2001 Buick Century Driver assistance Problems

When I have cruise control on but not in use at that moment the car will engage cruise on its own. It does this at a high rate of acceleration with no Rhyme or Reason as to why. I have to be quick to get it to stop because of the high rate of speed. I do not use the cruise control anymore on my vehicle because of being unsafe. I have been lucky a couple of times I have not rammed into the vehicle in front of me through no fault of mine except for having cruise control on. No it has not been examined or inspected. The problem has not been confirmed by the dealership or and independent service center. It has been confirmed by various drivers of my car. None of them will use cruise control anymore.

NHTSA ID

11629783

Incident

Sep 1, 2024

STEERING LOCKED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CAR WOULD SPEED UP ON ITS OWN WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDDLE. THIS OCCURRED AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS TAKEN OUT OF PARK.

NHTSA ID

11130722

Incident

Sep 13, 2018

Mileage

54,000 mi

FOR ALMOST THE ENTIRE TIME OF 16 YEARS OF OWNING THIS CAR, THE SET CRUISE CONTROL OFTEN TIMES SPEEDS UNCONTROLLABLY. HAVE REPLACED THE MODULE TWICE BUT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. LOCAL BUICK DEALER TELLS ME THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THEY ARE UNTRUTHFUL.

NHTSA ID

10990906

Incident

May 10, 2017

Mileage

110,000 mi

TURNED ON SPEED CONTROL WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, PRESSED SET BUTTON TO SET THE SPEED. THE CRUISE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. MY SPEED WENT FROM 65 MPH TO 80 MPH IN A FEW SECONDS. I DEPRESSED THE SET BUTTON AGAIN TO DECELERATE, BUT WHEN I RELEASED THE SET BUTTON, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED AGAIN. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION & TURNED THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION.

NHTSA ID

10765156

Incident

Sep 18, 2015

Mileage

55,400 mi

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE SPEED CONTROL TURNED ON BUT NOT ENGAGED THE SPEED CONTROL WILL ENGAGE AND THE ENGINE WILL RACE UNTIL BRAKE IS TAPPED OR SPEED CONTROL SWITCH TURNED OFF. THIS CAN HAPPENED RANDOMLY , WHEN RESUME IS ENGAGED , OR WHEN LANE CHANGE SIGNALING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10693162

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

Mileage

26,500 mi

HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT AUTHORIZED GMC DEALERSHIP MAY 2006 .THIS CAME WITH A WARRANTY. SEVERAL TIMES OVER SEVERAL SUMMERS SINCE THEN HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP WITH CONCERNS THAT HAPPENED AFTER VEHICLE WOULD BE DRIVEN IN HIGH HUMIDITY HIGH TEMPERATURE DAYS AFTER TRAVELING A MINIMUM OF 60 MILES MOSTLY ON STATE HIGHWAYS THAT ARE QUITE ROUGH AND CURVY, I.E. IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 90 MINUTES OR MORE TOGO THIS DISTANCE. THEN WHEN IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD OR STOPPING THE CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE LIKE JUMPING INTO THE WRONG GEAR AND IN MORE THAN ONE TIME THE CAR'S ENGINE WOULD DIE. IT ALWAYS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS SO LUCKILY WE DIDN'T LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. BUT, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS FROM CONTINUING WAS TO STOP AND PARK TO LET THE ENGINE AND OR COOL DOWN. WE EVEN PUT ON THE HEATER WHILE DRIVING TO HELP REDUCE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO GO BELOW THE HALFWAY MARK. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN SHELTON, WA NOT IN KY, SO WE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, NOW THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. WE HAVE DASHBOARD WARNINGS CONTINUALLY STATING LOW OIL, SERVICE ENGINE SOON (WHEN JUST COMPLETED), ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649824

Incident

Jul 10, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

AFTER SETTING CRUISE CONTROL IT WILL TAKE OFF AND ACCELERATE UNTIL YOU MANUALLY SHUT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH OFF. I EVEN TAPPED ON BRAKE AND IT WOULD CONTINUE. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE VERY RANDOM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10426575

Incident

Sep 20, 2011

Mileage

51,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING 35 MPH OR MORE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATE AND WOULD CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SEIZE IN THE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. HE WOULD THEN DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DEACTIVATE. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COMMON IN HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10350497

