Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1985 Buick Park Avenue
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
320.0%
Engine & Cooling
320.0%
Steering
213.3%
Median failure at 118,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
16.7%
Seat Belts
16.7%
Tires
16.7%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
16.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
16.7%
Body & Structure
16.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Apr 1996peak 5Dec 2005
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Burlington, KY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A TINY NYLON CLIP THAT HOLDS THE TIMING BELT ON. THE CONTACT HAD THE HOSES AND BELTS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH THE CAR STALLED. THE CLIP WAS CRACKED AND THE TIMING BELT LOOSENED AND WENT OUT OF TIME AND BLEW THE ROD IN THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE BECAUSE HE HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPLAINT BEING FILED WAS TO KEEP SOMEONE FROM GETTING HURT OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #10144520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OH
POWER TRAIN
NEW AIR-CONDITIONING INSTALLED IN 1990. CAR NOT DRIVEN OFTEN. AGAING AC NOT WORKING FOR PAST 3 YEARS. CAR GARAGED AND WELL CARED FOR..SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. ONE PERSON DRIVER..MIDDLE AGE LADY.. PAINT IS PEELING OFF ..GM WILL NOT PAY FOR IT. TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT SO SOON.. AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS..FILE IS 3 INCHES THICK OF MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS..
NHTSA complaint #10069340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OH
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
NEW AIR-CONDITIONING INSTALLED IN 1990. CAR NOT DRIVEN OFTEN. AGAING AC NOT WORKING FOR PAST 3 YEARS. CAR GARAGED AND WELL CARED FOR..SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. ONE PERSON DRIVER..MIDDLE AGE LADY.. PAINT IS PEELING OFF ..GM WILL NOT PAY FOR IT. TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT SO SOON.. AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS..FILE IS 3 INCHES THICK OF MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS..
NHTSA complaint #10069340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OH
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NEW AIR-CONDITIONING INSTALLED IN 1990. CAR NOT DRIVEN OFTEN. AGAING AC NOT WORKING FOR PAST 3 YEARS. CAR GARAGED AND WELL CARED FOR..SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. ONE PERSON DRIVER..MIDDLE AGE LADY.. PAINT IS PEELING OFF ..GM WILL NOT PAY FOR IT. TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT SO SOON.. AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS..FILE IS 3 INCHES THICK OF MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS..
NHTSA complaint #10069340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
NEW AIR-CONDITIONING INSTALLED IN 1990. CAR NOT DRIVEN OFTEN. AGAING AC NOT WORKING FOR PAST 3 YEARS. CAR GARAGED AND WELL CARED FOR..SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. ONE PERSON DRIVER..MIDDLE AGE LADY.. PAINT IS PEELING OFF ..GM WILL NOT PAY FOR IT. TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT SO SOON.. AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS..FILE IS 3 INCHES THICK OF MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS..
NHTSA complaint #10069340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cincinnati, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NEW AIR-CONDITIONING INSTALLED IN 1990. CAR NOT DRIVEN OFTEN. AGAING AC NOT WORKING FOR PAST 3 YEARS. CAR GARAGED AND WELL CARED FOR..SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. ONE PERSON DRIVER..MIDDLE AGE LADY.. PAINT IS PEELING OFF ..GM WILL NOT PAY FOR IT. TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT SO SOON.. AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS..FILE IS 3 INCHES THICK OF MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS..
NHTSA complaint #10069340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 118,000 milesSalem, VA
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM, WILL NOT TURN WHEN COLD/OR ON INITIAL STARTUP, STIFFNESS IN STEERING LED TO LOOSENESS IN STEERING WHEEL, DUE TO LONG TIME PROBLEM OF TURNING THE WHEEL,THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY, MY FATHER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, SPECIAL ORDER, TWO DOOR PARK AVE.1985.
NHTSA complaint #10060414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Evanston, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #763415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Evanston, IL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #763415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OH
TIRES
RIGHT FRONT TIRE MOUNTS BROKE CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF RESULTING IN DAMAGE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) MJS.
NHTSA complaint #546235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tulsa, OK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE THROTTLE STICKS, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #831707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Altoona, PA
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH OUT OF PARKING LOT; HEARD A LOUD OR BIG BOOM SOUND & VEHICLE WENT INTO NEXT LANE; THOUGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD HIT IT; PULLED TO THE SIDE & PARKED; GOT OUT & LOOKED; NOTICED THAT ENGINE & TRANSMISSION ON THE GROUND; HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC & TOW DRIVER SAID IT WAS CROSSMEMBER & THE RACK & PINION.
NHTSA complaint #813480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.