2001 Buick Century Problems

5/15/2017, $1,197.66 REPAIR FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. ON OCTOBER 23, 2008, THE CALIFORNIA SUPERIOR COURT GRANTED FINAL APPROVAL TO THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, BUT NOTHING IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE OF USE THAT DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THAT SUIT. HTTPS://WWW.GIRARDGIBBS.COM/DEXCOOL/

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.

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

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.

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.

BRAKE SYSTEM / ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED/ ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. REPLACED ABS HUB SYSTEM. *TR

LOST ABILITY TO READ POSITION OF GEAR SELECTION (PRNDL) ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ODOMETER READINGS ON 2001 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM. THIS WAS AN ELECTRONIC PRNDL AND ODOMETER DISPLAY. IT WAS LIKE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION BLIND FOLDED. SAFETY. *AK

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.

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

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

DEFECTIVE MOTOR & REGULATOR FOR THE WINDOW MOTORS - ALL FOUR. DRIVERS WINDOW FELL DOWN, REAR PASSENGER FELL DOWN, NOW THE REAR DRIVERS WINDOW FELL DOWN. MANUFACTURER SAYS THIS IS ONLY A PROBLEM IN THE WEST - AZ & TX, NOT A RECALL ITEM. THE PRICE TO REPAIR IS $600.00 EACH. I AM RETIRED AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS. ALL OF THE BUICK CENTURY'S IN THIS AREA ARE FALLING DOWN. ALMOST EVERY ONE IS TAPED UP AND THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. MY GRANDDAUGHTER JUST HAD ALL 4 OF HER WINDOW MOTORS REPLACED. CAN SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS? *TR

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.

RACK AND PINIONS NEED REPLACED AFTER I HAD NEW TIE RODS REPLACED. *TR

SECOND OWNER OF MY BUICK 2001 PURCHASED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER WITH 5,000 MILES IN 2008. THE SECOND YEAR I NOTICED WHEN EVER IT RAINED THERE WAS WATER ON THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I STILL OWN THE CAR AND OVER THE YEARS HAVE JUST HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE. THE WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND EVERY TIME IT RAINS I HAVE TO TAKE TOWELS AND DRY UP ABOUT 1 INCH OF WATER FROM THE CARPET. I AM RETIRED NOW AND HESITATE TO TAKE THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AS I HAVE FOUND MOST WILL TAKE FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE OF A FEMALE. JUST WONDERED IF ANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OR IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY RECALLS. EVENTUALLY , I WILL HAVE A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND GET AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR AS SOON AS I CAN BECAUSE I AM TIRED OF MOPPING UP WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS. I ALSO WONDER WHAT IT IS DOING TO THE METAL UNDER THE CARPET. THE ORIGINAL OWNER WAS AN OLDER WOMAN WHO RARELY DROVE THE CAR. I PURCHASED FROM HER SON AT HER DEATH IT STILL HAD THE NEW CAR SMELL SO I AM PRETTY SURE SHE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND THIS PROBLEM WAS INHERENT IN THE DESIGN. *TR

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE AND THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES BLEW OUT. AFTER A DIAGNOSIS, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE FAULTY. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWO DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO BE REPAIRED AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E089000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BEGAN TO PRODUCE A THUMPING NOISE. LATER, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED. *AK THE PROBLEM LEAD TO A UNNECESSARY REPAIR OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *SC *JB

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN A TORRENTIAL RAIN AT 11:30 PM, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED ON STANDING WATER, WENT OFF THE TWO LANE ROAD AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE CONTACT HAD NO INFORMATION AS TO THE SPEED OF TRAVEL AND WOULD NOT OFFER A GUESS. THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN BUT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE, BROKEN RIGHT EYE SOCKET AND MULTIPLE LESIONS FROM THE SEAT BELT STRAP. THE CONTACT WALKED 1/4 MILE FROM THE ACCIDENT TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, THEN WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD. THERE WERE PHOTOS AVAILABLE. UPDATED 1/17/2007 - INSURANCE COMPANY HAS COMPUTER LOG OF ACCIDENT WHICH WAS TAKEN AROUND AUGUST 20, 2006. *NM

