2002 Buick Century Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 5%of 154 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 40,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2002 Buick Century, 5% of the 154 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 40,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The odometer cluster lights go out and sometimes come back on for a few minutes and back off while driving. Therefore you can not see mileage and the shifting of gears. The dealer recommends sending it back to the factory for 2 weeks while they repair it at a cost of $ 2000.00 or drive the car without repairing.”
NHTSA complaint #10640858, filed 2014-10, 108,152 miles“Automatic transmission has very harsh shift between 1st and 2nd gears and also between 2nd and 3rd. Seems to happen after warmed up and on highway for awhile.”
NHTSA complaint #10725142, filed 2015-06, 44,000 miles“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?”
NHTSA complaint #10234484, filed 2008-07, 36,000 miles“While stopped on an incline, the consumer removed her foot from the brake pedal and the vehicle rolled back several feet. The dealer claimed that the roll back was due to the weight of the vehicle and the torque of the wheels. The dealer informed the consumer the vehicle operated as designed.”
NHTSA complaint #10042892, filed 2003-11, 2,000 miles“Transmissions on american cars are messing up too early. My friend's dodge caravan went out after the 36000 mile warranty, month later. Other cars the solenoid on upshifts 1-2 and 3-4 were causing harsh upshift problems on many cars. Old cars before 2000, transmissions did not fail for more than 10 years, today's model transmissions were causing problems the first 3-5 years. These problems on the 2002 Buick Century happened the last 3-5 years. 1. Harsh upshifts on transmission, 1-2 3-4. 2. Power windows, after 3 years, didn't work on rear windows and were to slow on the front windows. 3. …”
NHTSA complaint #10190245, filed 2007-05, 40,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11006421Jul 24, 2024GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or…
- 10249579Jan 12, 2024This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine.
- 10242843Sep 1, 2023The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the…
- 10224273Sep 1, 2022This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician to not remove the torque converter bolts and start the engine as this may cause damage to the…
- 10220319Sep 1, 2022This diagnostic tip advises the tech not to separate the flexplate from the torque convertor or damage my occur if the engine is started while diagnosing for noise from the…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 | 5% |
| 2003 | 6 | 5% |
| 2002 | 7 | 5% |
| 2001 | 21 | 14% |
| 2000 | 48 | 25% |
| 1999 | 11 | 5% |
| 1998 | 26 | 12% |
| 1997 | 2 | 2% |
| 1996 | 7 | 9% |
| 1995 | 11 | 11% |
| 1994 | 5 | 5% |
| 1993 | 5 | 9% |
| 1992 | 6 | 13% |
| 1991 | 3 | 8% |
| 1990 | 1 | 3% |
| 1988 | 1 | 6% |
| 1987 | 3 | 11% |
| 1986 | 1 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2002 Buick Century
25 complaintsElectrical system
24 complaintsExterior lighting
24 complaintsBrakes
23 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
21 complaintsSteering
11 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsEngine
8 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Buick Century
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology