Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Buick Century, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling27
- Service brakes, hydraulic22
- Power train21
- Vehicle speed control19
- Electrical system17
- Visibility15
- Steering11
- Tires8
- Structure8
- Air bags5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 26 2001 Century vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 19 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Buick Century failed the safety check 2.98% of the time — 49% more often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 87,793 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 11.2 L/100 km (about 21 mpg US), CO₂ 258 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Century · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.0 | 9.0 | 11.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH SUNVISOR LOCATED AIR BAG LABELS, FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A MESSAGE AREA LESS THAN 30 CM WHICH DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE DRIVER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG INFLATOR SEPARATES FROM THE AIR BAG MODULE DURING DEPLOYMENT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Buick told its dealers about the 2001 Buick Century: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637385 | SOME VEHICLES HAVE EXHIBIT THE TILT STEERING COLUMN LOCKING. *TT |
| 636650 | SUBJECT REGARDING CARPET PULLING OUT FROM UNDER FROM THE REAR DOOR SILL PLATE, LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE. *TT |
| 636636 | SUBJECT REGARDING POOR RADIO RECEPTION WITH OR WITHOUT REAR DEFOGGER OPERATION, NORMALLY WITH THE RADIO TUNED TO AM AND UNDER 800 KILOHERTZ. *TT |
| 636626 | SIR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES B0041 WHICH A LEFT FRONT DRIVERS SEAT OPEN DEPLOYMENT LOOP OR B1001 OPTION CONFIGUARTION ERROR. *TT |
| 636558 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE THE PRINDLE DISPLAY IS NOT LEGIBLE WHEN MOVING FORM A DARK AREA TO A LIGHTED AREA, WHEN THEVHECLE IS STARTED INSIDE A GARAGE, THE HEADLAMPS ARE TURNED ON AUTOMATICALLY AND THEN THE VEHICLE IS BACKED INTO THE SUNLIGHT. *TT |
| 636475 | INFORMATION ON REFINISHING ALUMINUM WHEELS. *TT |
| 636448 | VEHICLES WITH THE CJ2 AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONING AND WITHOUT THE U20 CLUSTER WHICH IS THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER AND THE CJ2 AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONER DISPLAYS THE CELSIUS AND NOT FAHRENHEIT. *TT |
| 635008 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED AND THAT WHILE THE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ARE EXTREMELY HARSH. *TT |
| 635006 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING 4T65-E TRANSAXLE SPACER PLATE AND GASKETS FOR VARIOUS MODELS FROM 1997 THROUGH 2002. *TT |
| 634997 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING 4T65E TRANSAXLE SPACER PLATE AND GASKETS. *TT |
| 634985 | CONCERNS WITH SLIPS, HARSH UPSHIFT OR GARAGE SHIFTS, LAUNCH SHUDDERS, FLARES, ERRATIC SHIFTS AND INTERMITTENT CONCERNS, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1811 OR P0748 SET. *TT |
| 634931 | SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0716 AND / OR P0717, P0730, P0753, P0758, P1860, P1887 OR OTHER MISCELLANEOUS TRANSMISSION TROUBLE CODES SET. *TT |
| 634927 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON TILT STEERING COLUMN STICKING IN PSOTION AND UNABLE TO RELEASE. *TT |
| 634917 | CONCERNS WITH TILT SETTERING COLUMN STICKING IN POSITION AND UNABLE TO RELEASE. *TT |
| 634911 | THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON TWO DIFFERENT CONDITIONS WITH THE TILT STEERING COLUMN STICKING THE EXTREME UP POSITION AND / OR STICKING IN THE NO.4 POSITION. *TT |
| 634813 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A REPEAT ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. *TT |
| 634708 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 634305 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT OF A WIND RUSH NOISE COMING FROM ONE OR BOTH OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS. *TT |
| 632322 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE ELIMINATION OF THE SERVICE BAY TEST PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 631274 | SUBJECT REGARDING VARIOUS DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES SEAT, ENGINE WILL NOT START. *SLC |
| 631267 | INCORRECT TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, POOR PERFORMANCE OF ENGINE, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, SES LAMP ILLUMINATED, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0756 AND P0757. *SLC UPDATE. *TT |
| 631232 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON THE TIME IT TAKES THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR GLASS TO DEFOG. *SLC |
| 629556 | SUBJECT REGARDING FALSE TIRE INFLATION MONITOR SYSTEM (TIM) MESSAGE/LAMO ILLUMINATION (INSTALL NEW ELECTRONIC BRAKE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE- EBTCM).*JG |
| 629447 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON AN EXHAUST SYSTEM PING/CRACKLE/SNAP TYPE NOISE THAT IS AUDIBLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. *TT |
| 629418 | CONCERNS WITH RATTLE TYPE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)