Incident

Aug 20, 2007

Mileage

98,000 mi

THE PROBLEM I'M EXPERIENCING IS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. ONCE ENGAGED, IF THE CAR GETS INTO A SITUATION REQUIRING ACCELERATION (E.G. GOING UP A HILL), THE CAR GOES INTO HIGH ACCELERATION MODE AND DOES NOT STOP ONCE THE SET SPEED IS REACHED. AFTER INITIAL ENGAGEMENT, BUT NOT WITH THE CONTROL SET, VIRTUALLY ANY MOVEMENT OF THE TURN SIGNAL LEVEL CAUSES ENGAGEMENT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL IN THE ACCELERATION MODE. TAPPING THE LEVER, ACTIVATING THE TURN SIGNAL OR HIGH BEAM CONTROL CAUSE THE CAR TO GO INTO CRUISE MODE UNDER ACCELERATION. I HAVE ALLOWED IT TO GO AS FAST AS 85 MPH TO SEE IF IT WOULD DISENGAGE AND IT DID NOT. I FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT NOW THAT I HAVE BEEN PLAYING CLOSER ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS GOING ON WHEN IT RUNS AWAY, I CAN CAUSE IT TO HAPPEN ON CUE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS SINCE IT GOES INTO ACCELERATE MODE UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL IS EITHER DISENGAGED WITH THE POWER SWITCH OR THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAVE NOT YET GOTTEN IT REPAIRED. THE INITIAL VISIT TO THE SHOP WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN DETERMINING THE CAUSE OR REPLICATING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE ESTABLISHED HOW TO INITIATE THE RUNAWAY ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332246

Incident

Apr 14, 2010

Mileage

89,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2001 BUICK CENTURY WITH LEST THAN 1000 MILES ON IT FROM THE ORIGINAL ORDER. IN JUST A SHORT TIME, IT BEGAN TO SURGE WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON. IT WOULD KEEP ACCELERATING UNTIL YOU TURNED IT OFF. IT STILL DOES THIS FROM TIME TO TIME. I HAVE CHECKED WITH BUICK DEALERS, BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO KNOW WHY. SOMETIMES IT SURGES WHEN YOU USE THE TURNING SIGNAL ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328844

Incident

Sep 17, 2007

Mileage

1,200 mi

2001 BUICK CENTURY SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ON BUT NOT ENGAGED. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR POT HOLE OR PUTTING ON THE TURN SIGNAL. ALSO, THE CAR HAS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN DRIVING ON A SMOOTH ROAD WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. I HAVE BE ABLE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION BY EITHER TAPPING THE BRAKE OR TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE SWITCH AT THE END OF THE STALK. I NO LONGER DRIVE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED; AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM AS LONG AS THE CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT TURNED ON. THIS EVENT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10305547

Incident

Jan 15, 2009

Mileage

68,000 mi

THIS IS SERIOUS. CRUISE CONTROL JUST TAKES OFF. 1. GOING 60 MPH WITH CRUISE ON AND WHEN CRUISE OPENS THROTTLE IT JUST KEEPS ON SPEEDING UP. 2. COME TO A FULL STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN DRIVE WITHOUT TOUCHING CRUISE CONTROL KICKS IN AND RUNS AWAY AGAIN- ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. I GOT TO READING AND THERE ARE LOTS OF REPORTS ABOUT THIS INCLUDING REPORTS OF DEALERS NOT BEING ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10168832

Incident

Sep 20, 2005

Mileage

64,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES OUT OF CONTROL. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING IS TO MANUALLY TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER; UPON INSPECTION THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE AT THE THROTTLE BODY CAME LOOSE. THE CABLE WAS RECONNECTED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED TEMPORALLY. THE VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE WITH THE ACCELERATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. UPDATED 04/11/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10153853

Incident

Mar 27, 2006

Mileage

32,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES TO UNKNOWN SPEEDS. THERE IS NO PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON IS TURNED OFF. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST IT CONTINUES TO WORSEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10148056

Incident

Jan 2, 2006

Mileage

30,000 mi

ACCELERATOR GETS STUCK AT FAIRLY HIGH SPEEDS. IT IS NOT THE MAT, BUT IS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. AT ONE POINT I STOPPED, AND WHILE IN PARK (THE ENGINE WAS RACING), EXAMINED THE ENGINE (I AM A MECHANICAL PERSON) AND DISCOVERED THE LINKAGE FOR THE ACCELERATOR WAS WORKING FINE. WHEN SOMEONE STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL THE THROTTLE MECHANISM WOULD TURN AND WHEN THEY LET UP ON THE PEDAL THE MECHANISM WOULD RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION - BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING! THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. ONE TIME WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING, I STARTED FROM A STOP LIGHT AND REACHED 50 MPH WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL! I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM WITH THIS CAR (2001 BUICK CENTURY) SEE: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/[email protected]@.EF22120/30. *JB

NHTSA ID

10130512

Incident

Jul 21, 2005

Mileage

45,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONSUMER ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10105524

Incident

Dec 28, 2004

THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED CONTINUOUSLY, WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING TO HIGH SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE LEVER, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10071801

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

Mileage

9,000 mi

HAD THE SPEED CONTROL FUNCTION ON WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH. BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO DECELERATE VEHICLE, WHICH DEACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10038504

Incident

Sep 2, 2003

Mileage

35,600 mi

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 ID

8015078

Incident

Jul 14, 2002

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 ID

8003147

Incident

Dec 20, 2001