RoadVitals

2000 Buick Century Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
27
Latest Feb 27, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 193 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Buick Century submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 27, 2017

ENGINE STALLS AT A STOP- WHEN ENGINE IS WARM- ENGINE LEAKING OIL- FUEL GAGE-

NHTSA ID
10957317
Incident
Feb 27, 2017
Engine
Filed Aug 18, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10625933
Incident
Jun 12, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jul 24, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHILE THE CONTACT WAS IN DRIVE, PARK OR REVERSE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A CONSTANT BURNING ODOR NEAR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 09E005000 (STEERING), 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER) AND 00V160000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10615918
Incident
Aug 4, 2012
Engine
Filed Apr 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10584929
Incident
Mar 7, 2014
Mileage
65,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 1, 2014

MY VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY FOUND THAT MY ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO MY OIL. HE STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAS BROKEN AND HAD TO REPLACE THE GASKET, INTAKE PUSH RODS, AND EXHAUST PUSH RODS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576278
Incident
Oct 23, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 30, 2012

VEHICLE EXHIBITED HARD TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AND JERKING WHILE SHIFTING IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED WITH CODE P1811, WHICH INDICATES HIGH TRANSMISSION FLUID PRESSURE AND SOLENOID PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10460060
Incident
May 25, 2012
Mileage
83,249 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 13, 2011

VERY HARD TRANSMISSION SHIFTING RETURNING FROM A LONG-DISTANCE TRIP / "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC REPORTS DTC P1811 ERROR CODE AS WELL AS OTHER ERROR CODES. MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH TCC SOLENOID AND PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID TO RESOLVE SHIFTING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10430030
Incident
Oct 9, 2011
Mileage
63,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 10, 2010

CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON CONTINUOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10348435
Incident
Jul 7, 2010
Mileage
67,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2009

AIR POLLUTION PUMP FAILURE CAUSING FUSE TO BLOW AND CAR TO BUMP WHEN STEPPING ON GAS/ANTI LOCK CONTROL-PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10281482
Incident
Aug 13, 2009
Mileage
149,084 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 21, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD PARK THE VEHICLE IN HER GARAGE, SHE WOULD SMELL HOT WATER COMING FROM THE RADIATOR. SHE DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC, AND WAS NEVER DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 08/20/08 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES. UPDATED 08/21/08 *JB

NHTSA ID
10235110
Incident
Mar 18, 2008
Mileage
97,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 19, 2008

THERE IS OIL IN RADIATOR, HAD SYSTEM CLEANED FLUSHED OUT AND REFILLED AND 2 WEEKS LATTER IT IS FULL OF OIL AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228218
Incident
May 1, 2008
Mileage
74,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Apr 11, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, THE THERMOSTAT, AND WATER PUMP. THESE COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND A LEAKING CYLINDER ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR DRUMS, AND THE SWITCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOR THE POWER WINDOWS WHERE REPLACED DUE TO POSSIBLE FIRE CONCERNS. IN ADDITION, THE RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD END ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS INHERITED IN 2003 ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED FAILURES HAD TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED STARTING IN 2005. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY STATED THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE CONTACT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED WITH THE DEALER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,442, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,218.*AK THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED INVOICES OF SERVICES AND CHECKED WITH GM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE GASKET MANIFOLD, HOWEVER SHE WAS INFORMED NO RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THAT PART. UPDATE 05/10/07*TR

NHTSA ID
10187620
Incident
Nov 9, 2005
Mileage
64,218 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 2, 2005

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT COOLING FLUID ON GARAGE FLOOR. *TC

NHTSA ID
10110897
Incident
Jun 5, 2004
Mileage
32,850 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 16, 2005

DEALER ADVISED OF COOLANT LEAK AT A LOWER ENGINE SEAL. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A DEFECT RELATED TO USE OF INCORRECT SEALS. THE SEALS ARE EATEN BY THE COOLANT (DEXCOOL). I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $800 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10110627
Incident
Oct 15, 2004
Engine
Filed May 11, 2004

PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE ON 2000 BUICK CENTURY. *MR THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10073782
Incident
Mar 30, 2004
Mileage
60,935 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 14, 2004

