RoadVitals

2001 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.
16
Latest Aug 17, 2007
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 automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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 transmission

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

BrakesTransmissionVisibility
Filed Aug 17, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10199885
Incident
Jul 14, 2007
Transmission
Filed May 17, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10191036
Incident
Apr 23, 2007
Mileage
99,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 1, 2006

2001 BUICK CENTURY WITH 25,000 MILES, NEEDED TO HAVE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. SOME SLIPPAGE A WEEK BEFORE, THEN TWO STOP SIGNS, SLIPPAGE, THEN HORRIBLE GRINDING. WHEN MECHANIC TORE DOWN TRANSMISSION, SHARDS OF METAL WERE FOUND. WORD FROM THE SHOP WAS THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS MODEL AT 25,000 MILES, USUALLY SEE THIS MODEL AROUND 40,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10174950
Incident
Nov 13, 2006
Mileage
25,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 27, 2006

2001 CENTURY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TS WHILE COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10161573
Incident
May 16, 2006
Mileage
73,108 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 3, 2005

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. HARD SHIFTS IN ALL GEARS. TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REBUILT AT DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER 2002 AFTER IT HAD TOTALLY WENT OUT AT 46000 MILE AND GOING OUT AGAIN AT 83000. *AK

NHTSA ID
10105628
Incident
Dec 30, 2004
Mileage
83,000 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
Transmission
Filed Jul 29, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THEN, STARTED SHAKING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BEARING BETWEEN THE SUN GEAR FAILED, AND CAUSED SUN GEARS TO STRIP, CREATING METAL CONTAMINATION THROUGH OUT THE TRANSMISSION. THE SUN GEAR ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION WERE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10083710
Incident
Jul 19, 2004
Mileage
29,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 6, 2004

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10081372
Incident
Jun 11, 2004
Mileage
25,000 mi
BrakesSteeringTires & wheels+1 more
Filed Jan 8, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10001497
Incident
May 29, 2002
Mileage
28,997 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 18, 2002

WHEN VEHICLE IS ON A HILL IN DRIVE GEAR, VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS, UNLESS BRAKE IS APPLIED.*SCC

NHTSA ID
8014205
Incident
Nov 27, 2001
BrakesEngineSteering+3 more
Filed May 28, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
8010535
Incident
May 28, 2002
Transmission
Filed Apr 25, 2002

I WAS PARKED ON A HILL FACING FORWARD OR UP HILL WHEN I TOOK OFF THE PARKING BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE IT WENT SLIDING FAST DOWN THE HILL...LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I REPORTED THIS TO BROWNS BUICK AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. A FEATURE TO SAVE GAS. I CALLED ANOTHER BUICK DEALER IN ALEXANDRIA VA. AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL AND IT WAS A FEATURE THAT EPA REQUIRED AMD SOMETHING TO DO WITH FUEL ECONOMY. I TOLD THEM I DID NOT HAVE AMANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THOUGHT THIS WAS A SEVERE PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BACK ...MAYBE A LITTLE I COULD DEAL WITH BUT NOT JUST ROLL BACK SO FAST AND THAT I HAD TO BRAKE TO STOP I WASN'T IN NEUTRAL AND I DO NOT HAVE A CLUTCH. I BOUTH A AUTOMATIC FOR A RESON AND WANTED A BETTER ANSWER. I CALLED BUICK HEADQUATERS AND THEY CALLED THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO TAKE IT IN ON APR. 25 AT 1:30 P.M. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL AFTER HE DROVE THE CAR AND LET IT ROLL ON A HHILL. HE SAID I HAD TO PUT ON THE GAS RIGHT AWAY. I MENTIONED I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A REAL PROBLEM FOR SAFETY REASONS AND I WAS NEVERE TOLD THAT THE CAR WOULD DO THIS AND THAT IT DOES NOT SAY THAT IN THE MANUAL. HE WAS TELLING ME THAT IT WAS APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL SAFETY TRANSPORTATION PEOPLE AND IT HAD TO DO WITH FUEL ECONOMY. I TOLD HIM I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IF I HAD KNOWN THIS AND I BOUGHT A V-6 WHICH IS NOT THE BEST WITH FUEL ECONOMY AND THAT THAT WAS NOT AN ISSUE TO ME. I CALLED BUICK HEADQUATERS AGAIN WHEN I CAME HOME AT 7 P.M. THE PERSON I SPOKE TO MR.RICHARD PERES SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND A SAFETY FEATURE. NOW I HAVE SAFETY, EPA AND FUEL ECONOMY AS REASONS FOR MY CAR ROLLING BACK WHILE IN DRIVE.!!! I WAS ALSO TOLD ALL GM CARS MADE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS DO THIS. IS THIS TRUE? I THINK IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM IF PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AROUND AND NOT ALWAYS ON HILLS AND COME TO FIND OUT OUT OF THE BLUE THAT YOUR CAR WILL NOT GO FORWARD WHILE IN DRIVE...UNLESS YOU IMMEDIATELY HIT THE GAS.I WOULD

NHTSA ID
761209
Incident
Apr 20, 2002
Transmission
Filed Mar 28, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHEN ENGINE IS ON AND ON AN INCLINE IN DRIVE, CONSUMER HAS TO KEEP FOOT ON BRAKE OR VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKARDS. WHEN COMING UP TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN VEHICLE ROLLS BACK UNTIL YOU PRESS BRAKE, AND WHEN VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE IT WILL GO FORWARD, DEALER STATED THIS WAS NORMAL. *NLM *YD

NHTSA ID
8006555
Incident
Mar 11, 2002
Transmission
Filed Feb 17, 2002

ENGINE STARTS - BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT DEPRESS, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR MOVES ON PRNDL INDICATOR BUT TRANSMISSION DOES NOT APPEAR TO ENGAGE - CAUSE - IMPROPERLY SEALED. JAN 04 2002 - WITH MILAGE OF 7199 - TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO LOCK P AFTER PUTTING IN PARKS THEN TRYING TO TAKE OFF PARK AGAIN - CAUSE : SHIFT LEVER CLEARANCE TOO TIGHT. REPLACED PART #26056013 WHICK TOOK 2 WEEKS TO REPLACE. THIS WAS 2 PROBLEMS ON A NEW CAR BOTH INVOLVING THE TRANSMISSION WHICH SEEMS VERY UNUSUAL. *AK

NHTSA ID
758352
Incident
Jun 27, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jan 3, 2002

VEHICLE CANNOT BE PARKED ON A INCLINE IN A NOSE DOWN POSITION DUE TO THE FACT THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE CAN NOT HOLD WEIGHT OF VEHICLE, ONCE THE CAR STARTED AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS REMOVED,CONSUMERS FOOT HAD TO BE APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL, AND ONE TO BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO KEEP CAR FROM MOVING, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT WAS NORMAL, TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE PROBLEM OCCURRED, RESULTING IN A THOUSAND DOLLARS DAMAGE DONE TO VEHICLE. *AK *YD

NHTSA ID
8001488
Incident
Nov 9, 2001
Transmission
Filed Apr 30, 2001

WHEN VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE IT WILL ROLL BACKWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE RELEASED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
887141

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .