Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Buick Century owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Defective odometer readings, gear indicators disappeared. The odometer reading disappeared, and the gear indicator disappeared on instrument cluster. I have no way to read my odometer, nor do I know what gear I am in, prnd21. Now I can accidently be in reverse and not even know it. This is an extremely dangerous situation, and there should be a recall on this. Mechanic charges $100.00 to fix, and also states they can insert any odometer reading that I would like to have. This should be illegal. I no longer have a valid odometer reading for my yearly inspections, or if I were to sell my vehicle. I could drive in 1st gear and burn up my transmission and shut down in the middle of the interstate and cause a serious accident or be run over for dead stopped on roads. My instrument panel has not had an accurate fuel guage reading in years, it comes and goes. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Buick Century. On several occasions, while driving, the headlights failed to illuminate without warning. Additionally, when the high beam switch was activated, the check engine, ABS, and traction control warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Bought 2000 Buick Century and like many other complaints on the list I have repaired the manifold, water pump, fuel filter at 83,000. I have experienced the whinning and hard shifting the entire time I owned the car. I had intermittent dash light failure which is real dangerous since you can't see the speedometer or anything on the dash. My brakes have failed to brake and I went out into traffic - luckily no accident and there was a median I could steer into! I haven't had a working gas gauge for years. Last night going 70 MPH I felt 3 chugs and lost power. Again luckily I was at a freeway exit and could coast off the freeway. So my 3 most expensive bills (and none of the problems have been solved -$1800. For brake calipers, rotors and pads. $1100 for wire set, manifold set, fuel filter and water pump. $350 for headlamp switch and dash light problems. …
The electronic odometer and automatic transmission display has gone completely dark. With indicator dark, the following are impossible to determine on the vehicle. A) automatic transmission indicator - for vehicles where the transmission shift lever is mounted on the steering column (like mine), other than counting the number of clicks of the transmission lever up or down, the vehicle operator has no idea if the vehicle is in drive, neutral or reverse. This is a major safety hazard because the vehicle operator May inadvertently leave the vehicle in neutral or in gear and not know it and leave the vehicle unattended. B) vehicle mileage -- there is no way to determine how many miles the vehicle has been driven. There are numerous instances on the internet describing this problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Buick Century. While driving approximately 55 MPH the vehicle suddenly stalled. The fuel gauge does not function properly; therefore, the contact was unaware if the vehicle stalled due to a lack of fuel. The contact was only able to restart the vehicle by jump starting it. The failure occurred approximately twelve times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the battery was replaced; yet, the failure continued to occur. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
Dt: the contact stated after parking vehicle and turning it off the air conditioner fan kept running. She had the vehicle towed to a dealership. Repairs were made to the vehicle. Currently, the vehicle had exterior lighting defects. The lights will come on intermittently. The vehicle is at the dealership, and they are unable to duplicate the problem with the exterior lighting. The manufacturer has been contacted. Updated 01/11/06.
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. One of the shops said the problem will reoccur even with replacement of the part unless a shift kit is installed.after researching this issue on line it becomes apparent that the shops are correct in their diagnosis. Why has this issue not been a recall!
Vehicle exhibited hard transmission shifts and jerking while shifting in traffic. Vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with code p1811, which indicates high transmission fluid pressure and solenoid problems.
I have a 2000 Buick Century limited and the transmission harsh shift 1234, when hot and sometimes cold, I know that it needs a new 1234 up shift solenoid and to be inspected for failed parts etc, also the odometer,fuel gauge,and window regulators/motors have failed, the odometer is out and fuel gauge floats and windows have failed due to bad design of motors/regulators and my airbag light is on and each 4t65- e trans and many Buick trans like the one above has harsh shift and could cause damage and cause trans to fail. And the problems above will be found in many Buick Century and GM should fix the issues above for free it is a danger for the trans to fail and odometer/gear shift select to fail because most people will not know what gear they are in, and the trans could lock and cause a wreck or a huge injury or worst. …
The instrument cluster indicating what gear the vehicle is in has quite working. This is a digital l.e.d. Indicator that also displays the vehicles mileage and odometer reading. Checked around and five other buicks all had the same issue. You have to guess at the gear you are in and there is no way to tell what the odometer reading is.
Electrical complaints in other Century years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2000 Buick Century?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the electrical system of the 2000 Buick Century, 10% of the model year's 193 complaints. The component named most often is horn (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Buick Century electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2000 Buick Century, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Buick Century electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 101,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.