Buick Century Complaints (2001)

145 consumer complaints on file.

#10146407December 14, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142345November 9, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE GAUGE READ HOT ON MY 2001 BUICK CENTURY AT THE BEGINNING OF A 200 MILE TRIP. I TOOK THE NEXT EXIT, FOUND A STATION WITH A MECHANIC AND ASKED TO HAVE HIM CHECK THE WATER LEVEL IN THE RADIATOR. HE SAID THE BUICK CENTURY HAS A HISTORY OF THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND ADVISED THAT I WATCH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER UPON MY RETURN HOME. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, MY SON INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS WIFE'S 1999 BUICK CENTURY, ADDED A SEALANT TO THE RADIATOR AND IT SEEMED FINE. WHEN I GOT HOME AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RADIATOR CHECKED, THE SERVICE MANAGER IMMEDIATELY INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY NOT THE RADIATOR AND THAT THE UPPER PORTION OF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO THE TUNE OF APPROXIMATELY $700. SIX HOURS LATER HE CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE INTAKE GASKET AND THE REPAIRS WERE ONLY $648.52. PARTS REPLACED INCLUDED: GASKET KIT, GASKET, SEALER-THE(?), SEAL, SEAL, COOLANT, ADHESIVE, SEAL, ENG., THERMOSTAT (?), GASKET (191.84) LABOR: 428.75. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY SON TONIGHT TO ADVISE ME THAT HIS '99 CENTURY WAS "STEAMING" AND WAS TOLD BY HIS MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. REPAIRS APPROXIMATELY $800. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139267October 11, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10138825September 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132117September 23, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DT: CONSUMER OWNED 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 YEARS. THE ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN GO BACK OFF. HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO SEE WHAT PROBLEM WAS. THE LAST TIME THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WAS ON AUGUST 1, 2005, THIS TIME THE LIGHT STAYED ON. ALSO, ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ABS LIGHT. IN ADDITION, TRACK LIGHT CAME ON. ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WAS THAT WHEN TIRES WERE SERVICED THE LOW TIRE LIGHT CAME ON . THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE WHEEL WAS REMOVED FROM VEHICLE. ANOTHER PROBLEM CONCERNED THE POWER WINDOW. CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE PASSENGER'S REAR WINDOW WAS FALLING DOWN BY ITSELF, THE DEALER SAID THAT THE REGULATOR BROKE. CONSUMER DID NOT WANT POWER WINDOWS. HE WANTED ROLL UP WINDOWS WHICH WERE TROUBLE FREE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137769September 22, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2001 BUICK CENTURY DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE BRAKE, TRAC AND ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED SOME FUSES, THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SHORT IN THE ABS, HOWEVER 3 WEEKS LATER THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132592August 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132375August 2, 2005
STRUCTURE
2001 BUICK CENTURY PANEL OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS WARPED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM COULD BE CORRECTED USING A CLIP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130512July 28, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131272July 22, 2005
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
2001 BUICK CENTURY DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELT CONSTRICTING THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE SEAT BELT CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN AND THE CONSUEMR'S DAUGHTTER TRIED TO PULL IT. THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT TO FREE THE CHILD FROM THE SEAT BELT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128942July 15, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DT:THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY CUSTOM. AT 60,000 MILES THE POWER STEERING OR THE RACK AND PINION WENT OUT. AT TIME OF INCIDENT THEY WERE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED IN A PARKING LOT, LUCKILY. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE LEFT SIDE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118868May 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
