Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 21 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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE GLUE TO REINSTALL THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 8/8/12 *CN UPDATED 08/14/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN A REMOTELY DARK AREA WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE ENGAGED BUT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,267.
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD SPARKLES IN THE SUNLIGHT DUE TO FROST. THE GLARE IMPAIRS HIS VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT HE BUY A NEW WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,000. UPDATED 12/08/08. *LJ
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REFUSE TO LOWER WHEN TURNED OFF. *NM
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
2002 BUICK CENTURY ALL FOUR POWER WINDOWS CEASE TO GO UP OR DOWN. *KB ***NAR*** THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THE MECHANISM OF BUICK'S CONSISTS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL IN ONE PIECE, SO THE ENTIRE UNIT HAS TO BE REPLACED. *JB
WIPERS HAVE FAILED TWICE DURING MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN. WIPER ARMS GET OUT OF SYNC AND HANG UP TOGETHER IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. DEALER HAS CHARGED TO TIGHTEN NUT ON BLADES, BUT HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A CROWDED BRIDGE AT NIGHT IN THE DRIVING RAIN CREATING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. *NM
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER MOTOR COMES ON SQUIRTING WASHER FLUID. THE DIRECTIONAL ARM CONTROL MUST BE HELD TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO STOP THE WASHER PUMP FROM OPERATING. AS THE VEHICLE WARMS UP, THE PROBLEM CEASES UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 BUICK CENTURY WITH ONLY 7800 MILES. DUE TO AGE, IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP IN THE VERTICLE POSITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY ON 10/17/03. CRANK ARM BROKEN. IT HAPPENED DURING SNOW STORMS, THE WIPERS FAILED AFTER A COUPLE OF INCHES OF LIGHT SNOW GOT ON THE WINDSHIELD . *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHUT OFF IN THE VERTICLE POSITION, STARTED AT 48,300 MILES ON VEHICLE. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER BUICK OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO RECALL TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT ?*AK
I HAVE A 2002 BUICK CENTURY. LAST YEAR I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD GETTING STUCK IN A VERTICAL POSITION. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER, WHO HANDED ME A RECEIPT INDICATING REPLACEMENT OF COST APPROX. $400.00. WELL IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THIS TIME NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO A RESPONSIBLE AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT WHOEVER FIXED IT LAST YEAR DID IT THE CHEAPEST WAY POSSIBLE, THAT'S WHY IS BROKE AGAIN. HOW WAS I HANDED A BILL FROM BUICK DEALER SAYING IT COST $400.00 TO REPLACE PARTS? NOW I HAVE TO PAY $150.00 THIS TIME. WHAT WAS BUICK DEALER TRYING TO DO GOUGE ME, IMPRESS ME. I DON'T THINK I'LL BUY ANOTHER BUICK.*AK
THERE IS GLARE FROM DASHBOARD ON WINDSHIELD CAUSED BY A SEAM ON TOP OF DASHBOARD. DEALER TEST DROVE VEHICLE, AND AGREED THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. CONSUMER COULD PURCHASE A REFLECTOR COVER FOR THE DASHBOARD. *AK
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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