Wrench.Pro

2001 Buick Century Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2001 Buick Century has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Cruise control acceleration without driver input.” Buick uses the GM Oil Life System: an algorithm tracks engine revolutions and temperature, then lights the change-oil message — typically every 7,500 miles in mixed driving, capped at 12 months, using dexos-approved oil. Current Encore GX and Envista run 1.2/1.3L turbo three-cylinders where oil quality matters more than volume drivers expect (the sump is small and turbo-heated). Front-drive models pair to a CVT with a published fluid interval — it is not a lifetime part.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2001 Buick Century.

Reported to NHTSA

Cruise control acceleration without driver input

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

17 NHTSA complaints · 2002-07 → 2024-12

“TURNED ON SPEED CONTROL WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, PRESSED SET BUTTON TO SET THE SPEED. THE CRUISE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10765156
“WHILE DRIVING WITH THE SPEED CONTROL TURNED ON BUT NOT ENGAGED THE SPEED CONTROL WILL ENGAGE AND THE ENGINE WILL RACE UNTIL BRAKE IS TAPPED OR SPEED CONTROL SWITCH TURNED OFF”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10693162
“AFTER SETTING CRUISE CONTROL IT WILL TAKE OFF AND ACCELERATE UNTIL YOU MANUALLY SHUT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH OFF”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10426575

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Intake manifold gasket coolant leak

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

14 NHTSA complaints · 2004-06 → 2017-06

“THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE OIL LEVEL AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ANTI FREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10595213
“TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. COOLANT MIXED IN WITH OIL IN THE ENGINE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10172408
“MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A SMALL LEAK WHICH IS CAUSING CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10166358

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake line corrosion and brake fluid loss

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

7 NHTSA complaints · 2005-03 → 2014-07

“BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY MY BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10489152
“WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND BRAKE FLUID WAS CAME OUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10193348
“UPON INSPECTION, THE METAL BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS UNIT, RUNNING ACROSS THE FIREWALL TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10331824

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission slipping, hard shifting and internal failure

POWER TRAIN

12 NHTSA complaints · 2004-07 → 2015-05

“THE BEARING BETWEEN THE SUN GEAR FAILED, AND CAUSED SUN GEARS TO STRIP, CREATING METAL CONTAMINATION THROUGH OUT THE TRANSMISSION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10083710
“TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. HARD SHIFTS IN ALL GEARS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10105628
“THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10568272

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Vehicle rolling backward on an incline in drive

POWER TRAIN

5 NHTSA complaints · 2001-04 → 2002-07

“WHEN VEHICLE IS ON A HILL IN DRIVE GEAR, VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS, UNLESS BRAKE IS APPLIED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8014205
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8006555
“WHEN VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE IT WILL ROLL BACKWARD WHEN BRAKES ARE RELEASED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #887141

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power window regulator and motor failure

VISIBILITY

4 NHTSA complaints · 2005-10 → 2008-04

“THE REGULATORS ON THE WINDOWS MOTORS BROKE, ALLOWING THE WINDOWS TO DROP FREELY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10208514
“THE SYSTEM WORKS FINE UNTIL A SMALL PLASTIC PART THAT HOLDS THE OPERATING CABLES TOGETHER BREAKS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10154914
“DRIVERS WINDOW FELL DOWN, REAR PASSENGER FELL DOWN, NOW THE REAR DRIVERS WINDOW FELL DOWN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10225549

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tire sidewall and tread separation

TIRES

5 NHTSA complaints · 2001-08 → 2004-09

“I NOTICED THE SIDWALL SEPERATING FROM THE TREAD ON THE INSIDE OF MY TIRE WHILE I WAS WASHING MY CAR AND TOOK IT TO A TIRE DEALER WHO REPLACED MY TIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #767731
“LATER, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10090095
“THE TIRE EXPERIENCED A FLAT, CONSUMER NOTICED THE TIRE HAD SPLIT FROM THE INSIDE OUT WHICH WAS NOT NORMAL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10011510

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Frontal air bags not deploying in crashes

AIR BAGS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2001-02 → 2013-09

“FRONT CRASH AT 35-40 MPH , HIT A TREE, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #879930
“UPON IMPACT,NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10061603
“BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THIS INCIDENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8001142

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change when the Oil Life System calls it — typically around 7,500 miles, never beyond 12 months. dexos1 0W-20 on modern engines. Small-displacement turbos (Encore GX, Envista): don't stretch the indicator.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles with the oil change — GM pairs the two in its schedule.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and lines at every service. Older Centurys: check rear drum adjustment and parking-brake cables, which seize with age.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

CVT Fluid (Encore GX / Envista FWD)

Every 45,000 mi

FWD Encore GX and Envista use a CVT: GM schedules fluid replacement around 45,000 miles under severe service — which includes most city commuting. AWD Encore GX uses a 9-speed automatic instead (see transmission fluid).

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Conventional automatics (Century's 4T65-E, Regal's Aisin, AWD Encore GX's 9-speed): GM lists 45,000 miles severe / longer normal. Older Buicks respond well to a simple drain-and-fill — avoid pressure flushes on high-mile units.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Small-turbo three-cylinders (Encore GX, Envista): roughly every 60,000 miles — check the manual. Older 3.1/3.8 V6s: iridium plugs last to 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM schedules replacement around 45,000 miles; inspect at every oil change in dusty regions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles; replace on cracking or glazing rather than mileage alone.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace roughly every 22,500 miles per GM's schedule — behind the glovebox on modern Buicks.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (Dex-Cool)

Every 150,000 mi

Dex-Cool is rated 5 years / 150,000 miles. On older 3.1/3.8 V6s, intake-gasket seepage was the classic failure — check coolant level and condition at every oil change on a Century.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Stop-start-equipped Encore GX/Envista use AGM batteries — replace like-for-like, not with a cheaper flooded battery.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

310 crashes 1990–2024

How the 310 occupant deaths break down

218

driver deaths

92

passenger deaths

310

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2000 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

9

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2001 Buick Century reflects Buick's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →