2001 Buick Century Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING IN CRUISE CONTROL VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEED. HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE, AND THEN CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT COMPLETELY.*AK

CONSUMER WAS AT A INTERSECTION AND WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHTAPPLIED BRAKES AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR.*AK

CONSUMER CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE, BECAUSE LIGHT IS FALSELY ILLUMINATING. LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN TIRE PRESSURE IS AT 4 POUNDS LOW, AND THE MANUAL STATES THAT THE LIGHT SHOULD ONLY BE ILLUMINATE AT 12 LBS LOW. *AK CONSUMER QUESTIONS THAT IF GM KNEW THESE CARS CONTAINED DEFECTIVE MODULES, WHY WERE CUSTOMERS NOT SENT RECALL LETTERS, WILL SHE EVER FEEL COMFORTABLE AGAIN W/ THE ICONS ON THE DASHBOARD & THIER ACCURACY, IF THE TIRE ICON ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING AND A RATE OF 75 MPH ON A SPARSELY POPULATED HIGHWAY.*SCC

ON MAY 29,2002 WE PURCHASED A 2001 BUICK CENTURY FROM LLOYD BUICK. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED BECAUSE THE VAN WE OWNED HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP 10 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON THE DAY OF PURCHASE WE HEARD A THUMPING NOISE ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN. THIS WAS DONE ON 5-30-2002. THE SERVICE REP AND MY HUSBAND TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND RESULTED IN PUTTING 4 NEW TIRES ON THE CAR. THE WORK ORDER READS REPLACE 2 FRONT TIRE CHOPPED AS PER SALES. REPLACE 4 TIRES AND BALANCE. WE PICKED UP THE CAR AND THE NEXT DAY THE LOW TIRE LIGHT CAME ON. WE CHECKED THE TIRES AND THE AIR PRESSURE WAS FINE. AGAIN WE CALLED THE DEALER BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND THE SALESMAN RESET THE COMPUTER AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. ON 6-8-2002 WE GOT IN THE CAR AT 6:30 AM AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND T;HE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. GOT OUT THE MANUAL FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS STILL WOULD NOT RELEASE. WE HAD A FRIEND PICK US UP HE ALSO TRIED WITH NO AVAIL. WENT TO ORLANDO AND WHEN WE CAME HOME AGAIN CALLED THE DEARLER THEY TOLD US TO FOLLOW THE MANUAL TRIED AGAIN STILL DID NOT WORK. CALLED BACK AND WERE TOLD TO CALL OUR ROAD SERVICED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. AT 2:41 THE CALLED WAS PLACED TO BUCIK ROADSIDE SERVICE ABOUT 1 HOUR LATER A TRUCK ARRIVED AND THEY WOULD NOT TOW THE CAR BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRAG IT OUTOF THE DRIVEWAY BECAUSE THE WHEELS WERE LOCKED. THIS WOULD RESULT IN RUINING THE TIRES AND THE DRIVEWAY. CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN THE SALESMAN CAME OVER ABOUT 6:30 HE COULD NOT RELEASE THE WHEEL EITHER. HE LEFT US A CAR TO USE OVER THE WEEKEND . ON MONDAY THE DEALERHIP CAME WITH A TOW TRUCK AND TOWED THE CAR AWAY. THEY CALLED THE NEXT DAY TO SAY IT WAS READY. WE DO NOT HAVE A WORK ORDERS FOR THE LAST 2 VISITS BUT CAN GET THEM UPON REQUEST PLEASE INFORM US OF YOUR FINDINGS.*AK

ANY SMALL CHANGE IN SLOPE OF ROAD CAUSES THE CAR TO ABUPTLY AND UNPREDICTABLY SWERVE IN THAT DIRECTION. TOOK TO DEALER, SUPERIOR MOTORS OF ORANGEBURG, SC MANY TIMES AND THEY SAY "ALL IS IN SPECIFICATION". I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS CAR TO DRIVE-REQUIRING CONSTANT ATTENTION TO CATCH THE SWERVES BEFORE THEY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS WITH OTHER PEOPLE DRIVING THIS MODEL, THEN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS ARE BOUND TO HAPPEN. I KNOW OF NO OTHER COURSE THAN TO REPORT THIS CONDITION IN THIS $25,000 CAR. PLEASE HELP ME AND MAYBE MANY OTHERS.

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

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

IF VEHICLE HITS THE SMALLEST PUMP IN THE ROAD FRONT OF VEHICLE MAKES A NOISE LIKE IT HAS HIT THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE TIE ROD ENDS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS..*AK

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

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER AT 3000 MILES THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEMS AGAIN AND WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS.*JB

STEERING COLUMN FLEXED WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. *TS *NLM

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

COMPUTER WOULD NOT ACT PROPERLY. WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT WOULD START MAKING SOME SQUEALING NOISES THEN, IT WOULD STOP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND EALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

BRAKES ON VEHICLE WERE MAKING NOISES WHEN DRIVING, AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER,AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BACKFIRED AND STALLS UPON STARTING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER UNDER BULLETIN TEFLON COATING FAILURE. THE STARTING AND STALLING PROBLEM REOCCURED AFTER 3000 MILES, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE WATER PUMP FAILED. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN FLEXES WHEN THE VEHICLES MOVEMENT WAS REDUCED. *YH

ENGINE KNOCKING WHILE DRIVING OR RUNNING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE MADE LOUD NOISES, VIBRATED WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. THIS WAS A RESULT OF PISTON MALFUNCTIONING THAT CAUSED MOTOR TO GO BAD, AND ENGINE TO NOT RUN PROPERLY.*AK FUEL TANK MISSING INSULATORS. BRAKES SQUEAK AND ARE PULSATING. *TT

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE SLID INTO A DITCH.*AK DEALER DETEMINED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS BAD.*JB

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH HIS VEHICLE STRUCK TWO CATTLES CROSSING THE ROAD. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THIS INCIDENT. AN INSPECTOR FROM BUICK CONCLUDED THAT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY BECAUSE VEHICLE MAINTAINED FORWARD MOMENTUM AND DID NOT STOP COMPLETELY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO REVERSE ON A DEEP INCLINE IT SURGED FORWARD, DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK *SLC

COLOR OF THE DASHBOARD, LIGHT GRAY, IS CAUSING A SEVERE GLARE IN WINDSHIELD DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER. THE DASHBOARD CONTAINS A HORIZONTAL SPLIT THAT RUNS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE DASHBOARD. THE FORWARD SECTION OF THE DASHBOARD CONTAINS THE AIR (DEFROSTER) GRILL. THIS CAUSES THE GLARE TO CONTAIN REVERSE IMAGES OF THE AIR GRILL AND THE HORIZONTAL SPLIT LINE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND INFORMED CONSUMER NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. *AK *JG

HEADLIGHTS DON'T SUFFICIENTLY ILLUMINATE. THIS CAUSES AN EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILTY AT NIGHT, AND IN RAINY CONDITIONS. DEALER HAS ADJUSTED HEADLIGHTS WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

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

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

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

ON STEERING HUB ARE 2 HORN SYMBOLS. IF THEY AREN'T PRESSED IN CORRECT SPOT THEY WOULDN'T GO OFF. DEALER DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER SOLUTION FOR CONSUMER.*AK THE HORN SPOT WAS HARD TO FIND DURING EMERGENCY. ALSO THE HORN WHEN FOUND REQUIRES EXCEPTIONAL STRENGTH TO SOUND IT. *YH

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A METAL KNOCKING SOUND, BRAKE PEDAL FEELS NORMAL, BUT NO BRAKING ACTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

FRONT CRASH AT 35-40 MPH , HIT A TREE, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK

ALL TIRES OUT OF ROUND, REPLACED WITH 4 GENERAL TIRES, AGAIN ALL OUT OF ROUND. FOUND AS MANY AS 12 BRAND NEW CARS WITH SIMILAR TIRE DEFECTS AFFECTING RIDE AND HANDLING OF VEHICLE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205 70R15 )

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

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

CONSUMER TURNED ON HIGH BEAM IN 2001 BUICK CENTURY AND ALL LIGHTING FAILED INSIDE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A SWITCH THAT WAS SHORTENING OUT THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST TIME SHE HAD A SWITCH REPLACED, IT WAS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *JB

CONSUMER STATES IT'S VERY HARD TO HONK THE HORN. *SLC

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

WINDSHIELD REFLECTS DASHBOARD MATING SURFACES AT EYELEVEL, OBSTRUCTS VISION ACROSS COMPLETE WINDSHIELD CROSS SECTION BY APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 6 INCHES HIGH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VIEWING AREA. CANNOT ADJUST SEAT TO MOVE EYE LEVEL AND AVOID OBSTRUCTED VISION AREA. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN ALL LIGHT CONDITIONS. *AK

BAD AERODYNAMICS CAN NOT DRIVE CAR WITH REAR WINDOW DOWN. THE AIR PRESSURE WILL BURST YOUR EARDRUMS. CONTACTED BUCIK DIVISION. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO LOWER ONE FRONT WINDOW A BIT.

NO SUMMARY

WINDSHIELD GLARE FROM DASHBOARD, HORN DIFFICULT TO LOCATE AND HARD TO OPERATE, TRUNK LID HEIGHT BLOCKS VIEW WHEN BACKING UP, DEFROSTER CLEARS CENTER OF WINDSHIELD AND FINALLY DRIVER'S SIDE DUE TO SMALL VENT AND FALSE CODE GIVES SERVICE ENGINE READING REQUIRING DEALER REPROGRAMMING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE CATAYLIC CONVERTER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALER . MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE ONLY A SHORT TIME AND ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE HORN WOULD NOT BLOW WHEN CONSUMER NEEDED IT. *JG

CONSUMER STATES OSCILLATION WOULD APPEAR IN THE LEFT FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEED. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE EXHAUST FUMES ENTER INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTEMENT. DEALER NOTIFED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PEDAL WILL NOT HOLD ITS BREAKING POWER AND WOULD SLOWLY CREEP TO THE FLOOR. *SCC

DESIGN OF THE DASHBOARD CASTS A REFLECTION ONTO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, CAUSING REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING THE DAY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER CHECKED OTHER BUICK CENTURY'S AND LASABRE'S AND NOTICED THAT THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK *CB *NLM

CONSUMER NOTICED ABS LIGHT FLASHING WHILE TRAVELING, INDICATION THAT ABS SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING. MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED.*AK