2001 Buick Century: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 145 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (15% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Feb 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 145 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Steering · Sep 2018
“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/”Owner report · Engine · May 2017
“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.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · May 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Sep 2015
“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”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jul 2014
“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”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jul 2014
“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.”Owner report · Engine · Jun 2014
“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.”Owner report · Engine · May 2014
“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”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2014
“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”Owner report · Service Brakes · Aug 2013
When filing, owners marked a crash in 9 of these complaints and injuries in 5 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG MODULE.
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING IN THE HUB AREA.
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-2492 AND PRESS 5.
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."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
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.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Century by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Buick Century reliable?
NHTSA has 145 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2001 Buick Century. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (15% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2001 Buick Century problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 54,800 miles or less.
Does the 2001 Buick Century have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:side/window. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.