KnownCarProblems2001 Buick Century Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 145 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Buick Century, most often about the engine (21% of complaints, typically around 66,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Century model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2001 Buick Century problems
Engine
31 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 66,500 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine, cooling system.
Car heater would not warm up. Temperature would then fluxuate between hot and cold. Took the car to the dealership, the dealership diagnosed the problem as intake manifold gasket failure. Coolant mixed in with oil in the engine. Dealership service department required to keep car overnight to fix the problem. Needed a…
Tappets sound on a 2001 Buick Century tappets were replaced twice until I was informed that all gm 2001 cars had this defect. It seems that oil is not getting to the center cylinders, because the connecting feeds are too small. Problem that can develop is the engine can seize.
Brakes
26 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 44,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Dt: consumer owns a 2001 Buick Century custom. Consumer complained about several problems. One of the problems concerned the ABS light coming on. This has been going on for a couple of years. The ABS light will come on and then go back off. Had taken vehicle to dealer to see what problem was on august 1, 2005 when the…
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…
Transmission
21 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
2001 Century transmission problems. While coming out of a parking lot, the consumer discovered the vehicle would not move forward.
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…
Speed control
19 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 51,000 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control, accelerator pedal.
After setting cruise control it will take off and accelerate until you manually shut the cruise control switch off. I even tapped on brake and it would continue. This problem seems to be very random.
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.
Electrical
17 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 103,500 miles. Parts named most often: horn, wiring, instrument cluster/panel, ignition.
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.
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…
Visibility and wipers
15 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, windshield, windshield wiper/washer, defroster/defogger/hvac system.
Defective motor & regulator for the window motors - all four. Drivers window fell down, rear passenger fell down, now the rear drivers window fell down. Manufacturer says this is only a problem in the west - az & tx, not a recall item. The price to repair is $600.00 each. I am retired and cannot afford to pay for…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Buick Century. The vehicle's intake manifold gasket failed at less than 100,000 miles on a brand new engine. The contact smelled anti-freeze and brought the vehicle to a mechanic who conducted pressure testing. The failure was diagnosed as the manifold gasket. It is a replacement engine and it…
Steering
11 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles. Parts named most often: steering wheel/handle bar, linkages, column, hydraulic power assist system.
The outer tie rods of the consumer's 2001 Buick Century were very loose. There were no grease couplings for the tie rods. The manufacturer refused to repair the damage.
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.
Wheels and tires
8 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: sidewall, tread/belt, valve.
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.
While driving 65 MPH, the rear passenger tire began to produce a thumping noise. Later, the consumer discovered that the tire had separated. The problem lead to a unnecessary repair of the right front wheel bearing.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Buick Century recalls
Seat belts
Risk: These vehicles do not comply with the standard.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: side/window
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the side impact air bag module.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicle's safety belt buckle assembly date codes and, if necessary, will replace any safety belt buckle assembly.
Full defect summary
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."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2001 Buick Century
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Buick Century?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (31 complaints, typically around 66,500 miles); brakes (26 complaints, typically around 44,500 miles); transmission (21 complaints, typically around 68,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Buick Century have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 6, 2001 (seat belts). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Buick Century?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Century model year since 2000, with 145 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.