2001 Buick Century acceleration problems

Filed Dec 9, 2024 · Acceleration, Fuel system · GA

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 vehicle because of being unsafe. I have been lucky a couple of times I have not rammed into the vehicle in front of me through no fault of mine except for having cruise control on. No it has not been examined or inspected. The problem has not been confirmed by the dealership or and independent service center. It has been confirmed by various drivers of my car. None of them will use cruise control anymore.

Filed Sep 22, 2018 · Acceleration, Steering · 54,000 miles · PA

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.

Filed May 22, 2017 · Acceleration · 110,000 miles · MO

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.

Filed Sep 18, 2015 · Acceleration · 55,400 miles · VA

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, the car immediately accelerated again. I depressed the brake to stop the acceleration & turned the speed control switch to the off position.

Filed Mar 9, 2015 · Acceleration · 26,500 miles · TX

While driving with the speed control turned on but not engaged the speed control will engage and the engine will race until brake is tapped or speed control switch turned off. This can happened randomly , when resume is engaged , or when lane change signaling.

Filed Sep 21, 2011 · Acceleration · 51,000 miles · NE

After setting cruise control it will take off and accelerate until you manually shut the cruise control switch off. I even tapped on brake and it would continue. This problem seems to be very random.

Filed Aug 19, 2010 · Acceleration · 98,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 buick century. The contact stated when driving 35 MPH or more, the cruise control would independently activate and would cause the accelerator pedal to seize in the open throttle position. He would then depress the brakes and the cruise control would deactivate. The failure would occur intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was advised that the failure was not common in his year, make and model. The dealer did not perform a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 98,000.

Filed May 25, 2010 · Acceleration · 89,000 miles · MN

The problem I'm experiencing is with the cruise control. Once engaged, if the car gets into a situation requiring acceleration (e.g. Going up a hill), the car goes into high acceleration mode and does not stop once the set speed is reached. After initial engagement, but not with the control set, virtually any movement of the turn signal level causes engagement of the cruise control in the acceleration mode. Tapping the lever, activating the turn signal or high beam control cause the car to go into cruise mode under acceleration. I have allowed it to go as fast as 85 MPH to see if it would disengage and it did not. I first thought it was intermittent, but now that I have been playing closer attention to what was going on when it runs away, I can cause it to happen on cue. This is especially dangerous since it goes into accelerate mode until the cruise control is either disengaged with the power switch or the brake pedal. I have not yet gotten it repaired. The initial visit to the shop was unsuccessful in determining the cause or replicating the problem. I have since established how to initiate the runaway acceleration.

Filed May 4, 2010 · Acceleration · 1,200 miles · SC

I purchased a 2001 buick century with lest than 1000 miles on it from the original order. In just a short time, it began to surge when the cruise control was on. It would keep accelerating until you turned it off. It still does this from time to time. I have checked with buick dealers, but they don't seem to know why. Sometimes it surges when you use the turning signal also.

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Acceleration · 68,000 miles · VA

2001 buick century suddenly accelerates when cruise control is on but not engaged. This typically happens when hitting a bump or pot hole or putting on the turn signal. Also, the car has suddenly accelerated when driving on a smooth road with the cruise control engaged. I have be able to stop the acceleration by either tapping the brake or turning off the cruise control with the switch at the end of the stalk. I no longer drive with the cruise control turned; and have not experienced any problem as long as the cruise control is not turned on. This event has occurred several times over the past 12 months.