WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THEN, STARTED SHAKING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BEARING BETWEEN THE SUN GEAR FAILED, AND CAUSED SUN GEARS TO STRIP, CREATING METAL CONTAMINATION THROUGH OUT THE TRANSMISSION. THE SUN GEAR ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION WERE REPLACED. *AK
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 →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
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.
Power Train complaints
21 reportsWHILE DRIVING UPHILL TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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.
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.*JG *JB
WHEN VEHICLE IS ON A HILL IN DRIVE GEAR, VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS, UNLESS BRAKE IS APPLIED.*SCC
WHEN CHANGING GEARS VEHICLE REALLY FEELS ROUGH. CONSUMER CAN FEEL TRANSMISSION MOVING LIKE SOMETHING IS BROKEN. *AK.WHEN IN FIRST AND REVERSE GEAR THE VEHICLE WILL NOT HOLD ON GRADE AT IDLE. THE ENGINE RACES AND DISENGAGES ITSELF FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND THUNKS INTO GEAR. THE ENGINE FEELS FUNNY WHEN RESUMING ACCELERATION FRO…
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WHEN CHANGING GEARS VEHICLE REALLY FEELS ROUGH. CONSUMER CAN FEEL TRANSMISSION MOVING LIKE SOMETHING IS BROKEN. *AK.WHEN IN FIRST AND REVERSE GEAR THE VEHICLE WILL NOT HOLD ON GRADE AT IDLE. THE ENGINE RACES AND DISENGAGES ITSELF FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND THUNKS INTO GEAR. THE ENGINE FEELS FUNNY WHEN RESUMING ACCELERATION FROM COAST SPEED AS THOUGH IT IS MOVING ON MOUNTS. THE ENGINE FEELS AS IF IT WILL CUT OFF. THERE IS A WHINE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ENGINE CABIN CONTAINERS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN. STEERING COLUMN AND CASING GIVES SLIGHT MOVEMENT DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING. THIS WAS PARTIALLY CORRECTED BY REPLACEMENT OF THE BALL JOINT TIE ROD END (RIGHT SIDE). THERE ARE EXHAUST FUMES BEING EMMITTED INTO THE CABIN. POSSIBLE DEFECT WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. THE OIL DRAIN PLUG SHOWS SIGNS OF LEAKING. ALSO, THE BRAKES SEEM UNDER POWERED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE INFORMATION OF POSSIBLE RECALLS ON PARTS MENTIONED ABOVE, ALSO THE WINDSHILED WASHER FLUID DISAPPEARS AFTER FILLING. JG
I WAS PARKED ON A HILL FACING FORWARD OR UP HILL WHEN I TOOK OFF THE PARKING BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT WENT SLIDING FAST DOWN THE HILL...LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I REPORTED THIS TO BROWNS BUICK AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. A FEATURE TO SAVE GAS. I CALLED ANOTHER BUICK DEALER IN ALEXANDRIA VA. AND THEY SAID IT WAS NO…
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I WAS PARKED ON A HILL FACING FORWARD OR UP HILL WHEN I TOOK OFF THE PARKING BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT WENT SLIDING FAST DOWN THE HILL...LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I REPORTED THIS TO BROWNS BUICK AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. A FEATURE TO SAVE GAS. I CALLED ANOTHER BUICK DEALER IN ALEXANDRIA VA. AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL AND IT WAS A FEATURE THAT EPA REQUIRED AMD SOMETHING TO DO WITH FUEL ECONOMY. I TOLD THEM I DID NOT HAVE AMANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THOUGHT THIS WAS A SEVERE PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BACK ...MAYBE A LITTLE I COULD DEAL WITH BUT NOT JUST ROLL BACK SO FAST AND THAT I HAD TO BRAKE TO STOP I WASN'T IN NEUTRAL AND I DO NOT HAVE A CLUTCH. I BOUTH A AUTOMATIC FOR A RESON AND WANTED A BETTER ANSWER. I CALLED BUICK HEADQUATERS AND THEY CALLED THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO TAKE IT IN ON APR. 25 AT 1:30 P.M. