RoadVitals

2000 Buick Century Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
37
Latest May 6, 2013
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.
19%
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.
0
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 automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 37 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 transmission

The 25 most recent of 37, in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed May 6, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. THE CONTACT TURNED POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 06/17/13 *BF

NHTSA ID
10510816
Incident
May 1, 2013
Mileage
75,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 10, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT HARD AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,102....UPDATED 07/06/12 *BF UPDATED 08/06/12

NHTSA ID
10458056
Incident
Jan 12, 2011
Mileage
65,000 mi
BrakesElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed Jan 2, 2011

BOUGHT 2000 BUICK CENTURY AND LIKE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE LIST I HAVE REPAIRED THE MANIFOLD, WATER PUMP, FUEL FILTER AT 83,000. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE WHINNING AND HARD SHIFTING THE ENTIRE TIME I OWNED THE CAR. I HAD INTERMITTENT DASH LIGHT FAILURE WHICH IS REAL DANGEROUS SINCE YOU CAN'T SEE THE SPEEDOMETER OR ANYTHING ON THE DASH. MY BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO BRAKE AND I WENT OUT INTO TRAFFIC - LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT AND THERE WAS A MEDIAN I COULD STEER INTO! I HAVEN'T HAD A WORKING GAS GAUGE FOR YEARS. LAST NIGHT GOING 70 MPH I FELT 3 CHUGS AND LOST POWER. AGAIN LUCKILY I WAS AT A FREEWAY EXIT AND COULD COAST OFF THE FREEWAY. SO MY 3 MOST EXPENSIVE BILLS (AND NONE OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN SOLVED -$1800. FOR BRAKE CALIPERS, ROTORS AND PADS. $1100 FOR WIRE SET, MANIFOLD SET, FUEL FILTER AND WATER PUMP. $350 FOR HEADLAMP SWITCH AND DASH LIGHT PROBLEMS. I AM PUTTING NO MORE MONEY INTO THIS CAR AND UP UNTIL LAST NIGHT I WAS LOOKING FOR A BUICK BUT NEVER AGAIN. I DIDN'T PUT THE MILEAGE DOWN WHEN THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE SYMPTOMS ARE ONGOING!!! IT LOOKS LIKE 1000'S OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN IGNORED THROUGH THE YEARS AND THE BRAKE ISSUE AS WELL AS SHUTTING DOWN GOING 70 MPH ARE BOTH SAFETY ISSUES WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN A RECALL MANY YEARS AGO!!! I AM DEVASTATED BY THE FACTS I LEARNED RESEARCHING THE COMPUTER LAST NIGHT. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND NOW WITHOUT A CAR TOO. WHAT REPORTS DO I BELIEVE WHEN SHOPPING FOR A NEW CAR?????? DOWN BELOW WHERE YOU DATE THE INCIDENT LUCKILY I CAN SAY NO TO ALL OF THE QUESTIONS (BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD!) *TR

NHTSA ID
10373760
Incident
Jan 1, 2011
Mileage
131,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 24, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A CLUNKING NOISE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10367734
Incident
Nov 13, 2010
Mileage
70,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 21, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED THE CONTACT NOTICED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS CHANGING GEARS THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66000.

NHTSA ID
10356848
Incident
May 14, 2007
Mileage
22,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 14, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 15 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXHIBITING UNUSUAL NOISES AND SHIFTING GEARS EXCESSIVELY HARD. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND REPAIR SHOP. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC UTILIZED A TRANSMISSION CLEANING SOLUTION IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A THIRD REPAIR SHOP WHERE SHE WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,200. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/19/10. *LJ

NHTSA ID
10325634
Incident
Feb 22, 2010
Mileage
54,500 mi
Transmission
Filed May 7, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED AN AGGRESSIVE HARD JOLT WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR OR FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SOLENOID VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,800. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 5/26/09 *CN UPDATED 05/28/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10267958
Incident
Nov 22, 2008
Mileage
75,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 15, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, HE HEARD A THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LONG SHIFT CABLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,325.

NHTSA ID
10242321
Incident
Jul 1, 2008
Mileage
25,500 mi
Transmission
Filed May 12, 2008

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS AND CLUNKS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10227471
Incident
May 10, 2008
Mileage
43,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 8, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD GEARS. THE VEHICLE RUNS SMOOTHLY ALL OTHER TIMES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOIDS NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10223737
Incident
Jan 26, 2008
Mileage
40,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 4, 2008

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ON 2000 BUICK CENTURY ACCORDING TO INTERNET REPORTS MANY,MANY,MANY, OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A SOLENOID PROBLEM INTERNALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10223386
Incident
Apr 4, 2008
Transmission
Filed Feb 26, 2008

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, CAR WAS LURCHING INTO GEAR. MECHANIC SAID BAD TRAN. CODES. SHIFT SOLENOID BAD AND SOMETHING ELSE. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES. WORK DONE AT AAA CAR CARE CENTER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10219190
Incident
Feb 15, 2008
Mileage
59,970 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 7, 2007

