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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

145 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2002
Tires

I NOTICED THE SIDWALL SEPERATING FROM THE TREAD ON THE INSIDE OF MY TIRE WHILE I WAS WASHING MY CAR AND TOOK IT TO A TIRE DEALER WHO REPLACED MY TIRE. THE TIRE(S) ONLY HAVE 8858 MILES ON THEM AND NOT SURE HOW LONG IT WAS LIKE THAT. THE SEPERATION WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG . MY OTHER 3 TIRES HAVE CRACKES AROUNDS THE TREAD AND SIDE …

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I NOTICED THE SIDWALL SEPERATING FROM THE TREAD ON THE INSIDE OF MY TIRE WHILE I WAS WASHING MY CAR AND TOOK IT TO A TIRE DEALER WHO REPLACED MY TIRE. THE TIRE(S) ONLY HAVE 8858 MILES ON THEM AND NOT SURE HOW LONG IT WAS LIKE THAT. THE SEPERATION WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG . MY OTHER 3 TIRES HAVE CRACKES AROUNDS THE TREAD AND SIDE WALL AS DID THE TIRE THAT HAD THE SEPERATION, BUT BECAUSE THE SIDE WALL HAD YET TO SEPERATE THE TIRE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE OTHER THREE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #767731

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BACKFIRED AND STALLS UPON STARTING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER UNDER BULLETIN TEFLON COATING FAILURE. THE STARTING AND STALLING PROBLEM REOCCURED AFTER 3000 MILES, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE WATER PUMP FAILED. ALSO…

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CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BACKFIRED AND STALLS UPON STARTING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER UNDER BULLETIN TEFLON COATING FAILURE. THE STARTING AND STALLING PROBLEM REOCCURED AFTER 3000 MILES, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE WATER PUMP FAILED. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN FLEXES WHEN THE VEHICLES MOVEMENT WAS REDUCED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8019377

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES OSCILLATION WOULD APPEAR IN THE LEFT FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEED. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #8019376

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE EXHAUST FUMES ENTER INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTEMENT. DEALER NOTIFED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #8019375

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE SLID INTO A DITCH.*AK DEALER DETEMINED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS BAD.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8017310

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 · Aug 13, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES ON VEHICLE WERE MAKING NOISES WHEN DRIVING, AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER,AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016095

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

CONSUMER WAS AT A INTERSECTION AND WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHTAPPLIED BRAKES AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015862

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING IN CRUISE CONTROL VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEED. HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE, AND THEN CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT COMPLETELY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8015078

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2002
Power Train

WHEN VEHICLE IS ON A HILL IN DRIVE GEAR, VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS, UNLESS BRAKE IS APPLIED.*SCC

NHTSA ODI #8014205

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.