RoadVitals

2001 Buick Century Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
16
Latest Aug 20, 2014
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.
11%
of 145 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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 16 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 electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 20, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10626573
Incident
Jun 10, 2014
Mileage
200,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 10, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE PANEL LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511450
Incident
May 3, 2013
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Oct 22, 2012

THE DRIVERS WINDOW WILL GO DOWN WHEN YOU PUT KEY IN IGNITION RIGHT BEFORE YOU START VEHICLE. AFTER IT GOES DOWN YOU MUST WAIT 10 SECONDS OR SO AND YOU CAN PUT WINDOW UP. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE MY 2007 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER IS BEING RECALLED FOR. BUT THE BUICK CENTURY IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10481382
Incident
Aug 1, 2012
Mileage
103,595 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 12, 2008

ODOMETER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE,CANNOT TELL WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN OR MILEAGE ON CAR. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER,THAT THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM WITH THE CENTURY MODEL,AND WOULD COST BETWEEN 250-1000. DOLLAR TO REPAIR ,PLUS DEALER COULD NOT GIVE A TIME FRAME OF HOW LONG VEHICLE WOULD BE IN SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10214572
Incident
Mar 2, 2007
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jan 2, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RAIN WOULD LEAK BEHIND THE DASHBOARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE WOULD NOT OCCUR IF PARKED AT AN ANGLE OR ON A HILL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,200, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,800. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED A POOL OF WATER WAS ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO RAINWATER LEAKING FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR

NHTSA ID
10213384
Incident
Dec 15, 2007
Mileage
54,800 mi
ElectricalEngineVisibility
Filed Dec 14, 2005

CONSUMER 2001 BUICK CENTURY ELECTRICAL AND COOLING ARE DEFECTIVE. MASTER WINDOW SWITCH LOCK STUCK, ANTI FREEZE LEAK, COOLANT LIGHT REMAINS ON, FRONT AND REAR LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. *TS THE DOME LIGHTS AND BACK UP LIGHTS, AND TAG LIGHT WERE ALL INOPERATIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED ALL THE BULBS WERE CHANGED, HOWEVER IT DIDN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE INTAKE GASKET LEAKED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10146407
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 23, 2005

DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL MASTER LOCK UNIT: LEFT FRONT DOOR. ANTI FREEZE LEAKS, COOLANT LIGHT STAYS ON, LIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE ETC. *TS THE FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, DOME LIGHTS, BACK UP LIGHTS AND TAG PLATE LIGHT WERE ALL INOPERATIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10138825
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
BrakesElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 12, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10132592
Incident
Aug 11, 2005
Mileage
36,000 mi
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Nov 10, 2004

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. ALSO, DASHBOARD LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY . CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BEARING SHEARED OFF THE TRANSMISSION. BATTERY AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10099798
Incident
Nov 10, 2004
BrakesElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Aug 4, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10032034
Incident
Aug 4, 2003
Electrical
Filed Apr 29, 2003

GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR AND IN A DARK SURROUNDING SUCH AS A CAR PORT OR GARAGE, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT GEAR HAS BEEN SELECTED. I FEAR THAT EVEN THOUGH CAUTION IS USED, THERE IS HIGH POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE WRONG GEAR WAS SELECTED. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE LIGHT DOES COME ON AND ALL IS NORMAL. IS THIS A DESIGN PROBLEM OR IS THERE A DEFECT IN THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM? *JB

NHTSA ID
10016695
Incident
Apr 20, 2003
Electrical
Filed Aug 13, 2002

COMPUTER WOULD NOT ACT PROPERLY. WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT WOULD START MAKING SOME SQUEALING NOISES THEN, IT WOULD STOP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND EALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016096
Incident
Mar 2, 2002
Electrical
Filed Jun 14, 2002

CONSUMER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE ONLY A SHORT TIME AND ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE HORN WOULD NOT BLOW WHEN CONSUMER NEEDED IT. *JG

NHTSA ID
566133
Body & structureElectricalVisibility
Filed Feb 4, 2002

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 ID
757730
Electrical
Filed Mar 22, 2001

ON STEERING HUB ARE 2 HORN SYMBOLS. IF THEY AREN'T PRESSED IN CORRECT SPOT THEY WOULDN'T GO OFF. DEALER DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER SOLUTION FOR CONSUMER.*AK THE HORN SPOT WAS HARD TO FIND DURING EMERGENCY. ALSO THE HORN WHEN FOUND REQUIRES EXCEPTIONAL STRENGTH TO SOUND IT. *YH

NHTSA ID
883799
Incident
Mar 21, 2001
Electrical
Filed Feb 25, 2001

CONSUMER STATES IT'S VERY HARD TO HONK THE HORN. *SLC

NHTSA ID
785318

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 .