Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Buick Century submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 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.
The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words
APPLIED BRAKE IN PREPARATION TO REVERSE, FROM DRIVEWAY HEARD A POP AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKE DID SEEM A BIT SOFT THE PREVIOUS DAY WHEN PARKING CAR AFTER SHORT TRIP. LUCKILY DID NOT LOSE BRAKES IN TRAFFIC!! UPON VISUAL INSPECTION BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM FRAME RAILS LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE DUE TO RUSTED OUT BRAKE LINES. *TR
I WAS TRAVELING IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED, I APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND I TRIED TO SWAY INTO THE SHOULDER BUT HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. NOTE: THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JS
BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY MY BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTION, THE BRAKE LINES HAVE COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT CAUSING A REAR BRAKE LINE TO BURST. ALL FOUR BRAKE LINES HAVE NOW BEEN REPLACED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUCK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000....UPDATED 10/19/12 *BF UPDATED 10/25/2012 *JS
2009 WHILE MY SISTER WAS PULLING INTO THE HOSPITAL PARKING GARAGE WITH MY MOTHER, DRIVING MOM'S 2001 BUICK CENTURY, THE BRAKES FAILED AND WENT TO THE FLOOR, NO PEDAL, NO BRAKES. HAD TOWED BACK HOME. MECHANIC SAID HAD RUSTED BRAKE LINE. THANK GOD MY MOTHER WAS NOT DRIVING, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED. WELL FRIDAY JULY 9TH 2010 MY SISTER TAKING MY MOTHER TO DR APPT WITH CAR FULL OF KIDS,AGAIN THE BRAKES FAILED AND HAD NO BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. I GUESS THE MAN UPSTAIRS SURE TAKES CARE OF MOM, IT SURE AS HECK IS NOT GM. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS LONG KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE RUSTY BRAKE LINES. BRAKE LINES SHOULD LAST ALOT LONGER THAN 45,000 MILES. THERE ARE RECALLS FOR BRAKE LIGHTS, HOW ABOUT ONE FOR THESE BRAKE LINES. *TR
WHEN STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT THE BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT MOST OF THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR ENDS UP IN THE INTERSECTION DUE TO LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. UPON INSPECTION, THE METAL BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS UNIT, RUNNING ACROSS THE FIREWALL TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. ALL THE BRAKE FLUID BLEW OUT OF THE BRAKE CIRCUIT WHEN THE LINE RUPTURED DURING THE STOP. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, TWO OTHER STEEL BRAKE LINES AND THE STEEL FUEL FEED LINE ARE ABOUT TO RUST THROUGH AND FAIL AS WELL. I HAVE NEVER SEEN BRAKE AND FUEL LINES RUST THROUGH LIKE THIS! NINE YEARS OLD. THE FIRST BRAKE LINE MENTIONED RUNS ALONG THE FIRE WALL, RIGHT BEHIND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AS SUCH, IT HAS A FIBER HEAT SHIELD WRAPPING AROUND IT FOR ABOUT TWO FEET AND THIS IS WHERE THE WORST RUST OCCURRED, CONVENIENTLY HIDDEN FROM SIGHT. I SUSPECT THE HEAT SHIELD MATERIAL HELD MOISTURE, LEADING TO THE RUST. WHEN DISCUSSING THIS PROBLEM WITH A MECHANIC AT THE GM DEALER, HE SAID, "I SEE THIS ALL THE TIME." I KNOW CORROSION RESISTANT MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE TO PREVENT THIS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN ON ALL THE FOREIGN CARS I HAVE OWNED. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE I AM TOLD THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINE IS TO DROP THE SUBFRAME THAT HOLDS THE DRIVETRAIN, AT A COST OF ABOUT $1200, SINCE THE LINE IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS TO GO ON THE BODY AT THE FACTORY! *TR
OUR ANTI BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THE ABS SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. REPLACED THE EBCM AND HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT AND ALSO REPLACED BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. .THE BRAKES WERE FINE. THEY CHARGED US $2,223.14. THE SERVICE DONE WAS: THE EBCM AND HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FAULTY . 07 BRAKES/ TRACTION CTRL . 1- VALVE KIT,1- MODULE,2- FLUID 1-,CYLINDER. PARTS WAS $1,948.40, LABOR $401.93 ... THIS IS RIDICULOUS!. WE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH OUR BRAKES AT ALL ! I CAME IN TO GET THE LIGHT TURNED OFF AND CAME OUT WITH MY SAVINGS GONE! *TR
