2001 Buick Century

145 complaints on file, page 1 of 8.

1. Filed Dec 9, 2024Failure Sep 1, 2024Griffin, GAFuel/propulsion system, Vehicle speed control

   When I have cruise control on but not in use at that moment the car will engage cruise on its own. It does this at a high rate of acceleration with no Rhyme or Reason as to why. I have to be quick to get it to stop because of the high rate of speed. I do not use the cruise control anymore on my vehicle because of being unsafe. I have been lucky a couple of times I have not rammed into the vehicle in front of me through no fault of mine except for having cruise control on. No it has not been examined or inspected. The problem has not been confirmed by the dealership or and independent service center. It has been confirmed by various drivers of my car. None of them will use cruise control anymore.

   NHTSA complaint 11629783
2. Filed Sep 22, 2018Failure Sep 13, 201854,000 milesDunmore, PASteering, Vehicle speed control

   STEERING LOCKED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CAR WOULD SPEED UP ON ITS OWN WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDDLE. THIS OCCURRED AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS TAKEN OUT OF PARK.

   NHTSA complaint 11130722
3. Filed Jun 25, 2017Failure May 15, 2017111,601 milesVancouver, WAEngine

   5/15/2017, $1,197.66 REPAIR FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. ON OCTOBER 23, 2008, THE CALIFORNIA SUPERIOR COURT GRANTED FINAL APPROVAL TO THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, BUT NOTHING IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE OF USE THAT DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THAT SUIT. HTTPS://WWW.GIRARDGIBBS.COM/DEXCOOL/

   NHTSA complaint 11001284
4. Filed May 22, 2017Failure May 10, 2017110,000 milesJoplin, MOVehicle speed control

   FOR ALMOST THE ENTIRE TIME OF 16 YEARS OF OWNING THIS CAR, THE SET CRUISE CONTROL OFTEN TIMES SPEEDS UNCONTROLLABLY. HAVE REPLACED THE MODULE TWICE BUT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. LOCAL BUICK DEALER TELLS ME THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THEY ARE UNTRUTHFUL.

   NHTSA complaint 10990906
5. Filed Sep 18, 2015Failure Sep 18, 201555,400 milesPowhatan, VAVehicle speed control

   TURNED ON SPEED CONTROL WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, PRESSED SET BUTTON TO SET THE SPEED. THE CRUISE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. MY SPEED WENT FROM 65 MPH TO 80 MPH IN A FEW SECONDS. I DEPRESSED THE SET BUTTON AGAIN TO DECELERATE, BUT WHEN I RELEASED THE SET BUTTON, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED AGAIN. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION & TURNED THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION.

   NHTSA complaint 10765156
6. Filed May 18, 2015Failure Mar 24, 201563,334 milesBradenton, FLPower train

   WE PURCHASED THIS CAR (AS IS) FOR OUR GRANDSON. ON OUR WAY HOME FROM THE DEALER, AS SOON AS THE TRANSMISSION WARMED UP (4-5 MILES), THE SHIFTING WAS HARD AND JERKING WITH A WHINE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. TOOK THE CAR TO A GARAGE WHICH FOUND THE COMPUTER CODE OF P1811 AND WERE TOLD A COMPLETE REBUILD WOULD BE NECESSARY. WENT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED MANY OTHERS HAD COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE. WOULD HOPE GM WOULD COME FORWARD WITH REIMBURSEMENT SINCE ITS TRANSMISSION IN THIS MODEL WAS INCORRECTLY DESIGNED. THE REBUILDING GARAGE OWNER EVEN HAD TO GO TO A SPECIAL SCHOOL TO LEARN HOW TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IN THE BUICK CENTURY. AFTER PAYING $1,757.25 TO QUEENS TRANSMISSION, INC., IN BRADENTON, FL (941-746-7480), THE SHIFTING IS NOW NORMAL.

