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2000 Buick Century

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2000 Century.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2000 Buick Century is a passenger car equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and an EPA-rated 18/27/21 mpg (city/highway/combined), powered by an engine requiring 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil. With 219 total owner complaints and 7 recalls on record, its most problematic area is the power train, and it lands just one year past the model's peak complaint year of 1999, which saw 252 complaints across the 1990–2005 generation. That positions the 2000 Century on the descending side of the complaint curve — still carrying a notable complaint volume, but trending toward the relative calm of later years, where 2005 saw just 19 complaints — suggesting that while this model year reflects a period of elevated owner dissatisfaction, the underlying issues were gradually being addressed as the platform matured toward the end of its run.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy18/27/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731175
Engine air filter	15221217
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19301813 alt 19308033
Front wiper blades	19120758
Serpentine belt	12588410
Thermostat	24507563 alt 10226107
Cabin air filter	84557894

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	194.5 in
Overall width	72.8 in
Overall height	56.7 in
Wheelbase	109.1 in
Curb weight	3369 lb
Track (front / rear)	62.2 / 61 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	18 / 27 / 21 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	102 cu ft
Cargo volume	17 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	76 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	12 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	8.9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5,000-7,000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.88 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	9.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	16; Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	47.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	40.5-47
RPM	30.5-44 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance	11.8-12.6 na ohms
Engine Compression	100

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket	32 ft-lbs / 137 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	92 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.43 in / 1.27 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Across this generation, federal complaints trended upward to a peak of 252 in 1999 before steadily declining, placing the 2000 model year—with 219 complaints—at the beginning of this downward arc. However, the 2000 Buick Century distinguishes itself with the highest recall count of the entire generation at 7, up from 5 the previous year, alongside a massive spike in technical service bulletins to 327 from just 106 in 1999. For this specific year, Power Train is the primary concern with 41 complaints, followed by Visibility (29), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (24), and Engine & Engine Cooling (17), with 11 crash and 1 fire complaint also recorded; the data does not specify the root causes for these failures. The combination of the generation's highest recall volume and a sudden surge in technical service bulletins implies the manufacturer was actively reacting to significant, widespread issues in this model year. Consequently, because it bears the heaviest recall burden and immediately follows the generation's worst years for complaints, the 2000 Century is a less favorable purchase compared to later, more stabilized model years.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

327

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

219

Owner complaints

11 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99’00’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 219 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train41

Visibility29

Service Brakes, Hydraulic24

Engine & Engine Cooling17

Electrical System11

Exterior Lighting10

Air Bags9

Steering9

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09E005000SteeringReported 17/02/2009

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE… Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009…

07E021000Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief DevicesReported 12/03/2007

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… Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 327 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP4723J	2024-10-25	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
General Communication	2024-08-26	Electrical System	Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It…
24-NA-141	2024-07-24	Power Train	GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Century. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 78 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731175 Engine air filter 15221217 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19301813

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2000 Century take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2000 Century have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Century get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 27 highway / 21 combined mpg.