3.0

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,930 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Buick Century lights problems

lights problem

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2002 Buick Century Owner Comments

problem #10

Jan 242022

Century

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Orlando , FL, USA

problem #9

Nov 242016

Century

  • 85,000 miles
Traveling at night, once in heavy traffic with lights on low beam and other times in light or no traffic with lights on high beam, all outside lights go out creating a very dangerous situation. Does not matter if the manual switch is used or if the lights are on automatic. The only thing that makes them come back on is switching the high/ low beam switch. Miles traveled or length of time traveling makes no difference...random occurrence. Replaced the headlight switches at a auto repair shop made no difference.

- Medina, OH, USA

problem #8

Nov 272015

Century

  • miles
While driving, when high-beams were turned on the entire headlight system would shut down leaving driver with absolutely no visibility. Fortunately the headlights did come back on as the dimmer switch was activated and the low-beams did come back on. I can only use my low-beam headlights as this issue happens most times the switch is activated.

- Ambridge, PA, USA

problem #7

Sep 242014

Century

  • 120,300 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Headlights go out completely for a few seconds until the bright/dim is switched and then come on. This has happened infrequently since fall of 2014. Doesn't happen when at dealer service or when we test lights after returning home. Dealer says can't be repaired until they can get the incident to repeat. Lights are fine for a while & without warning the situation occurs again. Very alarming! a friend with a Buick regal 2002 has the same problem.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #6

Oct 152014

Century

  • 51,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Buick Century. The contact stated that the interior and exterior lighting intermittently failed without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 51,000.

- Camden , OH, USA

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problem #5

Aug 122014

Century

  • miles
When I bought my 2002 Buick Century in 2003, I asked the dealer to turn off the drl on the car. They insisted they could not because of manufacturer & highway safety laws, but said I could contact the mfg. But that it required much paperwork & an extensively satisfactory reason for this to be done, so I quit asking. Once again I have decided to try to get the drl on my car turned off, since it seems to cause so much confusion to on coming traffic when I am signaling to change lane or turn. I contacted Buick & got customer support rep, that had no idea what drl even is, & declined to escalate my case up. At best she told me to go to a dealer. So the dealer tells me to go the the mfg. Then the mfg tells me to go to the dealer. Can you do anything to help me? all I want is to drive my car without the parking lights on! I thought it was illegal to drive with parking lights on.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #4

Sep 152010

Century

  • 51,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Intermittent headlight failure. On several occasions, the headlights have turned off for no reason or warning. This includes the dash lights. This has happened approximately 6 times in the past two years resulting in an extremely dangerous situation. Four of the instances were on roads with no streetlights - an interstate highway, and winding country roads. The only remedy seems to be to move the turn signal lever, both up and down, (turning the cornering lights on - providing a much needed source of light), and back and forth, as if turning the high beam lights on and off. Eventually, the lights seem to come back on. Pulling and pushing the dash mounted light switch on and off does not affect the situation. When mentioned to the local Buick dealer's service writer, he had no idea what I was talking about or how to approach the problem.

- Johnson City, NY, USA

problem #3

Oct 262010

Century

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Buick Century. While traveling 50 mph the contact noticed that the high beams had suddenly shut off without warning, within a few seconds, the contact noticed that the headlights had began to operate normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the light switch was replaced. The current mileage was 111000 and the failure mileage was 80000.

- Hilltown, PA, USA

problem #2

Nov 212005

Century 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles
The contact stated while driving at night he switched the low beam headlights to high beam headlights, resulting in total loss of exterior lighting. He swerved to miss oncoming traffic. After several attempts of turning the dimmer switch on and off the lights came back on without any further problems. He has not taken the vehicle to a dealer for inspection. No repairs have been made at this time.

- Moab, UT, USA

problem #1

Aug 022002

(reported on)

Century

  • miles
The reverse lights and tag light stopped working due to fraying of wires near trunk hinge. Fraying also cased the "trunk/door" light to illuminate on dash until repaired. Cheap plastic covering did nothing to prevent fraying from contact with trunk hinge. At 3000 miles, had to go to dealer three times to have steering column replaced due to loud noise when wheel was turned. Sun visors are hard to use, they hit rearview mirror when adjusted. Inadequate even when used. Very loud popping sound on driver's side at times under brake pedal. Good car otherwise.

- Phila, PA, USA

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