   NHTSA complaint 10717021
7. Filed Mar 9, 2015Failure Jun 1, 200626,500 milesArlington, TXVehicle speed control

   WHILE DRIVING WITH THE SPEED CONTROL TURNED ON BUT NOT ENGAGED THE SPEED CONTROL WILL ENGAGE AND THE ENGINE WILL RACE UNTIL BRAKE IS TAPPED OR SPEED CONTROL SWITCH TURNED OFF. THIS CAN HAPPENED RANDOMLY , WHEN RESUME IS ENGAGED , OR WHEN LANE CHANGE SIGNALING. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10693162
8. Filed Oct 24, 2014Failure Jul 10, 2008100,000 milesBerry, KYElectronic stability control (esc), Power train

   HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT AUTHORIZED GMC DEALERSHIP MAY 2006 .THIS CAME WITH A WARRANTY. SEVERAL TIMES OVER SEVERAL SUMMERS SINCE THEN HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP WITH CONCERNS THAT HAPPENED AFTER VEHICLE WOULD BE DRIVEN IN HIGH HUMIDITY HIGH TEMPERATURE DAYS AFTER TRAVELING A MINIMUM OF 60 MILES MOSTLY ON STATE HIGHWAYS THAT ARE QUITE ROUGH AND CURVY, I.E. IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 90 MINUTES OR MORE TOGO THIS DISTANCE. THEN WHEN IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD OR STOPPING THE CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE LIKE JUMPING INTO THE WRONG GEAR AND IN MORE THAN ONE TIME THE CAR'S ENGINE WOULD DIE. IT ALWAYS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS SO LUCKILY WE DIDN'T LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. BUT, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS FROM CONTINUING WAS TO STOP AND PARK TO LET THE ENGINE AND OR COOL DOWN. WE EVEN PUT ON THE HEATER WHILE DRIVING TO HELP REDUCE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO GO BELOW THE HALFWAY MARK. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN SHELTON, WA NOT IN KY, SO WE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, NOW THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. WE HAVE DASHBOARD WARNINGS CONTINUALLY STATING LOW OIL, SERVICE ENGINE SOON (WHEN JUST COMPLETED), ETC. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10649824
9. Filed Aug 20, 2014Failure Jun 10, 2014200,000 milesNovi, MIElectrical system, Engine

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

   NHTSA complaint 10626573
10. Filed Aug 7, 2014Failure Jul 1, 2014190,000 milesUpton, MAExterior lighting

    LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED A YEAR AGO, AND THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED JUST BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVER IT'S A VERY COMMON, ALMOST UNIVERSAL PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES THAT COSTS ALMOST $800 TO REPAIR. GM HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT.... YES, I SAID DEFECT. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10619532
11. Filed Jul 5, 2014Failure Jul 3, 201453,000 milesHatboro, PAService brakes

    APPLIED BRAKE IN PREPARATION TO REVERSE, FROM DRIVEWAY HEARD A POP AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKE DID SEEM A BIT SOFT THE PREVIOUS DAY WHEN PARKING CAR AFTER SHORT TRIP. LUCKILY DID NOT LOSE BRAKES IN TRAFFIC!! UPON VISUAL INSPECTION BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM FRAME RAILS LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE DUE TO RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10608332
12. Filed May 30, 2014Failure May 22, 2014144,900 milesAmelia, OHEngine

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE OIL LEVEL AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ANTI FREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER GASKET INTAKE SET FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,950.

    NHTSA complaint 10595213
13. Filed May 1, 2014Failure May 14, 20085,000 milesStafford, VAUnderbody shields