BRAKE SYSTEM / ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED/ ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. REPLACED ABS HUB SYSTEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND BRAKE FLUID WAS CAME OUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1997 BUICK CENTURY WITH THE SAME FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 28,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
DT: CONSUMER OWNED A 2001 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM. CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT SEVERAL PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS CONCERNED THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE YEARS. THE ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN GO BACK OFF. HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO SEE WHAT PROBLEM WAS. THE LAST TIME THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WAS ON AUGUST 1, 2005, THIS TIME THE LIGHT STAYED ON. ALSO, ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ABS LIGHT. IN ADDITION, TRACK LIGHT CAME ON. ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WAS THAT WHEN TIRES WERE SERVICED THE LOW TIRE LIGHT CAME ON . THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE WHEEL WAS REMOVED FROM VEHICLE. ANOTHER PROBLEM CONCERNED THE POWER WINDOW. CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE PASSENGER'S REAR WINDOW WAS FALLING DOWN BY ITSELF, THE DEALER SAID THAT THE REGULATOR BROKE. CONSUMER DID NOT WANT POWER WINDOWS. HE WANTED ROLL UP WINDOWS WHICH WERE TROUBLE FREE.*AK
2001 BUICK CENTURY DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE BRAKE, TRAC AND ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED SOME FUSES, THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SHORT IN THE ABS, HOWEVER 3 WEEKS LATER THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. *JB
DT: CONSUMER OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM. CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT SEVERAL PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS CONCERNED THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. THE ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN GO BACK OFF. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO SEE WHAT PROBLEM WAS ON AUGUST 1, 2005 WHEN THE LIGHT STAYED ON. ALSO, SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT/TRAC LIGHT CAME ON IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ABS LIGHT. ANOTHER PROBLEM CONCERNED THE LOW TIRE LIGHT COMING ON . THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE WHEEL WAS REMOVED FROM VEHICLE. ANOTHER PROBLEM CONCERNED THE POWER WINDOW. CONSUMER WENT TO DEALER, AND TOLD HIM THAT THE PASSENGER'S REAR WINDOW WAS FALLING DOWN BY ITSELF, THE DEALER SAID THAT THE REGISTER BROKE. CONSUMER DID NOT WANT POWER WINDOWS. HE WANTED ROLL UP WINDOWS WHICH WERE TROUBLE FREE. THE ABS BRAKE SENSOR WIRING HARNESS TO THE RIGHT FRONT HUB WAS DISCOVERED BY CONSUMER VISUALLY HANGING DOWN ON AUGUST 11, 2005. UPON INSPECTION AT GOODYEAR. TECHNICIAN STATED WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN PULLED OFF POSSIBLY BY ROAD DEBRIS ALTHOUGH CONSUMER DIDN'T SEE ANY CUT, ABRASION, OR IMPACT. HUB ASSEMBLY REQUIRED TO REPLACEMENT BECAUSE ABS SENSOR WIRING DAMAGED IN HUB. *AK
IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY WENT TO STOP FOR 8TH OR 9TH TIME THAT MORNING AND BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED ME TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THERE IS ABOUT A 6" SECTION OF BRAKE LINE THAT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. SAME PLACE ON BOTH SIDES AT A BEND. REST OF THE LINES ARE PEFECTLY FINE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CARR THAT IS ONLY 3 EARS OLD AND HAS 9000 MILES ON IT. THE DEFECTIVE PART OF THE LINE IS NOT IN A PLACE WHERE IT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO ANY CAUSE OTHER THAN DEFECTIVE MATERIAL.(IE: NO RUBBING, NO SITTING IN DIRT OR SALT, CAN'T BE HIT BY FLYING DEBRIS, ETC)
BRAKES FAILED WHEN DEPRESSED AT 40 MPH. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE SKIDDING ON DRY PAVEMENT. CONSUMER PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE STOPPED AN ONE FOOT SHORT OF REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO BRAKE FAILURE. VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BRAKES INSPECTED.*AK. WILKINS BUICK-MAZDA PROVIDED CONSUMER WITH ONE COMPLIMENTARY BRAKE INSPECTION NOT TO EXCEED $200.00. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE BRAKE PROBLEM.*AK
