPLETED (INCLUDING NEW BRAKES, THROTTLE BODY AND FUEL INJECTOR SVCS). THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE REGARDING DEXCOOL EATING AWAY THE GASKETS BUT GM FILED BANKRUPTCY TO AVOID FULL SETTLEMENT AND NOW DEALERSHIPS CLAIM IGNORANCE TO THE ISSUE. NOW I HAVE TO PAY $1500 TO HAVE THE ENGINE & RADIATOR DISASSEMBLED FOR CLEANING. I WAS INFORMED THAT LABOR IS THE BULK OF THE COST. WHY WON'T GM CHARGE THE CUSTOMER FOR THE PART AND NOT THE LABOR. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE PARTS INVOLVED ONLY COST $200-250, BUT I HAVE TO PAY $1500 FOR A KNOWN ISSUE/FAILURE THE MANUFACTURE WAS/IS WELL AWARE OF AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAUSES ABRUPT ENGINE FAILURE! I AM SO UPSET THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SO WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND WOULD FAIL WITH SO FEW MILES ON IT. MY CHEVY CORSICA ALSO FAILED DUE TO DEXCOOL (WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT AT 60K MILES) AND I DID NOT RECEIVE A PENNY FROM THE DEXCOOL SETTLEMENT (EVEN THOUGH I FILED AND WAS ELIGIBLE). GM SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE FAILURES THAT ARE STILL AN ISSUE. AN ENGINE FAILURE IN TRAFFIC IS A SERIOUS DEFECT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE GASKET IN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO MONITOR IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
FAILURE OF INTAKE ENGINE GASKET ON 2002 BUICK CENTURY WITH 110,000 MILES. *TR
I CURRENTLY HAVE A 2002 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM WITH 107000 MILES ON IT. I HAD A STARTER CATCH FIRE CAUSE OF A LARGE BUILDUP OF OIL COMING FROM EITHER THE HEAD GASKET OR THE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. DRIVING AT HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE WITH CAUSE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANYONE DRIVING SHORT OR LONG DISTANT. *TR
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
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
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
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
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 .
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
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
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE 2002 BUICK CENTURY THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON, AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE OF MILES THE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GARAGE WHICH PERFORMED A PRESSURE TEST AND FOUND A HOLE IN THE MANIFOLD. THE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING COOLANT. UPDATED 02/22/07. *JB
LOWER INTAKE GASKET LEAKING COOLANT HEAVILY. HOPEFULLY CAUGHT PROBLEM IN TIME. $900 REPAIR. THIS IS A KNOWN GM PROBLEM THAT THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS! THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED, OR GM SHOULD PROVIDE HELP WITH REPAIR COSTS!. *JB
INTAKE GASKET FAILURE, OIL IN THE RADIATOR. *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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