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL AFTER HE DROVE THE CAR AND LET IT ROLL ON A HHILL. HE SAID I HAD TO PUT ON THE GAS RIGHT AWAY. I MENTIONED I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A REAL PROBLEM FOR SAFETY REASONS AND I WAS NEVERE TOLD THAT THE CAR WOULD DO THIS AND THAT IT DOES NOT SAY THAT IN THE MANUAL. HE WAS TELLING ME THAT IT WAS APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL SAFETY TRANSPORTATION PEOPLE AND IT HAD TO DO WITH FUEL ECONOMY. I TOLD HIM I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IF I HAD KNOWN THIS AND I BOUGHT A V-6 WHICH IS NOT THE BEST WITH FUEL ECONOMY AND THAT THAT WAS NOT AN ISSUE TO ME. I CALLED BUICK HEADQUATERS AGAIN WHEN I CAME HOME AT 7 P.M. THE PERSON I SPOKE TO MR.RICHARD PERES SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND A SAFETY FEATURE. NOW I HAVE SAFETY, EPA AND FUEL ECONOMY AS REASONS FOR MY CAR ROLLING BACK WHILE IN DRIVE.!!! I WAS ALSO TOLD ALL GM CARS MADE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS DO THIS. IS THIS TRUE? I THINK IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM IF PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AROUND AND NOT ALWAYS ON HILLS AND COME TO FIND OUT OUT OF THE BLUE THAT YOUR CAR WILL NOT GO FORWARD WHILE IN DRIVE...UNLESS YOU IMMEDIATELY HIT THE GAS.I WOULD
CONSUMER STATES WHEN ENGINE IS ON AND ON AN INCLINE IN DRIVE, CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP FOOT ON BRAKE OR VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKARDS. WHEN COMING UP TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN VEHICLE ROLLS BACK UNTIL YOU PRESS BRAKE, AND WHEN VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE IT WILL GO FORWARD, DEALER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL. *NLM *YD
ENGINE STARTS - BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT DEPRESS, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR MOVES ON PRNDL INDICATOR BUT TRANSMISSION DOES NOT APPEAR TO ENGAGE - CAUSE - IMPROPERLY SEALED. JAN 04 2002 - WITH MILAGE OF 7199 - TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO LOCK P AFTER PUTTING IN PARKS THEN TRYING TO TAKE OFF PARK AGAIN - CAUSE : SHIFT LEVER CLEARANCE…
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ENGINE STARTS - BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT DEPRESS, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR MOVES ON PRNDL INDICATOR BUT TRANSMISSION DOES NOT APPEAR TO ENGAGE - CAUSE - IMPROPERLY SEALED. JAN 04 2002 - WITH MILAGE OF 7199 - TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO LOCK P AFTER PUTTING IN PARKS THEN TRYING TO TAKE OFF PARK AGAIN - CAUSE : SHIFT LEVER CLEARANCE TOO TIGHT. REPLACED PART #26056013 WHICK TOOK 2 WEEKS TO REPLACE. THIS WAS 2 PROBLEMS ON A NEW CAR BOTH INVOLVING THE TRANSMISSION WHICH SEEMS VERY UNUSUAL. *AK
VEHICLE CANNOT BE PARKED ON A INCLINE IN A NOSE DOWN POSITION DUE TO THE FACT THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE CAN NOT HOLD WEIGHT OF VEHICLE, ONCE THE CAR STARTED AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS REMOVED,CONSUMERS FOOT HAD TO BE APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL, AND ONE TO BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO KEEP CAR FROM MOVING, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTE…
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VEHICLE CANNOT BE PARKED ON A INCLINE IN A NOSE DOWN POSITION DUE TO THE FACT THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE CAN NOT HOLD WEIGHT OF VEHICLE, ONCE THE CAR STARTED AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS REMOVED,CONSUMERS FOOT HAD TO BE APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL, AND ONE TO BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO KEEP CAR FROM MOVING, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT WAS NORMAL, TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE PROBLEM OCCURRED, RESULTING IN A THOUSAND DOLLARS DAMAGE DONE TO VEHICLE. *AK *YD
Official recalls
301V109000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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