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A CLUNKING HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 45 MPH. TOOK CAR TO DEALER ON 4/5/04 AND SERVICE MANAGER WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE WITH ME AND HE DEFINITELY FELT THE PROBLEM. WHEN TECH RAN COMPUTER CHECK HE SAID TWO CODES CAME BACK AND THAT THE FUEL SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND IT WAS NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY OR THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY. I HAD THE WORK DONE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT MAY HAVE BEEN WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND TO CALL IF IT DID NOT RESOLVE. I DROVE THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AND WAS STILL HAVING ORIGINAL PROBLEM. THEY SET UP APPT AGAIN TO HAVE A TECH GO WITH ME ON ANOTHER TEST DRIVE. THIS WAS ON 4/10/04. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD THE SHOP FOREMAN GO WITH ME ON A TEST DRIVE AND HE ALSO FELT THE CLUNKING HESITATION AND SAID THEY WOULD RUN SOME MORE TESTS AND THAT IT MAY BE A SOLENOID RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. I PHONED THE DEALER ON MONDAY AFTERNOON 4/12/04 TO SEE IF THE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM YET, AFTER BEING PUT ON HOLD AND THEN DISCONNECTED I CALLED BACK. THIS TIME I GOT SERVICE MANAGER'S VOICE MAIL AND LEFT A MESSAGE THAT I WAS STILL WAITING TO HEAR ABOUT MY CAR. NO ONE RETURNED MY CALL. ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON 4/13/04 I PHONED THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEN WAS CONNECTED TO SERVICE MANAGER WHO THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THEY FOUND A PROBLEM AND THAT THEY DROVE A FEW MORE BUICK CENTURY MODELS THAT THEY HAD ON THEIR LOT AND THAT THE CLUNKING NOISE WAS NORMAL FOR MY CAR BUT THAT IT WAS JUST MORE PRONOUNCED IN MY CAR. HE THEN WENT ON TO SAY THAT THEY FOUND A LEAKING MANIFOLD GASKET , BOTH UPPER ENGINE MOUNTS LOOSE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER ENGINE MOUNT LOOSE. MY 2000 BUCK CENTURY CUSTOM HAS ONLY 36,600 MILES. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN AUGUST OF 2003 FROM THE DEALER AND THE MILEAGE WAS JUST SLIGHTLY OVER 31,000 WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10066165
Incident
Apr 5, 2004
Mileage
36,200 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 1, 2003

2000 BUICK CENTURY , 3.1 HEAD GASKET LEAKS AT 50,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10048964
Incident
Nov 28, 2003
Mileage
50,050 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 25, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THE EXHAUST PIPE IS VERY CLOSE TO THE FUEL LINE. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID
10024905
Incident
Jun 25, 2003
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN TSB #020601014, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10017491
Incident
Apr 15, 2003
Engine
Filed Apr 23, 2003

THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BROKE AND CAUSED OIL TO LEAK INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM. *NLM *TS

NHTSA ID
10017468
Incident
Apr 23, 2003
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Aug 8, 2001

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVEN TIMES, AND TRIED TO CORRECT. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN IN REVERSE AND BRAKING, AC IS NOT BLOWING COLD, CONSMER STATES FRONT END IS LOW TO THE BOTTOM MAKES A NOSIE WHENWHEN IN REVERSE, THE BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE RADIO DOES NOT STO ON STATION, CONSUMER STATES IT TAKES TO LONG FOR VEHICLE TO START AT TIMES.*JB

NHTSA ID
893791
Incident
Feb 13, 2001
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 2001

VEHICLE HAS EXTREME BURNING OIL SMELL COMING THROUGH VENTS AFTER OIL CHANGE, DEALER REPLACED ENGINE'S REAR MAIN SEAL BUT DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER BUT HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *JB

NHTSA ID
785411
Incident
Apr 1, 2000
EngineSuspension
Filed Apr 10, 2001

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A KNOCKING AND HUMMING NOISE UNDER NORMAL OPERATION. DEALERSHIP HAS LOOKED AT VEHICLE AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT IN ENGINE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
885529
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2001

WHENEVER VEHICLE WAS COLD STARTED, THERE WOULD BE A TAPPING NOISE. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TWICE. HAD FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE DOWN & WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS NORMAL. ALSO, MECHANIC TESTED OTHER VEHICLES ON A COLD START, AND HERE WAS NO TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE.*AK TAPPING SOUND IN THE ENGINE HAS INCREASED IN LOUDNESS AND DURATION ON COLD STARTS. THE DEALER INSTALLED A SYNTHETIC OIL AND FRAM OIL FILTERS. *YH

NHTSA ID
878227
Engine
Filed Oct 19, 2000

2 DEFECTIVE ENGINES(REPLACED) 1ST AT 1500 MI. 2ND AT 2784MI. STILL ENGINE MISSES STALLS. NHTSA PROVIDED TO US CAMPAIGN R#00V143000 THAT BUICK CENTURIES HAVE REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS AND G.M. WOULD RECALL STARTING JULY 2000--G.M. TELLS US NO RECALLS INVOVLING OUR VEHICLE--IT WAS BUILT 11/99 IN OSHAWA CANADA--PLEASE STRAIGHTEN US OUT ON THIS--IS /IS NOT A NY RECALL ON OUR VEHICLE

NHTSA ID
734742

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .