IllustrationSTEERING 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.
2001 Buick Century
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Century years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Buick Century are substantially higher than the model-year median of 28.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Century years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
110–25K
2425–50K
2150–75K
975–100K
13100–150K
3150K+
81 reports with mileage · 64 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Steering complaints
11 reportsRACK AND PINIONS NEED REPLACED AFTER I HAD NEW TIE RODS REPLACED. *TR
DT:THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM. AT 60,000 MILES THE POWER STEERING OR THE RACK AND PINION WENT OUT. AT TIME OF INCIDENT THEY WERE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED IN A PARKING LOT, LUCKILY. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE LEFT SIDE. *AK
THE OUTER TIE RODS OF THE CONSUMER'S 2001 BUICK CENTURY WERE VERY LOOSE. *NM THERE WERE NO GREASE COUPLINGS FOR THE TIE RODS. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. *NM
GRINDING NOISE IN RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT.
IF VEHICLE HITS THE SMALLEST PUMP IN THE ROAD FRONT OF VEHICLE MAKES A NOISE LIKE IT HAS HIT THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE TIE ROD ENDS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS..*AK
WHILE IN MOTION THERE WAS A THUMPING NOISE EMMITING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN IT TO IT'S NORMAL POSTION. ALSO THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, ALSO THE GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK.*JG *JB
ANY SMALL CHANGE IN SLOPE OF ROAD CAUSES THE CAR TO ABUPTLY AND UNPREDICTABLY SWERVE IN THAT DIRECTION. TOOK TO DEALER, SUPERIOR MOTORS OF ORANGEBURG, SC MANY TIMES AND THEY SAY "ALL IS IN SPECIFICATION". I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS CAR TO DRIVE-REQUIRING CONSTANT ATTENTION TO CATCH THE SWERVES BEFORE THEY CAUSE AN ACCID…
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ANY SMALL CHANGE IN SLOPE OF ROAD CAUSES THE CAR TO ABUPTLY AND UNPREDICTABLY SWERVE IN THAT DIRECTION. TOOK TO DEALER, SUPERIOR MOTORS OF ORANGEBURG, SC MANY TIMES AND THEY SAY "ALL IS IN SPECIFICATION". I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS CAR TO DRIVE-REQUIRING CONSTANT ATTENTION TO CATCH THE SWERVES BEFORE THEY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS WITH OTHER PEOPLE DRIVING THIS MODEL, THEN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS ARE BOUND TO HAPPEN. I KNOW OF NO OTHER COURSE THAN TO REPORT THIS CONDITION IN THIS $25,000 CAR. PLEASE HELP ME AND MAYBE MANY OTHERS.
STEERING COLUMN FLEXED WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. *TS *NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BACKFIRED AND STALLS UPON STARTING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER UNDER BULLETIN TEFLON COATING FAILURE. THE STARTING AND STALLING PROBLEM REOCCURED AFTER 3000 MILES, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE WATER PUMP FAILED. ALSO…
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CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BACKFIRED AND STALLS UPON STARTING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER UNDER BULLETIN TEFLON COATING FAILURE. THE STARTING AND STALLING PROBLEM REOCCURED AFTER 3000 MILES, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE WATER PUMP FAILED. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN FLEXES WHEN THE VEHICLES MOVEMENT WAS REDUCED. *YH
Official recalls
301V109000 · Seat Belts
Apr 6, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH SUNVISOR LOCATED AIR BAG LABELS, FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A MESSAGE AREA LESS THAN 30 CM WHICH DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.
Remedy: GM WILL MAIL A NEW BILINGUAL AIR BAG LABEL WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, THE CUSTOMER MAY BRING THE LABEL TO THEIR DEALER FOR INSTALLATION FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537 OR BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300.
00V371000 · Air Bags:side/window
Nov 13, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE DRIVER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG INFLATOR SEPARATES FROM THE AIR BAG MODULE DURING DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE INFLATOR SEPARATES, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY DURING A CRASH AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION WOULD BE REDUCED. IF IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT A SEPARATED INFLATOR COULD BE PROPELLED DOWNWARD AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO A REAR SEAT PASSENGER WHOSE FOOT IS POSITIONED APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE INFLATOR MODULE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG MODULE.
00V228003 · Seat Belts
Aug 7, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.