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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

145 reports
13,000 miles · Apr 8, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER WOULD SMELL SULFUR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #10066806

55,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE TOTALLY REBUILT DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE TARRINGTON BEARING WHICH IN TURN CAUSED THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION TO GET CHEWED UP AND ALL THE INTERNAL PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10069535

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Steering

GRINDING NOISE IN RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #10069407

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2003
TiresFire

TIRES PURCHASED 7/25/03 WAL-MART, KERNERSVILLE, NC MTS P205/70R15 DOUGLAS XTRA-TRAC. SIDEWALL OF TIRE DISCENGRATED FROM TREAD. WAS TOLD BY HIGHWAY PATROLMAN, HAD THE TIRE BEEN ON THE FRONT, I WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10049736

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2003
Structure

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER SUN ROOF DOES NOT CLOSE. CONSUMER STATES IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN THE RAIN IS COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10042413

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER NOTICED ABS LIGHT FLASHING WHILE TRAVELING, INDICATION THAT ABS SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING. MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10041870

35,600 miles · Sep 9, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

HAD THE SPEED CONTROL FUNCTION ON WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH. BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO DECELERATE VEHICLE, WHICH DEACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10038504

19,700 miles · Sep 4, 2003
Equipment

WHILE CHANGING A FLAT TIRE THE JACK COLLAPSED WHICH RESULTING IN BODY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER GAVE THE CONSUMER A NEW REPLACEMENT JACK FREE BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR THE BODY DAMAGE. THIS FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTED FOR RESOLUTION. *AK *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10032149

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2003
Electrical SystemInterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER HAD HER AUTOMOBILE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND A LOT OF THINGS HAD GONE WRONG. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED/ VISOR LIGHT STAYED ON ALL THE TIME/ BACK WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO/ BRAKE CALIPER WAS NOT SEALING/ FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE PITTED, THAT WAS WHAT THE MECHANIC TOLD HER, AND THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAD TO B…

Read full complaint

CONSUMER HAD HER AUTOMOBILE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND A LOT OF THINGS HAD GONE WRONG. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED/ VISOR LIGHT STAYED ON ALL THE TIME/ BACK WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO/ BRAKE CALIPER WAS NOT SEALING/ FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE PITTED, THAT WAS WHAT THE MECHANIC TOLD HER, AND THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. SHE STATED ALL OF THE ABOVE HAVE HAPPENED TO VEHICLE WHICH HAD A LOW MILEAGE. BUT ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE REPAIRED. BUT SHE WAS NOT WORRIED, WHAT ELSE WAS GOING WRONG.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10032034

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2003
Structure

DESIGN OF THE DASHBOARD CASTS A REFLECTION ONTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, CAUSING REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING THE DAY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER CHECKED OTHER BUICK CENTURY'S AND LASABRE'S AND NOTICED THAT THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10021892

Official recalls

3

01V109000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.