Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Buick Century
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Buick Century has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 155 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E005000 STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING/LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E021000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 25 complaints
- Electrical System 24 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 24 complaints
- Visibility 22 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 14 complaints
- Steering 11 complaints
Of the 155 complaints on file, 9 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 155 complaints, owners report 11 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Buick Century shows an average reliability with a moderate number of complaints and two recalls. Most complaints are concentrated around the engine, electrical, and exterior lighting, suggesting potential issues but not necessarily widespread failures. The recall data is limited and doesn't suggest prevalent critical concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Unknown | $500–$3,000 | common |
| Electrical System | Unknown | $200–$1,000 | common |
| Exterior Lighting | Unknown | $100–$500 | common |
| Visibility | Unknown | $150–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspections
- Transmission fluid change
- Tire rotations
- Coolant flushes
- Air filter replacements
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine misfires
- Electrical malfunctions
- Dim or flickering lights
- Windshield wiper issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Buick Century at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.