172 of the
2,393 complaints filed about the Buick Century
are about the transmission —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
172
Complaints
7%
Share of all complaints
7
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND GAS LIGHT CAME ON. CODE READ AT AUTOZONE INDICATED PO135- OXYGEN SENSOR. TWO DAYS LATER, BOTH CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON, SECURITY, BATTERY AND GAS LIGHTS. EVEN REVVED UP AND HAD OTHER ISSUES WITH FUEL ECONOMY AND COMPRESSOR KICKING ON AND FAILING TO START. OTHER ISSUES, POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED A LOYALYTY CERTIFICATE A LEASED VEHUCLE OR A POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT OF 500.00 FOR REPAIRS. NEITHER OF THE REMEDIES SATISFIED THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT NO COST OR BE REIMBURSED 3,500.
NHTSA complaint #11405509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DEFECTIVE ODOMETER READINGS, GEAR INDICATORS DISAPPEARED. THE ODOMETER READING DISAPPEARED, AND THE GEAR INDICATOR DISAPPEARED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I HAVE NO WAY TO READ MY ODOMETER, NOR DO I KNOW WHAT GEAR I AM IN, PRND21. NOW I CAN ACCIDENTLY BE IN REVERSE AND NOT EVEN KNOW IT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. MECHANIC CHARGES $100.00 TO FIX, AND ALSO STATES THEY CAN INSERT ANY ODOMETER READING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE. THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL. I NO LONGER HAVE A VALID ODOMETER READING FOR MY YEARLY INSPECTIONS, OR IF I WERE TO SELL MY VEHICLE. I COULD DRIVE IN 1ST GEAR AND BURN UP MY TRANSMISSION AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR BE RUN OVER FOR DEAD STOPPED ON ROADS. MY INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS NOT HAD AN ACCURATE FUEL GUAGE READING IN YEARS, IT COMES AND GOES. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT GAS USAGE BY MILEAGE, NOW THAT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE. I MUST FILL UP WEEKLY JUST SO I KNOW I WONT RUN OUT OF GAS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. THIS IS JUST NOT RIGHT. I EXTREMELY UPSET ABOUT THIS AND DONT KNOW HOW TO GET IT FIXED PROPERLY AND COVERED FROM THE DEALERSHIPS. YOU SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON YOUR ODOMETER READING AND KNOWING WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN. PLEASE ADVISE AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU CONCERNING THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11084851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS VERY HARSH SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS AND ALSO BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. SEEMS TO HAPPEN AFTER WARMED UP AND ON HIGHWAY FOR AWHILE.
NHTSA complaint #10725142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10717021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE PARK, REVERSE, DRIVE HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR YEARS MY 84 YEAR OLD UNCLE NEVER NEW WHAT GEAR HE WAS IN AND HE GAVE ME THE CAR IN 09 AND WE CALL ON IT AND THEY TOLD US THEIR WAS NO RECALL AND 9 MONTH AGO IT FINALLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY WE HAVE TO COUNT SO WE KNOW WHAT GEAR WE ARE IN AND YOU CAN'T SEE THE MILEAGE I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE OLDER PEOPLE.
NHTSA complaint #10651656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10649824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ODOMETER CLUSTER LIGHTS GO OUT AND SOMETIMES COME BACK ON FOR A FEW MINUTES AND BACK OFF WHILE DRIVING. THEREFORE YOU CAN NOT SEE MILEAGE AND THE SHIFTING OF GEARS. THE DEALER RECOMMENDS SENDING IT BACK TO THE FACTORY FOR 2 WEEKS WHILE THEY REPAIR IT AT A COST OF $ 2000.00 OR DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT REPAIRING.
NHTSA complaint #10640858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK CENTURY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND JERK VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING A TURN OR APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER MORE THAN FIVE TIMES AND THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURES PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09E005000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
NHTSA complaint #10616986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2000 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED AND THE TRANSMISSION HARSH SHIFT 1234, WHEN HOT AND SOMETIMES COLD, I KNOW THAT IT NEEDS A NEW 1234 UP SHIFT SOLENOID AND TO BE INSPECTED FOR FAILED PARTS ETC, ALSO THE ODOMETER,FUEL GAUGE,AND WINDOW REGULATORS/MOTORS HAVE FAILED, THE ODOMETER IS OUT AND FUEL GAUGE FLOATS AND WINDOWS HAVE FAILED DUE TO BAD DESIGN OF MOTORS/REGULATORS AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND EACH 4T65- E TRANS AND MANY BUICK TRANS LIKE THE ONE ABOVE HAS HARSH SHIFT AND COULD CAUSE DAMAGE AND CAUSE TRANS TO FAIL. AND THE PROBLEMS ABOVE WILL BE FOUND IN MANY BUICK CENTURY AND GM SHOULD FIX THE ISSUES ABOVE FOR FREE IT IS A DANGER FOR THE TRANS TO FAIL AND ODOMETER/GEAR SHIFT SELECT TO FAIL BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR THEY ARE IN, AND THE TRANS COULD LOCK AND CAUSE A WRECK OR A HUGE INJURY OR WORST. AND THE TRANS 1234 UP SHIFT PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID NOT KEEPING THE RIGHT PRESSURE COULD DAMAGE THE TRANS, AND EVEN IF THE TRANS IS BOUGHT USED IT STILL HAS THIS PROBLEM AND IS THE SAME 4T65-E TRANS AND GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS FOR FREE THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS AND ISSUE WITH THE 2000 BUICK CENTURY,REGALS ETC WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANS. AND SHOULD BE FIXED RIGHT AWAY BEFORE IT BECOMES A COSTLY REPAIR OR WRECK! AND THE TRANS SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR ANY OTHER FAILURES. FOR FREE.
