Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1987 Buick Park Avenue
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Steering
428.6%
Engine & Cooling
428.6%
Transmission & Drivetrain
321.4%
Other & Unspecified
17.1%
Seats
17.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
17.1%
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.
May 1995peak 2Oct 2001
Recalls on the 1987 Buick Park Avenue
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 19880684,271 units in Canada
Engine
EXCESSIVE ACCELERATOR CABLE FRICTION MAY RESTRICT THE CABLE'S FREE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE WILL BE REPLACED IF REQUIRED.
Recall 198709639,336 units in Canada
Electrical
UNDER A HIGH RESISTANCE LOAD, THE IN-LINE FUSEABLE LINK LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THE PLASTIC WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET, MAY MELT DOWN AND IGNITE THE BRACKET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Fort Colli, CO2 injured
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LUNGE/INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #512959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT Collins, CO2 injured
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, STARTED TO PUT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE DRIVESHAFT SHEARED OFF, APPLIED BRAKES, VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD.
NHTSA complaint #806175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Landing, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER TO HAVE A NEW MOTOR INSTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #898564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
RECALL ON ENGINE/FRONT VIBRATION DAMPER.
NHTSA complaint #732586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bronx, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #709834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pittsfield, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FALL DOWN AND HAVE NO STEERING ABILITY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #841816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wooster, OH
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #541443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fresno, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING BELT AND GEAR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #539542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Town AND C, MO
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
THE POWER SEAT PANELS CONTINUES TO POP OUT OF PLACE WHEN PEOPLE OVER 140 POUNDS SITS DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #537696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mishawasa, IN
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DIFFICULTY IN TURNING CAR DURING COLD AND WARM WEATHER.
NHTSA complaint #808332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Colli, CO2 injured
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DRIVE SHAFT FELL OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LUNGE/INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #512959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT Collins, CO2 injured
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, STARTED TO PUT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE DRIVESHAFT SHEARED OFF, APPLIED BRAKES, VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD.
NHTSA complaint #806175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wadesboro, NC
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
'COLD POWER STEERING'.
NHTSA complaint #485717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Claremore, OK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #487818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Claremore, OK
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
'COLD POWER STEERING'. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #487818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Claremore, OK
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING COLD WEATHER; BECOMES OPERATIVE AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP. TT
NHTSA complaint #964913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.