WE PURCHASED THIS CAR (AS IS) FOR OUR GRANDSON. ON OUR WAY HOME FROM THE DEALER, AS SOON AS THE TRANSMISSION WARMED UP (4-5 MILES), THE SHIFTING WAS HARD AND JERKING WITH A WHINE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. TOOK THE CAR TO A GARAGE WHICH FOUND THE COMPUTER CODE OF P1811 AND WERE TOLD A COMPLETE REBUILD WOULD BE NECESSARY. WENT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED MANY OTHERS HAD COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE. WOULD HOPE GM WOULD COME FORWARD WITH REIMBURSEMENT SINCE ITS TRANSMISSION IN THIS MODEL WAS INCORRECTLY DESIGNED. THE REBUILDING GARAGE OWNER EVEN HAD TO GO TO A SPECIAL SCHOOL TO LEARN HOW TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IN THE BUICK CENTURY. AFTER PAYING $1,757.25 TO QUEENS TRANSMISSION, INC., IN BRADENTON, FL (941-746-7480), THE SHIFTING IS NOW NORMAL.

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPAIRED. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM, SWAY BAR SHAFT AND ALL OF THE BUSHINGS ATTACHED TO THE PARTS WERE COVERED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE HE DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,787. UPDATED 10/21/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/25/10*JB

FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE OFF ON THE LEFT SIDE AND CRACKED THROUGH ON THE RIGHT SIDE. APPEARS TO BE METAL FATIGUE FROM THE FORMING OPERATION. *JB

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED A YEAR AGO, AND THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED JUST BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVER IT'S A VERY COMMON, ALMOST UNIVERSAL PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES THAT COSTS ALMOST $800 TO REPAIR. GM HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT.... YES, I SAID DEFECT. *TR

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

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 95000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WEBBING DID NOT PULL FROM THE RETRACTOR. WHEN SHE TRIED TO USE HER SEAT BELT THE WEBBING WOULD NOT PULL OUT FROM THE RETRACTOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND FOUND THAT THE RETRACTOR FAILED, AND THE DEALER REPAIRED IT. *AK UPDATED 03/07/07. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON OCTOBER 5, 2005, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE. AT FIRST, THE DEALER SAID THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE ALRIGHT. THEN, HE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE CONTACT, AND THE SEAT BELTS WORKED ON/OFF. AFTERWARDS, HE THOUGHT THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT SUPPOSE TO LOCK WHEN BEING HIT FROM THE REAR. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD TURN VEHICLE OVER TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK UPDATED 11/29/05.*JB

RACK AND PINIONS NEED REPLACED AFTER I HAD NEW TIE RODS REPLACED. *TR

CAR HEATER WOULD NOT WARM UP. TEMPERATURE WOULD THEN FLUXUATE BETWEEN HOT AND COLD. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. COOLANT MIXED IN WITH OIL IN THE ENGINE. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT REQUIRED TO KEEP CAR OVERNIGHT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NEEDED A RENTAL CAR AND NO LOANER WAS AVAILABLE. GM AGREED TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPAIR 50/50, BUT WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF A RENTAL CAR. EFFECT OF THIS GASKET FAILURE AT THIS TIME IS UNKNOWN AND EFFECT TO ENGINE AND COMPONENTS. CAR HAS 68,500 MILES. ORIGINAL OWNER OFF CAR HAS KEPT UP WITH ALL SCHEDULEED MAINTENANCE. *NM

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE FUEL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,897. UPDATED 4/11/2011 *CN UPDATED 04/25/11

TRUNK DOOR ASSIST ARMS FAILED. TRUNK CAME CRASHING ON MY BACK AND HIT ME, CAUSING BLACK AND BLUE MARKS/TRIP TO EMERGENCY DOCTOR. UNKNOWN (AT THE MOMENT) IF THEY WILL PAY FEE. BUICK AGREED TO PROVIDE PART AT NO CHARGE, CUSTOMER I TO PAY FOR INSTALLATION . *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