The 2001 Buick Century has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 272,324 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 190 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS01V1090002001-04-06116,007 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.
Remedy
GM WILL MAIL A NEW BILINGUAL AIR BAG LABEL WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, THE CUSTOMER MAY BRING THE LABEL TO THEIR DEALER FOR INSTALLATION FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT…
AIR BAGS00V3710002000-11-1312 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
IF THE INFLATOR SEPARATES, THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY DURING A CRASH AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION WOULD BE REDUCED. IF IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT A SEPARATED INFLATOR COULD BE PROPELLED DOWNWARD AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO A REAR SEAT PASSENGER WHOSE FOOT IS POSITIONED APPROXIMATELY UNDER THE INFLATOR MODULE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG MODULE.
SEAT BELTS00V2280032000-08-07156,305 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
13
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
12
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
8
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
6
STRUCTURE
6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
6
POWER TRAIN
5
Total complaints190
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“When I have cruise control on but not in use at that moment the car will engage cruise on its own. It does this at a high rate of acceleration with no rhyme or reason as to why. I have to be quick to get it to stop because of the high rate of speed. I do not use the cruise control anymore on my…”
“When I have cruise control on but not in use at that moment the car will engage cruise on its own. It does this at a high rate of acceleration with no rhyme or reason as to why. I have to be quick to get it to stop because of the high rate of speed. I do not use the cruise control anymore on my…”
“Steering locked while driving on highway. Car would speed up on its own without touching the gas peddle. This occurred as soon as the car was taken out of park.”
“Steering locked while driving on highway. Car would speed up on its own without touching the gas peddle. This occurred as soon as the car was taken out of park.”
“5/15/2017, $1,197.66 repair for intake manifold gasket. On october 23, 2008, the california superior court granted final approval to the class action lawsuit, but nothing is available to those of use that did not have a problem until after that suit. Https://www.girardgibbs.com/dexcool/”
“For almost the entire time of 16 years of owning this car, the set cruise control often times speeds uncontrollably. Have replaced the module twice but continues to happen. Local buick dealer tells me they have not heard of this before. I firmly believe they are untruthful.”
“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. My speed went from 65 mph to 80 mph in a few seconds. I depressed the set button again to decelerate, but when I released the set button,…”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Buick Century as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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