THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 BUICK CENTURY FAILS TO READILY DOWNSHIFT ON DECELERATION, AND BUCKS SEVERELY DURING NORMAL DRIVE AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. REPAIR SHOPS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX. *TR
2000 Buick Century
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Century years
Owner complaints for the 2000 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
93 reports with mileage · 100 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.
- Power Train. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
48 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 2-20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED EXTREMELY HARD WHEN SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SOLENOID VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE. AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAG…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 2-20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED EXTREMELY HARD WHEN SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SOLENOID VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE. AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR ON THE CONSISTENT BASIS. UPDATED 12/31/07 *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED EXTREMELY HARD AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 60 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT A COMPUTER SHOULD DIAGNOSIS THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT FELT THE MIDSECTION OF HER VEHICLE BEGIN TO SHAKE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE RESTARTED IT AN HOUR LATER, THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE PCS VALVE FAILED. THE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT FELT THE MIDSECTION OF HER VEHICLE BEGIN TO SHAKE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE RESTARTED IT AN HOUR LATER, THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE PCS VALVE FAILED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE VALVE, BUT THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. THE SPEED AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
TL*THE CONTACTS MOTHER OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO MAKES A THUD SOUND WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ISSUED TRANSMISSION FAILURE CODE NUMBER 1811. THE DEALER FOUND OTHER INTERNAL FAIL…
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TL*THE CONTACTS MOTHER OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO MAKES A THUD SOUND WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ISSUED TRANSMISSION FAILURE CODE NUMBER 1811. THE DEALER FOUND OTHER INTERNAL FAILURES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 56,974 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
2000 BUICK CENTURY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS FOUND THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM IN 2000 BUICK MODELS, AND THAT GM HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OR OFFER A RESOLUTION OUT OF POCKET COST OF GETTING A TRANSMISSION VALVE AND SOLENOID…
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2000 BUICK CENTURY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS FOUND THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM IN 2000 BUICK MODELS, AND THAT GM HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OR OFFER A RESOLUTION OUT OF POCKET COST OF GETTING A TRANSMISSION VALVE AND SOLENOID REPAIRED IS ABOUT $600. THESE ISSUES ARE POPPING UP ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30K AND 80K MILES, AND THESE PARTS ARE PARTS THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND NEVER BE REPLACED. ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY WITH A CURRENT MILEAGE OF 70,200 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HESITATING IN FIRST GEAR. A MECHANIC AT MIDWAY SERVICE CENTER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE ON 4-13-07 AND THE CODE P1811 FOR TRANSMISSION SHIFT VALVE WAS DETECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON 10/18/2004 WITH …
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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY WITH A CURRENT MILEAGE OF 70,200 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HESITATING IN FIRST GEAR. A MECHANIC AT MIDWAY SERVICE CENTER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE ON 4-13-07 AND THE CODE P1811 FOR TRANSMISSION SHIFT VALVE WAS DETECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON 10/18/2004 WITH A FAILURE MILEAGE OF 51,570 MILES. AT THE TIME, THE DEALER, JIM STUTZMAN, REPLACED THE PC SOLENOID TRANSMISSION SHIFT VALVE PART #10478146. AK
I OWN A 2000 BUICK CENTURY WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES AND IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING IT HAS DONE THE OTHER THREE TIMES. IT WAS REPAIRED ALL THREE TIMES AT THE GM DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. EACH TIME IT HAS COST OVER $600 TO REPAIR IT. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN GEARS AND S…
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I OWN A 2000 BUICK CENTURY WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES AND IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING IT HAS DONE THE OTHER THREE TIMES. IT WAS REPAIRED ALL THREE TIMES AT THE GM DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. EACH TIME IT HAS COST OVER $600 TO REPAIR IT. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN GEARS AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE ALMOST STOPS MOVING IN TRAFFIC. *JB
THIS 2000 BUICK CENTURY WAS PURCHASED IN 2000. AND FROM THE START IT BEGAN TO HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT AT ON 10,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 5.000 MILES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THAT TIME THE CAR HAS HAD A TOTAL OF 6 TRANSMISSIONS. ON…
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THIS 2000 BUICK CENTURY WAS PURCHASED IN 2000. AND FROM THE START IT BEGAN TO HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT AT ON 10,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 5.000 MILES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THAT TIME THE CAR HAS HAD A TOTAL OF 6 TRANSMISSIONS. ONE BEING REPLACED AT THE DEALER JUST AFTER THEY HAD INSTALLED THE 3 TRANSMISSION. THE CAR NEVER LEFT THE LOT AND NEEDED REPAIR. *NM
I HAVE A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT HARD AT 70000 MILES IN SEPT OF 2001 AND DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID THAT IS LOCATED IN THE TRANSMISSION. AT 99000 MILES JUNE, 2005, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE WITH THE SALES MA…
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I HAVE A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT HARD AT 70000 MILES IN SEPT OF 2001 AND DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID THAT IS LOCATED IN THE TRANSMISSION. AT 99000 MILES JUNE, 2005, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE WITH THE SALES MANAGER AFTER THREATENING TO GO TO THE OWNER AND THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME SOLENOID PROBLEM. THE SHOP FOREMAN AT CAMBRON CHEVY/BUICK IN TELL CITY, IN COULD REPLACE THE PART FOR $575.00 BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I CONTACTED MARAMA HANSET-CALLIES AND INFORMED HER THAT I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IN SEPT OF 2001 AND THAT THE VALVE SHOULD NOT BE GOING OUT. I SINCE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE 17-19 OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. GM HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON THE T65-E TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER AND HANSET-CALLIES HAVE A VERY THAT'S TO BAD ATTITUDE. *JB
Official recalls
501V109000 · 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.
00V160000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Jun 16, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE CLAMP THAT SECURES THE FLEXIBLE FUEL FILL HOSE TO THE METAL FILL TUBE MAY BE LOOSE AND COULD SEPARATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE EXCEEDING THE PERMISSIBLE AMOUNT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL HOSE FILL NECK CLAMP AND, IF NECESSARY, REPOSITION AND TIGHTEN THE CLAMP.
00V143000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:drum
May 17, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR DRUM BRAKES. THE BOLT HEAD(S) ON THE REAR SPINDLE ROD CAN SEPARATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE REAR WHEEL CAN SHIFT, CAUSING REAR STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SPINDLE BOLTS.
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
1SQ00004 · Accelerator Cable Detaches From Throttle
Opened Feb 2, 2000 · Closed Jan 19, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
Illustration