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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.

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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

Electrical System complaints

17 reports
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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…

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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 · Apr 29, 2003
Electrical System

GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR AND IN A DARK SURROUNDING SUCH AS A CAR PORT OR GARAGE, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT GEAR HAS BEEN SELECTED. I FEAR THAT EVEN THOUGH CAUTION IS USED, THERE IS HIGH POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE WRONG GEAR WAS SELECTED. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE LIGHT…

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GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR AND IN A DARK SURROUNDING SUCH AS A CAR PORT OR GARAGE, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT GEAR HAS BEEN SELECTED. I FEAR THAT EVEN THOUGH CAUTION IS USED, THERE IS HIGH POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE WRONG GEAR WAS SELECTED. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE LIGHT DOES COME ON AND ALL IS NORMAL. IS THIS A DESIGN PROBLEM OR IS THERE A DEFECT IN THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10016695

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Electrical System

COMPUTER WOULD NOT ACT PROPERLY. WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT WOULD START MAKING SOME SQUEALING NOISES THEN, IT WOULD STOP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND EALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016096

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2002
Electrical System

CONSUMER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE ONLY A SHORT TIME AND ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE HORN WOULD NOT BLOW WHEN CONSUMER NEEDED IT. *JG

NHTSA ODI #566133

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2002
Electrical SystemStructureVisibility

WINDSHIELD GLARE FROM DASHBOARD, HORN DIFFICULT TO LOCATE AND HARD TO OPERATE, TRUNK LID HEIGHT BLOCKS VIEW WHEN BACKING UP, DEFROSTER CLEARS CENTER OF WINDSHIELD AND FINALLY DRIVER'S SIDE DUE TO SMALL VENT AND FALSE CODE GIVES SERVICE ENGINE READING REQUIRING DEALER REPROGRAMMING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #757730

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2001
Electrical System

ON STEERING HUB ARE 2 HORN SYMBOLS. IF THEY AREN'T PRESSED IN CORRECT SPOT THEY WOULDN'T GO OFF. DEALER DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER SOLUTION FOR CONSUMER.*AK THE HORN SPOT WAS HARD TO FIND DURING EMERGENCY. ALSO THE HORN WHEN FOUND REQUIRES EXCEPTIONAL STRENGTH TO SOUND IT. *YH

NHTSA ODI #883799

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2001
Electrical System

CONSUMER STATES IT'S VERY HARD TO HONK THE HORN. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #785318

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.