Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
110–25K
2425–50K
2150–75K
975–100K
13100–150K
3150K+
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 · Feb 5, 2002
Visibility
COLOR OF THE DASHBOARD, LIGHT GRAY, IS CAUSING A SEVERE GLARE IN WINDSHIELD DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER. THE DASHBOARD CONTAINS A HORIZONTAL SPLIT THAT RUNS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE DASHBOARD. THE FORWARD SECTION OF THE DASHBOARD CONTAINS THE AIR (DEFROSTER) GRILL. THIS CAUSES THE GLARE TO CONTAIN REVERSE I…
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COLOR OF THE DASHBOARD, LIGHT GRAY, IS CAUSING A SEVERE GLARE IN WINDSHIELD DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER. THE DASHBOARD CONTAINS A HORIZONTAL SPLIT THAT RUNS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE DASHBOARD. THE FORWARD SECTION OF THE DASHBOARD CONTAINS THE AIR (DEFROSTER) GRILL. THIS CAUSES THE GLARE TO CONTAIN REVERSE IMAGES OF THE AIR GRILL AND THE HORIZONTAL SPLIT LINE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND INFORMED CONSUMER NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. *AK *JG
NHTSA ODI #8003549
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 · Jan 30, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE ON A DEEP INCLINE IT SURGED FORWARD, DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #8003147
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2002
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #8001488
Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2001
Air BagsCrash
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH HIS VEHICLE STRUCK TWO CATTLES CROSSING THE ROAD. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THIS INCIDENT. AN INSPECTOR FROM BUICK CONCLUDED THAT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY BECAUSE VEHICLE MAINTAINED FORWARD MOMENTUM AND DID NOT STOP COMPLETELY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL IN…
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WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH HIS VEHICLE STRUCK TWO CATTLES CROSSING THE ROAD. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THIS INCIDENT. AN INSPECTOR FROM BUICK CONCLUDED THAT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY BECAUSE VEHICLE MAINTAINED FORWARD MOMENTUM AND DID NOT STOP COMPLETELY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8001142
Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2001
Unknown Or Other
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #755913
Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS DON'T SUFFICIENTLY ILLUMINATE. THIS CAUSES AN EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILTY AT NIGHT, AND IN RAINY CONDITIONS. DEALER HAS ADJUSTED HEADLIGHTS WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8000975
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2001
Structure
BAD AERODYNAMICS CAN NOT DRIVE CAR WITH REAR WINDOW DOWN. THE AIR PRESSURE WILL BURST YOUR EARDRUMS. CONTACTED BUCIK DIVISION. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO LOWER ONE FRONT WINDOW A BIT.
NHTSA ODI #9003248
Mileage unknown · May 26, 2001
Visibility
WINDSHIELD REFLECTS DASHBOARD MATING SURFACES AT EYELEVEL, OBSTRUCTS VISION ACROSS COMPLETE WINDSHIELD CROSS SECTION BY APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 6 INCHES HIGH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VIEWING AREA. CANNOT ADJUST SEAT TO MOVE EYE LEVEL AND AVOID OBSTRUCTED VISION AREA. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN ALL LIGHT CONDITIONS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #745961
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2001
Power Train
WHEN VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE IT WILL ROLL BACKWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE RELEASED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
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.
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.
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.
2001 Buick Century Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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