NHTSA complaint #10599011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTING JERKING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
NHTSA complaint #10568272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS THE 3RD OWNER OF A 1999 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED I DID A THOROUGH SEARCH OF CARS HISTORY AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS UNTIL TODAY 8 9 2013 WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR RADIATOR HOSE CHANGE COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH AND OIL CHANGE WHICH LATER WAS TOLD ALLTHEY COULD DO WAS THE TRANNY FLUSH BECAUSE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK WHICH IM HEARING IS A HUGE 3.1 GM ENGINE PROBLEM. UPPON CALLING THE FORMER OWNER SHE INFORMED ME THAT AT 50,000 IT WAS REPLACED AND AGAIN AT 108,765 MILES. IT NOW HAS 137549 MILES AND IY HAS AGAIN TAKEN A DUMP I HEAR A COOLANT TYPE CONVERSION CAN HELP MY $700.00 PROBLEM. IM OUTRAGED THAT A CAR IN THIS GOOD OF CARE IS A BIG DISASTER. RECALL IS NEEDED & I SHOULDA KEPT MY 92 CENTURY WITH THE 3.3 V6 IT HAD 374,988 MILES AT TRADE IN & STILL RAN AWESOME:{ IM SO UNHAPPY WITH THIS CAR I AM READY TO FIX IT AND TRADE IT OFF FOR A FORD LOL.
NHTSA complaint #10534572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE BOUGHT ARE CENTURY LIKE 3 MONTHS AGO WITH 109K ON IT WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING HARD WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP OR RESTARTED GM CURRENT KNOWS ABOUT JUST FEELING IT NOT THERE PROBLEM WELL IT IS A COSTLY ONE TO CAR OWNS AS I READ ON THE INTERNET OVER 50 THOUSAND COMPLAINTS FOR THIS ISSUE I FEEL GM HAS TO RECALL THIS ISSUE ITS THERE MISTAKE NOT MINE ARE CENTURY OTHER WISE IS A FINE CAR BUT DASH IS OUT FOR ODO AND THAT GM CUTTING CORNERS AS WELL ITS POOR PENMENSHIP ON THEIR BEHALF AS CAR MAKERS AND WE LOVE THEM BUT WE NEED THEM TO DO MORE AND BE LIKE THE OLD GM GOOD AND HONEST THANKS HOPE TO GET RESOLVED SOON AS I MIGHT ADD IT DOES WHEN IT NORMAL TEMP AND WHEN A RESTART HAPPENS SHIFT REALLY HARD 2ND AND 3 RD GEAR NOT NORMAL I GOT A COST OF $890.00 TO FIX 6,3 HOURS OF LABORS TO FIX TC AND OTHER SENSOR IN TRANSMISSION ON CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10520902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD BECOME HOT, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JUMP BETWEEN GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED OR WHEN IN ANY GEAR. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT OFF AND ALLOW THE ENGINE TO COOL OFF IN ORDER TO TEMPORARILY REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SOLENOID PRESSURE VALVE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10513393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. THE CONTACT TURNED POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 06/17/13
NHTSA complaint #10510816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2000 BUICK CENTURY HAS A HARD SHIFT CONDITION THAT WAS DIAGNOSED AT 2 DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION SHOPS AS A PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID FAILURE THAT IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS CAR. ONE OF THE SHOPS SAID THE PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR EVEN WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE PART UNLESS A SHIFT KIT IS INSTALLED.AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON LINE IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT THE SHOPS ARE CORRECT IN THEIR DIAGNOSIS. WHY HAS THIS ISSUE NOT BEEN A RECALL!
NHTSA complaint #10504322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE EXHIBITED HARD TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AND JERKING WHILE SHIFTING IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED WITH CODE P1811, WHICH INDICATES HIGH TRANSMISSION FLUID PRESSURE AND SOLENOID PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10460060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK CENTURY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT HARD AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,102....UPDATED 07/06/12 *BF UPDATED 08/06/12
NHTSA complaint #10458056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VERY HARD TRANSMISSION SHIFTING RETURNING FROM A LONG-DISTANCE TRIP / "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC REPORTS DTC P1811 ERROR CODE AS WELL AS OTHER ERROR CODES. MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH TCC SOLENOID AND PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID TO RESOLVE SHIFTING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10430030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ELECTRONIC ODOMETER AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DISPLAY HAS GONE COMPLETELY DARK. WITH INDICATOR DARK, THE FOLLOWING ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE ON THE VEHICLE. A) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INDICATOR - FOR VEHICLES WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN (LIKE MINE), OTHER THAN COUNTING THE NUMBER OF CLICKS OF THE TRANSMISSION LEVER UP OR DOWN, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR HAS NO IDEA IF THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, NEUTRAL OR REVERSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE OPERATOR MAY INADVERTENTLY LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL OR IN GEAR AND NOT KNOW IT AND LEAVE THE VEHICLE UNATTENDED. B) VEHICLE MILEAGE -- THERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE HOW MANY MILES THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTANCES ON THE INTERNET DESCRIBING THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10427984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.