BUICK CENTURY 2001 DEALER/REPAIR TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE EBCM AND CONTROL ARMS AFTER I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SLIGHT SHIMMY ON THE RIGHT SIDE AT 55. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED NOTICE ABOUT THIS DEFECT FROM THE COMPANY, BUT NO RECALL. I'M NOT CLEAR WHY I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY A BILL OF $1222. FOR A DEFECT REPAIR.*AK
CONSUMER NOTICED ABS LIGHT FLASHING WHILE TRAVELING, INDICATION THAT ABS SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING. MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
CONSUMER HAD HER AUTOMOBILE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND A LOT OF THINGS HAD GONE WRONG. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED/ VISOR LIGHT STAYED ON ALL THE TIME/ BACK WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO/ BRAKE CALIPER WAS NOT SEALING/ FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE PITTED, THAT WAS WHAT THE MECHANIC TOLD HER, AND THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. SHE STATED ALL OF THE ABOVE HAVE HAPPENED TO VEHICLE WHICH HAD A LOW MILEAGE. BUT ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE REPAIRED. BUT SHE WAS NOT WORRIED, WHAT ELSE WAS GOING WRONG.*AK
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
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PEDAL WILL NOT HOLD ITS BREAKING POWER AND WOULD SLOWLY CREEP TO THE FLOOR. *SCC
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
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
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
ON MAY 29,2002 WE PURCHASED A 2001 BUICK CENTURY FROM LLOYD BUICK. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED BECAUSE THE VAN WE OWNED HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP 10 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON THE DAY OF PURCHASE WE HEARD A THUMPING NOISE ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN. THIS WAS DONE ON 5-30-2002. THE SERVICE REP AND MY HUSBAND TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND RESULTED IN PUTTING 4 NEW TIRES ON THE CAR. THE WORK ORDER READS REPLACE 2 FRONT TIRE CHOPPED AS PER SALES. REPLACE 4 TIRES AND BALANCE. WE PICKED UP THE CAR AND THE NEXT DAY THE LOW TIRE LIGHT CAME ON. WE CHECKED THE TIRES AND THE AIR PRESSURE WAS FINE. AGAIN WE CALLED THE DEALER BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND THE SALESMAN RESET THE COMPUTER AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. ON 6-8-2002 WE GOT IN THE CAR AT 6:30 AM AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND T;HE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. GOT OUT THE MANUAL FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS STILL WOULD NOT RELEASE. WE HAD A FRIEND PICK US UP HE ALSO TRIED WITH NO AVAIL. WENT TO ORLANDO AND WHEN WE CAME HOME AGAIN CALLED THE DEARLER THEY TOLD US TO FOLLOW THE MANUAL TRIED AGAIN STILL DID NOT WORK. CALLED BACK AND WERE TOLD TO CALL OUR ROAD SERVICED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. AT 2:41 THE CALLED WAS PLACED TO BUCIK ROADSIDE SERVICE ABOUT 1 HOUR LATER A TRUCK ARRIVED AND THEY WOULD NOT TOW THE CAR BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRAG IT OUTOF THE DRIVEWAY BECAUSE THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED. THIS WOULD RESULT IN RUINING THE TIRES AND THE DRIVEWAY. CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN THE SALESMAN CAME OVER ABOUT 6:30 HE COULD NOT RELEASE THE WHEEL EITHER. HE LEFT US A CAR TO USE OVER THE WEEKEND . ON MONDAY THE DEALERHIP CAME WITH A TOW TRUCK AND TOWED THE CAR AWAY. THEY CALLED THE NEXT DAY TO SAY IT WAS READY. WE DO NOT HAVE A WORK ORDERS FOR THE LAST 2 VISITS BUT CAN GET THEM UPON REQUEST PLEASE INFORM US OF YOUR FINDINGS.*AK
VEHICLE MADE LOUD NOISES, VIBRATED WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. THIS WAS A RESULT OF PISTON MALFUNCTIONING THAT CAUSED MOTOR TO GO BAD, AND ENGINE TO NOT RUN PROPERLY.*AK FUEL TANK MISSING INSULATORS. BRAKES SQUEAK AND ARE PULSATING. *TT
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
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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