Leaking Coolant, Intake Manifold Gasket Failure

8.1

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$930
Average Mileage:
88,200 miles
Total Complaints:
15 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace intake manifold gasket (12 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
  3. never buy a gm car (1 reports)
2001 Buick Century engine problems

engine problem

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2001 Buick Century Owner Comments

problem #15

Dec 012014

Century Limited 3.1L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

First and last GM product I will ever own. I have put almost $3000 into repairs on a car with 76,000 miles. I always belived that a Buick was a good American car, I guess I was wrong. Lessoned learned, an expensive lesson but a lesson never the less.

- Carolyn D., Fort Worth, TX, US

problem #14

Jan 152013

Century Custom

  • Automatic transmission
  • 145,000 miles

Started leaking coolant, and was not drivable because it could not keep the coolant long enough. Had to replace the intake manifold gasket in order to resolve the issue.

- Jens T., North Logan, UT, US

problem #13

Jan 252012

Century Custom 3.1L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,000 miles

GM knows of these failures but refuses to do anything about it. Sad to see my tax dollars supporting these idiots!

- jmertens, Vancouver, WA, US

problem #12

Jul 012010

Century Custom 3.1L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 51,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

GM has known about this intake manifold gasket leak problem that they created, but refuses to to the right thing for its dwindling supply of customers. What I don't understand is why they brag about their Dexcool coolant when it is apparently responsible for the degradation of the gasket material. 50,000 miles is way too soon for a problem like this and as such they have lost my business.

- Curt K., Lake Helen, FL, US

problem #11

Nov 252009

Century

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,000 miles

Buick Century Custom 6 Cyl 3.1L = P - O - S.

Very light to moderate driving. Already had to replace both motors for front power windows, driver side front seat motor, driver side exterior mirror motor, VCIM system, catalytic converter, thermostat 4 times, and both of the front wheel hubs within the first 5 years of purchase. Just recently had to replace the exhaust manifold, and head gasket. I will tell everyone I meet how much Buick sucks untill the day I die. All I hear are all the horror stories from all the GM mechanics about Buick now. Too bad they weren't that honest with me before they prepped it for my purchase.

- pepebalboa, Marlboro, NJ, US

problem #10

Nov 052008

Century Custom 3.1L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,000 miles

Well, owned the Buick for around 3 years now. biggest piece ive ever owned. im a mechanic for another large car company, and believe me, buy Japanese. the Buick has a bad torque converter, the intake manifold gasket is shot, the ABS system never works, and when it does, it likes to talk back. inherited the car, so can't really complain about the repairs, but Jesus Christ, when is America going to build something again that runs like it should. BUY JAPANESE. trust me. i work on them all day, and ive never seen so many ridiculous problems.

- dietzler, Orlando, FL, US

problem #9

Apr 152007

Century Custom

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought this car at 62,000 miles and less than a year later I had the same problem that my mechanic said he sees all the time with this car. The intake manifold gasket had leaked into the engine and the car was losing coolant. At the time i didn't have the money to have it replaced without dexcool, witch is said to cause the problem in the first place, so i loaded up on radiator stop leak, im sure its not recommended but its the only solution i can afford. haven't had any big problems since, just need to put coolant in every few thousand miles and slowly replace with the yellow mix coolant as the dexcool leaks out.

- Brandon W., Woodbury, MN, US

problem #8

Feb 232008

Century Limited V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles

Had to have the radiator changed last fall (2007) and after that we

began to notice a antifreeze/hot smell occasionally, but not all the time. So with the cooler temp. coming due to winter, it was not noticeable and figured the newness wore off and all was good. But on Feb 23 the temperature was warm and after a short trip it was really strong. I checked the coolant level and it was down and so was the overflow tank. Took it to the repair shop and it was determined that the intake manifold gasket was shot. Thanks to GMC and their great gasket makers that should be tarred and feathered and made to pay for this kind of repair. It cost me $1250.which in all fairness included a normal 3k mile service and since at this point the top side was open so went ahead with a 100k mile service. I probably would have traded the car in on a new one before actually reaching 100k (at 73,550 now) but with this kind of money invested, I will have to keep it a few more years. Thats ok because I most likely would have gone back to Buick or GM but will now take the time to look around at what else is out there that we like and doesn't have manifold gasket breakdown. Cheers.