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 BUICK CENTURY FAILS TO READILY DOWNSHIFT ON DECELERATION, AND BUCKS SEVERELY DURING NORMAL DRIVE AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. REPAIR SHOPS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208212
Incident
Jul 1, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 31, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING 2-20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED EXTREMELY HARD WHEN SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SOLENOID VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE. AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR ON THE CONSISTENT BASIS. UPDATED 12/31/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10207543
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
80,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 4, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED EXTREMELY HARD AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 60 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT A COMPUTER SHOULD DIAGNOSIS THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10201820
Incident
Aug 1, 2003
Mileage
60,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 15, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT FELT THE MIDSECTION OF HER VEHICLE BEGIN TO SHAKE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE RESTARTED IT AN HOUR LATER, THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE PCS VALVE FAILED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE VALVE, BUT THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED. THE SPEED AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA ID
10199641
Incident
Sep 1, 2001
Mileage
14,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 23, 2007

TL*THE CONTACTS MOTHER OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO MAKES A THUD SOUND WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ISSUED TRANSMISSION FAILURE CODE NUMBER 1811. THE DEALER FOUND OTHER INTERNAL FAILURES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 56,974 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10197264
Incident
Jun 4, 2007
Mileage
50,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 31, 2007

2000 BUICK CENTURY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS FOUND THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM IN 2000 BUICK MODELS, AND THAT GM HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OR OFFER A RESOLUTION OUT OF POCKET COST OF GETTING A TRANSMISSION VALVE AND SOLENOID REPAIRED IS ABOUT $600. THESE ISSUES ARE POPPING UP ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30K AND 80K MILES, AND THESE PARTS ARE PARTS THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND NEVER BE REPLACED. ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10192175
Incident
Apr 20, 2007
Mileage
82,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 13, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY WITH A CURRENT MILEAGE OF 70,200 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS HESITATING IN FIRST GEAR. A MECHANIC AT MIDWAY SERVICE CENTER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE ON 4-13-07 AND THE CODE P1811 FOR TRANSMISSION SHIFT VALVE WAS DETECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON 10/18/2004 WITH A FAILURE MILEAGE OF 51,570 MILES. AT THE TIME, THE DEALER, JIM STUTZMAN, REPLACED THE PC SOLENOID TRANSMISSION SHIFT VALVE PART #10478146. AK

NHTSA ID
10187812
Incident
Apr 13, 2007
Mileage
51,570 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 10, 2006

I OWN A 2000 BUICK CENTURY WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES AND IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING IT HAS DONE THE OTHER THREE TIMES. IT WAS REPAIRED ALL THREE TIMES AT THE GM DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. EACH TIME IT HAS COST OVER $600 TO REPAIR IT. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN GEARS AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE ALMOST STOPS MOVING IN TRAFFIC. *JB

NHTSA ID
10175710
Incident
Aug 28, 2002
Mileage
34,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed May 30, 2006

THIS 2000 BUICK CENTURY WAS PURCHASED IN 2000. AND FROM THE START IT BEGAN TO HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION. CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT AT ON 10,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 5.000 MILES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THAT TIME THE CAR HAS HAD A TOTAL OF 6 TRANSMISSIONS. ONE BEING REPLACED AT THE DEALER JUST AFTER THEY HAD INSTALLED THE 3 TRANSMISSION. THE CAR NEVER LEFT THE LOT AND NEEDED REPAIR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10158588
Incident
Apr 10, 2000
Mileage
5,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 8, 2005

I HAVE A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT HARD AT 70000 MILES IN SEPT OF 2001 AND DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID THAT IS LOCATED IN THE TRANSMISSION. AT 99000 MILES JUNE, 2005, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE WITH THE SALES MANAGER AFTER THREATENING TO GO TO THE OWNER AND THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME SOLENOID PROBLEM. THE SHOP FOREMAN AT CAMBRON CHEVY/BUICK IN TELL CITY, IN COULD REPLACE THE PART FOR $575.00 BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I CONTACTED MARAMA HANSET-CALLIES AND INFORMED HER THAT I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IN SEPT OF 2001 AND THAT THE VALVE SHOULD NOT BE GOING OUT. I SINCE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE 17-19 OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. GM HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON THE T65-E TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER AND HANSET-CALLIES HAVE A VERY THAT'S TO BAD ATTITUDE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10131975
Incident
Aug 8, 2005
Mileage
99,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 22, 2005

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTS TO WHINE AND SHIFTS IRRADICALLY AFTER WARMUP.HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL'S TRANSMISSION.MANY COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITES.CONYACTED GM AND THEY SAID IT WAS TO BE EXPECTED WITH A VEHICKE WITH THAT MANY MILES,TRUE,BUT WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF IT HAPPENING IN SO MANY OF THE SAME TYPE OF CAR AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE.SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO REIGN GM IN WITH THEIR SORRY ATTITUDE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10111927
Incident
Feb 19, 2005
Mileage
62,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 13, 2005

2000 BUICK CENTURY DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE 4T65 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED VERY HARD AND MADE UNUSUAL SOUNDS.*JB

NHTSA ID
10128006
Incident
Jan 3, 2005
Transmission
Filed Sep 22, 2004

WHILE DRIVINGM, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AS IF IT DID NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR IT SHOULD BE IN. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK THERE WAS ALSO A JERKING MOTION DISPLAYED WHEN SHIFTING THE GEARS UP AND OR DOWN. THE P/C SOLENOID WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10089930
Incident
Feb 1, 2004
Mileage
29,150 mi

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .