2000 Buick Century from North America - Comments

Follow up to former post: I called GM customer service where I was barely able to understand that GM would not be able to help me out with the two replaced solenoids. I then contacted the Attorney General. GM contacted me and after a couple of days I was once again told that GM would not reimburse me for the repairs. The representative told me that there were currently no recalls, but that, since mine was not the only complaint about the faulty solenoid, I should keep my receipts just in case there is a future recall. I'll keep them, but I won't hold my breath.

I am glad I found this site as well. I have a 2000 Buick Century with 85k miles. We bought the car used with about 55k miles on it. When we bought it from the dealership the tranny would shift hard every once in a while. The dealership "couldn't find a problem." After the warranty was up the transmission began to shutter when shifting. I took it back to the dealership and they want to charge me almost $3k to replace the whole thing! Is there another way to get this taken care of?

Sadly I do have to add to this list; my 1999 Buick regal LS also does the hard shifting. I am getting the solenoid replaced soon! Has anyone found if it is bad to drive the car in the condition. When mine starts acting up I get annoyed and gun the car... I am sure that's not good on it. Oh well! What are ya gonna do!?

Interesting site and interesting string regarding the same problem I seem to be having. I too have a Century 2000 and a few weeks back had a whining sound with some hard shifting. The problem went away by the next morning, however has resurfaced (the whining not the hard shifting). Not a mechanic, but an engineer, I am trying to diagnose the problem. It appears the whining problem only happens when I am in the D position in my automatic, if I drop it to 3rd gear, no problem. Ironically I have the heater knob problem as well and it has happened within the same time period. Otherwise with 105,000 miles I can't complain about the car. I would be interested to know what the ramifications are of driving with the whine. I may just put up with it, but would prefer to have it fixed.

I purchased my Century 2000 new and began experiencing transmission problems around 30K miles. Dealer replaced solinoid and problem returned after car was no longer under warranty. Car has about 160k miles and I just deal with the situation. Fuel pump went out last year and it seems it has gone out again. Car won't start and has been sitting in the driveway all summer. I do not want to spend another dime on it.

After reading all the complaints about this car, of which I have the transmission shifting, and blown head gasket problems :- (. This car has been nothing, but problems from day one! I'm at the point I could try and sell it, but I have a kind heart, so I will just donate it to an automotive school for them to learn about bad designs. And GM wonders why Americans don't want to buy GMs! GM has lost another customer!

Add my 2000 Buick Century to the list. It has 66000 miles on it. In stop and go driving or after a long incline, the transmission would experience hard shifting, and recently, a whine. It was fine after cooling down. Just got my car back from the dealer. Repair cost: $1,640. That's $91 for inspection/analysis, and the balance for parts and labor for replacing valve body, PC solenoid, trans flush, filter and gaskets and fluid. UGH!!

I too have a 2000 buick century that I bought with 30,000 miles on it about a year ago. I now have 35,000 miles on it. In the time that I have owned it it has had the intake manifold replaced twice. It has also had a head gasket replaced. Now the transmission started acting up with the problem that I see a lot of people are having. I took it to the dealership that I bought it from and got an appointment to get it repaired. If I had not bought an extended warranty for this car I would have never been able to afford to get it repaired. Before I bought this century I had a 91 lesabre that never gave me this many problems. It had 130,000 miles on it when I traded it in. What has happened to quality cars?

I just got my 2000 Buick Century back from the transmission shop. Total cost- $1695 (canadian). I started getting the jerking and whining problem on the transmission at 70,000kms. It finally leaked fluid at 80,000. the transmission guy showed me the gasket that blew and the a gear that he said GM had used inferior metal because it tend to wear down on most 2000 Buick century at 30,000. He is surprised I managed to get 80,000 on it. the gasket he said has been redesigned by GM 3 times and he is hoping the latest change will last longer.

This is just an update on my very recent post about getting my 2000 Buick Century from the transmission shop recently. 2 weeks and the jerking when it changes gear and the whining sound is back. I guess the $1695 canadian I spent will just be the beginning. With all the problems we are all suffering from, how come GM has not offered any solution and has remained quiet? Maybe I should start sending these concerns via email to GM Canada. Maybe they will do something?

My wife and I are now disgruntled Buick owners as well. Our 2000 Century has a mere 46,000 miles on it and has had the transmission, engine, power window (drivers side), and now the air conditioner all have gone out.

The OFFICIAL word from our Buick Dealer was that we "did not drive the car enough". This is ABSURD!!! We contacted Buick Customer Service and (after a week) they called us back and sided with the dealer. We then tried to contact the CEO of General Motors, but were stopped by the executive offices and were again told that they sided with the dealer. Additionally, when we requested to speak to the CEO we were told that "we are not important enough" and he would not speak with us. The bottom line is that Buick and GM DO NOT CARE. As for us, anything, but GM from now on.

I do feel badly that you have had so many problems with your Century. But come on, did you really expect that Bob Lutz was going to speak with you? GM sells millions of vehicles each year and to expect him to directly hear the complaints of every person who has problems with their 7+ year old vehicle is just silly.

I agree with your comment. I do not want to talk to anybody just to discuss the transmission problem we all are having. I want to hear a solution to this problem and nothing else.

OK, After reading everyone's issue, I discovered that it matches my problem to the letter.

My 2000 Buick Century had 43,000 when the transmission starting shifting hard when the engine got warmed up. This repair was done with the warranty. Now my car has 96,000 and the problem started about a year ago at 87,000 again.

I am lucky that my daily drive to work does not warm up the engine enough to start shifting hard until my return trip home in the afternoon when it's warm outside. I enjoy the ride of the Century, but I'm positive that GM would never make it right for us, so I'm trading it in for a Honda or Toyota, but not sure which.

From my experience, no dealership or american manufacturer will ever stand by their product. I can spend $30,000 on a new car and they forget who you are after that. It's a shame that we cannot find an honest company that will stand by their product and help you when repair costs start adding up because of a design issue.

Let's not even mention how much you're going to spend fixing any check engine lights every year just to get it inspected. Almost like a conspiracy or something.

Same as others, problems with the transmission at about the 74,000 mile mark. Hard shifting between gears when hot (ie: an hour after driving), smooth as butter when cold (first thing in the morning, or after work). Dealer diagnosed as overdrive gear breaking, and recommended a transmission replacement. Others seem to have gotten luckier with their dealers/shops, repair bill started at $3,800 and just keeps on climbing. Apparently, intake manifold leaking coolant too, add another $1000. Still haven't gotten final bill or car back yet, but expect another $1000 in problems to materialize somewhere. This in addition to replacement of both front power window motors 6 months ago.

Bought Buick based on previous car, a 1991 Buick LeSabre, used for $4000 at 90,000 miles and didn't start racking up these kind of expenses until 140,000 miles. Disappointed that such an apparently common issue is not covered under a recall. Will probably avoid Buick in the future.