Model year record

2000 Buick Century

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 249 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 01V109000

Seat belts

Component: Seat belts
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 116,007
Reported to NHTSA: 2001-04-06
Owners notified: 2001-05-04

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.

Manufacturer 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 OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537 OR BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V371000

Air bags: side/window

Component: Air bags: side/window
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 12
Reported to NHTSA: 2000-11-13
Owners notified: 2000-11-16

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG MODULE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V228003

Seat belts

Component: Seat belts
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 156,305
Reported to NHTSA: 2000-08-07
Owners notified: 2000-08-24

Defect description

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 STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Safety risk

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V160000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap

Component: Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 248
Reported to NHTSA: 2000-06-16
Owners notified: 2000-06-21

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE CLAMP THAT SECURES THE FLEXIBLE FUEL FILL HOSE TO THE METAL FILL TUBE MAY BE LOOSE AND COULD SEPARATE.

Safety risk

THIS COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE EXCEEDING THE PERMISSIBLE AMOUNT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL HOSE FILL NECK CLAMP AND, IF NECESSARY, REPOSITION AND TIGHTEN THE CLAMP.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V143000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum

Component: Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected: 18,754
Reported to NHTSA: 2000-05-17
Owners notified: 2000-06-23

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR DRUM BRAKES. THE BOLT HEAD(S) ON THE REAR SPINDLE ROD CAN SEPARATE.

Safety risk

THE REAR WHEEL CAN SHIFT, CAUSING REAR STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SPINDLE BOLTS.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Power train: automatic transmission	31	51,570 mi
Power train	12	63,000 mi
Electrical system	11	83,249 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	8	30,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	8	—
Engine and engine cooling	7	64,218 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	7	35,000 mi
Unknown or other	7	80,000 mi
Engine	6	83,249 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	6	—
Exterior lighting	6	55,000 mi
Air bags	5	75,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	5	—
Service brakes, hydraulic	5	71,673 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	5	51,000 mi
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly	5	64,218 mi
Structure: body	5	50,000 mi
Electrical system: horn	4	—
Engine and engine cooling: engine	4	60,935 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	4	110,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components	4	—
Suspension	4	—
Vehicle speed control	4	75,508 mi
Visibility	4	70,000 mi
Air bags: side/window	3	34,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	3	—
Seat belts	3	75,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly	3	—
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	2	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	2	32,850 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	2	56,000 mi
Fuel system, other	2	56,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	2	178,000 mi
Interior lighting	2	55,000 mi
Seat belts: rear/other	2	1,842 mi
Seats	2	—
Service brakes	2	75,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	2	36,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum	2	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: drum	2	64,218 mi
Steering	2	15,000 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar	2	—
Suspension: front	2	15,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm	2	53,560 mi
Tires	2	—
Visibility: glass, side/rear	2	—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	2	—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor	2	50,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	1	—
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module	1	38,300 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator	1	—
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module	1	110,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	1	—
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	178,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	1	—
Equipment	1	—
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	—
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.	1	—
Exterior lighting: headlights: high/low beam dimmer switch	1	105,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch	1	—
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch	1	58,900 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	1	99,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter	1	60,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission	1	—
Seat belts: rear/other: buckle assembly	1	4,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: head restraint	1	—
Service brakes, electric	1	131,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: wheel cylinders	1	—
Steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm	1	—
Steering: rack and pinion: rack	1	—
Structure: frame and members	1	—
Suspension: front: springs: air suspension system	1	—
Tires: tread/belt	1	—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor	1	—
Wheels	1	—

The 1999 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2001 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.