    SECOND OWNER OF MY BUICK 2001 PURCHASED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER WITH 5,000 MILES IN 2008. THE SECOND YEAR I NOTICED WHEN EVER IT RAINED THERE WAS WATER ON THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I STILL OWN THE CAR AND OVER THE YEARS HAVE JUST HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE. THE WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND EVERY TIME IT RAINS I HAVE TO TAKE TOWELS AND DRY UP ABOUT 1 INCH OF WATER FROM THE CARPET. I AM RETIRED NOW AND HESITATE TO TAKE THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AS I HAVE FOUND MOST WILL TAKE FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE OF A FEMALE. JUST WONDERED IF ANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OR IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY RECALLS. EVENTUALLY , I WILL HAVE A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND GET AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR AS SOON AS I CAN BECAUSE I AM TIRED OF MOPPING UP WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS. I ALSO WONDER WHAT IT IS DOING TO THE METAL UNDER THE CARPET. THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS AN OLDER WOMAN WHO RARELY DROVE THE CAR. I PURCHASED FROM HER SON AT HER DEATH IT STILL HAD THE NEW CAR SMELL SO I AM PRETTY SURE SHE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND THIS PROBLEM WAS INHERENT IN THE DESIGN. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10586052
14. Filed Mar 10, 2014Failure Feb 17, 2014123,000 milesOakland, CAPower train

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTING JERKING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10568272
15. Filed Sep 25, 2013Failure Aug 26, 2013124,430 milesVA Beach, VAAir bags, Service brakesCrash

    I WAS TRAVELING IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED, I APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND I TRIED TO SWAY INTO THE SHOULDER BUT HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. NOTE: THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JS

    NHTSA complaint 10545309
16. Filed Jun 20, 2013Failure Jun 20, 2013111,000 milesOshkosh, WIEngine, Power train

    WE BOUGHT ARE CENTURY LIKE 3 MONTHS AGO WITH 109K ON IT WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING HARD WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP OR RESTARTED GM CURRENT KNOWS ABOUT JUST FEELING IT NOT THERE PROBLEM WELL IT IS A COSTLY ONE TO CAR OWNS AS I READ ON THE INTERNET OVER 50 THOUSAND COMPLAINTS FOR THIS ISSUE I FEEL GM HAS TO RECALL THIS ISSUE ITS THERE MISTAKE NOT MINE ARE CENTURY OTHER WISE IS A FINE CAR BUT DASH IS OUT FOR ODO AND THAT GM CUTTING CORNERS AS WELL ITS POOR PENMENSHIP ON THEIR BEHALF AS CAR MAKERS AND WE LOVE THEM BUT WE NEED THEM TO DO MORE AND BE LIKE THE OLD GM GOOD AND HONEST THANKS HOPE TO GET RESOLVED SOON AS I MIGHT ADD IT DOES WHEN IT NORMAL TEMP AND WHEN A RESTART HAPPENS SHIFT REALLY HARD 2ND AND 3 RD GEAR NOT NORMAL I GOT A COST OF $890.00 TO FIX 6,3 HOURS OF LABORS TO FIX TC AND OTHER SENSOR IN TRANSMISSION ON CAR. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10520902
17. Filed May 10, 2013Failure May 3, 2013130,000 milesMadison, WIElectrical system, Exterior lighting

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE PANEL LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10511450
18. Filed Dec 18, 2012Failure Dec 13, 201265,000 milesWaukesha, WIService brakes

    BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY MY BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE BRAKE LINES HAVE COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT CAUSING A REAR BRAKE LINE TO BURST. ALL FOUR BRAKE LINES HAVE NOW BEEN REPLACED. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10489152
19. Filed Oct 22, 2012Failure Aug 1, 2012103,595 milesMcadoo, PAElectrical system, Power window devices and controls

    THE DRIVERS WINDOW WILL GO DOWN WHEN YOU PUT KEY IN IGNITION RIGHT BEFORE YOU START VEHICLE. AFTER IT GOES DOWN YOU MUST WAIT 10 SECONDS OR SO AND YOU CAN PUT WINDOW UP. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE MY 2007 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER IS BEING RECALLED FOR. BUT THE BUICK CENTURY IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10481382
20. Filed Sep 17, 2012Failure Sep 15, 201253,000 milesNewington, CTService brakesFire

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUCK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000....UPDATED 10/19/12 *BF UPDATED 10/25/2012 *JS

    NHTSA complaint 10475648