Is the 2000 Buick Century a bad year?
193 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 48, 4.8× a quiet Century year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 40k–74k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2000 Century owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 60,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 48 (25%) | 40k–74k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 31 (16%) | 34k–85k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 23 (12%) | 64k–111k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Visibility and wipers | 23 (12%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 20 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 14 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 10 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 60,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 193 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 10 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jul 2020.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The transmission on my 2000 Buick Century fails to readily downshift on deceleration, and bucks severely during normal drive and may cause an accident.
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.
I own a 2000 Buick Century with an automatic transmission. It has been repaired three times and is starting to do the same thing it has done the other three times.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 60,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2000 Buick Century: 7
A potential material or design defect could result in the steering knuckle breaking in the hub area. A broken steering knuckle could result in loss of steering control and a possible crash without warning.
Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, and FP10027-11B1, sold after january 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The universal pressure regulators (Upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer. Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire.
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. These vehicles do not comply with the standard.
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. If the inflator separates, the air bag will not deploy properly during a crash and occupant protection would be reduced.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and Mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The clamp that secures the flexible fuel fill hose to the metal fill tube may be loose and could separate. This could cause fuel leakage exceeding the permissible amount.
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with rear drum brakes. The bolt head(S) on the rear spindle rod can separate. The rear wheel can shift, causing rear steering of the vehicle. The driver could lose control and a crash could occur.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Buick: 86
Repair instructions Buick sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2000 Buick Century. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Accelerator cable detaches from throttle
Neighbouring years
2001 Century: 145 complaints, keep it.
Every Buick Century year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · All Century years side by side
Other Buick models: Buick Enclave · Buick Encore · Buick Encore GX · Buick Envision · Buick LaCrosse · Buick LeSabre · Buick Lucerne · Buick Park Avenue · Buick Rainier · Buick Regal · Buick Rendezvous · Buick Terraza · Buick Verano. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2000 Buick Century a bad year?
193 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 48, 4.8× a quiet Century year. At 60,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 40k–74k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Buick Century?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (48), brakes (31), engine (23), visibility and wipers (23), electrical system (20). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 40k–74k miles.
How many recalls does the 2000 Buick Century have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 09E005000), Fuel system (NHTSA 07E021000), Seat belts (NHTSA 01V-109), Air bags (NHTSA 00V-371) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.