THE TEFLON SCRAPED OFF, ALONG WITH STUMBLING AND HESITATION. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. UPON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE FRONT SCREEN. THE NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER REMOVED ALL OF THE STUMBLING AND HESITATION. THE OLD CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOWED EVIDENCE OF ANTIFREEZE AND WAS DEFECTIVE AT TIME OF THE NEW ENGINE REPLACEMENT UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE DEBRIS AND OBVIOUS HEAD GASKET LEAK CONTRIBUTED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD PAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THEIR POORLY DIAGNOSED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, PLACE IN USED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. GENERAL MOTORS WOULD NOT GIVE A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR THE NEW ENGINE. *AK THE CHASSIS MILEAGE WAS 94K MILES. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120091May 6, 2005
SUSPENSION
DT: CONTACT WENT TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES AND TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT NEW OUTER TIE RODS WERE NEEDED. VEHICLE IS REGULARLY SERVICED. SERVICE RECORDS AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117965April 16, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BECAUSE OF THE COST TO HAVE A MECHANIC HOOK UP THE OBDII MONITOR I DIDN'T TAKE THE VEHICLE IN RIGHT AWAY, HOPING IT WAS SIMPLY DUE TO A DIRTY SENSOR OR LOOSE GAS CAP (WHICH HAS BEEN THE ROOT CAUSE BEFORE IN OTHER VEHICLES). SHORTLY AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INCIDENT THE TEMP GAGE AND HEATER STARTED ACTING FUNNY. STARTING IN THE MORNING THE HEATER ONLY PROVIDED LUKEWARM AIR AT BEST. THEN THE TEMP GAUGE WOULD SPIKE REALLY FAST AND THE COOLANT ALARM WOULD COME ON. THEN RIGHT AWAY THE GAGE WOULD NORMALIZE AND THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEMS THE REST OF THE TRIP. THE TEMP GAGE WOULD BE IN THE NORMAL RANGE. THE PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES THEN APPEARED TO GO AWAY. YESTERDAY THE PROBLEM RE-SURFACED EXCEPT THE TEMP GAUGE DIDN'T NORMALIZE AND THERE WAS A SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER CALLING AROUND TO MECHANICS IT SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE THE INTAKE GASKET. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THESE PROBLEMS I'VE BEEN CHECKING THE COOLANT. I OWN OTHER GM VEHICLES SO I'M FAMILIAR WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURES. IN FACT, I HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ON OUR BLAZER ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO. THIS BUICK ONLY HAS ABOUT 40K MILES ON IT. I THOUGHT BUICK WAS GM'S "QUALITY" DIVISION????*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116662April 9, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE 2001 BUICK CENTURY WAS NOT SHIFTING WELL AND RAN OUT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. WHEN THE RESERVOIR FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS REFILLED THE FLUID RAN OUT QUICKLY AND I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE LOCAL DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THEY TOLD ME ALL THE FLUIDS WERE MIXING AND THAT IF IT WAS NOT FIXED THE ANTIFREZE AND WATER WOULD HAVE LEAKED INTO THE OIL AND BLEW THE MOTOR BECAUSE THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFORLD GASKET WAS BAD. THE BILL FROM THE DEALER ACCOUNTS FOR LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID LINES AND THE LI MANIFOLD GASKET. THESE WERE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS AND THE REASON I DECIDED TO REPORT THEM WAS THAT MY SON AND DAUGHTER-INLAW BOTH HAVE NEW GM VEHICLES AND HAVE REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS ON ONE OF THEM 2 TIMES AND THE OTHER 1 TIME FOR A TOTAL OF 4 INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS FOR OUT FAMILY. THEY HAVE A 2001 AND A 2002 ALERO. NOW MY DAUGHTER IS ALSO DESCRIBING WHAT MAY BE THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114408March 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY WENT TO STOP FOR 8TH OR 9TH TIME THAT MORNING AND BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED ME TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THERE IS ABOUT A 6" SECTION OF BRAKE LINE THAT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. SAME PLACE ON BOTH SIDES AT A BEND. REST OF THE LINES ARE PEFECTLY FINE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CARR THAT IS ONLY 3 EARS OLD AND HAS 9000 MILES ON IT. THE DEFECTIVE PART OF THE LINE IS NOT IN A PLACE WHERE IT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO ANY CAUSE OTHER THAN DEFECTIVE MATERIAL.(IE: NO RUBBING, NO SITTING IN DIRT OR SALT, CAN'T BE HIT BY FLYING DEBRIS, ETC)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113760March 2, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THE OUTER TIE RODS OF THE CONSUMER'S 2001 BUICK CENTURY WERE VERY LOOSE. *NM THERE WERE NO GREASE COUPLINGS FOR THE TIE RODS. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108609February 18, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE LOW COOLANT SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY STATES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD MALFUNCTIONED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105628January 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105524December 29, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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