- hutch, Mt. Pleasant, S. Carolina, US

problem #7

Dec 172007

Century 3100

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

The heater never provided enough heat to defrost the windshield when my wife was driving to pick me up on a very cold fall morning. The windshield kept icing up, and she had to scrape the inside with an ice scraper in order to see. This was a continual losing battle, and she ended up pulling over and calling me to come get her. @ the mechanics garage, our trusty and competent mechanic said the anti freeze had leaked out and we needed a new intake manifold gasket and related replacements: thermostat & sealflushing the system, new anti-freeze, and an oil change because the antifreeze had penetrated the crankcase. The only thing my mechanic did that will need adjustment was that he replaced the anti-freeze with the junky Dexcool. After having done much research, I'm taking it back to be drained and refilled with with some good PEAK Global Lifetime anti-freeze. I'll keep the Buick for now, but my next car will be Japanese.I have now printed out my research with customer complaints from other sites on the web. I will give a copy of my findings to all my friends with GM equipment. My 1992 Lumina has 222,000 miles - no problems; my 1987 Chvey truck has 189,000 miles - none of this junk has happened; and even my 1991 4 cyl Celebrity, which is retired now because it needs tranmission seals - it has never needed so much as a head gasket. It did need a timing chain @ 189,000. GM, flush yourself down the nearest watercloset. You stink for not taking ownership of this problem.

- Ted W., Madison, TN, Pacific Islands (US)

problem #6

Jul 192007

(reported on)

Century

  • Automatic transmission
  • 113,000 miles

Losing coolant constantly. Engine not overheating, however. If I had let problem go longer, it would have been head gasket. This is definitely a flaw in this engine.

- tashabelle, Memphis, T, US

problem #5

Apr 202007

(reported on)

Century 3.1L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I like my 2001 Buick Century. It is comfortable and easy to drive, but it does have some irritating glitches. I would have caught the intake manifold gasket failure sooner if the check coolant light hadn't been stuck on for a year. My gas gauge also stopped working so I have to watch the mileage to know when to fill up. The power windows have been repaired on the two front windows and the rear windows only work part of the time. Otherwise, the car has been reliable.

- Janet G., Kingsbury, TX, US

problem #4

Apr 122007

(reported on)

Century V6 3.1

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,501 miles

We bought this car for our 16 year old to drive. We do not buy American cars because we figure they are not reliable however, we wanted something that had a lot of car around our daughter. In other words... a big heavy car for safety reasons. This car has been a total disaster. We bought it w/39,000 on it. Since we bought it, two windows have dropped down causing us to replace the pulleys which are extremely expensive about $400.00 apiece. The gas gauge just stopped working one day. Another extremely expensive fix. I should have known. I will (and mark my words) never, never buy another GM car again. It is a joke. No wonder they are in trouble. And the really disgusting thing about this intake manifold gasket leak is that GM knows about it and doesn't do anything to fix the problem. They stink, their company stinks, they are liars and thieves. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM GM THEY ARE TERRIBLE!!! IF YOU DO YOU WILL REGRET IT.

- Peggy R., Roseville, CA, US

problem #3

Mar 022007

(reported on)

Century Custom 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 126,000 miles

how many other people have had this problem and did not report it? I just spent $1000+ 0n a transmission. HONDA here I come. Does GM stand for general malady?

- Michael B., Stuarts Draft, Virgina, US

problem #2

Dec 272006

(reported on)

Century LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

GM is total JUNK !! Getting a Ford or some kind of import !!

- fake_usa, Plainfield, NJ, US

problem #1

Nov 292006

(reported on)

Century 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

Doesn't seem right that the intake manifold should be bad at the miles I have on the car . This is a major repair job. Last month the catalytic converter had to be replaced and that was under warranty . I would of thought the symptoms other that the cooling light came on would of been more dramatic.

Is this a known problem with Buick?

- James S., Hyde Park, NY, US

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