FaultScore

1998 Buick Park Avenue body problems

10 of the 327 complaints about the 1998 Buick Park Avenue are about the body and structure — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 118,000 miles.

A

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frame AND Members 5 50.0%
Door 2 20.0%
Underbody Shields 2 20.0%
Structure 1 10.0%

Body & Structure across every Buick Park Avenue year

1994 11 20.8%
1995 14 26.4%
1997 18 34.0%
1998 10 18.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Madison, WI

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

SO THERE HAS BEEN MANY TIME WERE M CAR DOORS HAVE WENT OUT AND WHEN I SAY OUT I MEAN TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN ONLY OPEN FROM THE INSIDE NOW I HAVE GONE OUT AND PAID TO HAVE THEM FIXED NOW I AT THE POINT WHERE I FEEL SOMETHING ELSE IS UP. I AM DOWN TO ONE DOOR AND THAT IS A BACK ONE SO YOU SEE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10462609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Mooresville, IN

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR PULLED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. BEING ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM MY REPAIR SHOP, I SLOWLY DROVE THERE. THE MECHANIC TOOK THE CAR BACK ON THE ROAD AND WHEN BRAKED, PULLED MORE VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. UPON INSPECTION THE FRAME, ENGINE CRADLE SECTION, HAD BROKEN. IN 30 YEARS, THE MECHANIC HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN. THE CAR HAS ONLY 65,000 MILES AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE IT WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. UPDATED 10/05/10 *BF PICTURES RECEIVED. UPDATED 10/07/10 UPDATED 101810 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 10/21/10*JB

NHTSA complaint #10358038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,647 miles Iowa City, IA

STRUCTURE

PAINT PEELING OFF THE CAR ALMOST EVERY WHERE.

NHTSA complaint #10220001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,500 miles Plymouth, IN

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TOWN. I MOVED OVER ON THE STREET NEAR MY HOME TO LET ANOTHER CAR PASS AND I FELT A LARGE BUMP AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR DROPPED DOWN. I GOT OUT THINKING I HAD A FLAT TIRE BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE TIRE WAS IN THE WHEEL WELL AT A VERY CROOKED ANGLE AND SIT SOME WHAT ON THE TIRES EDGE. I WAS ABLE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEEL AND LIMPED HOME. THE MECHANIC ON MONDAY SAID THE CRADLE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR RUSTED OUT AND HAD BROKEN. WHEN THE CRADLE BROKE SO DID THE RIGHT AXLE. HE HAS HAD A HARD TIME FINDING A GOOD USED CRADLE AS GM DOES NOT MAKE NEW ONES ANYMORE.

NHTSA complaint #10205677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 128,500 miles Plymouth, IN

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TOWN. I MOVED OVER ON THE STREET NEAR MY HOME TO LET ANOTHER CAR PASS AND I FELT A LARGE BUMP AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR DROPPED DOWN. I GOT OUT THINKING I HAD A FLAT TIRE BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE TIRE WAS IN THE WHEEL WELL AT A VERY CROOKED ANGLE AND SIT SOME WHAT ON THE TIRES EDGE. I WAS ABLE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEEL AND LIMPED HOME. THE MECHANIC ON MONDAY SAID THE CRADLE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR RUSTED OUT AND HAD BROKEN. WHEN THE CRADLE BROKE SO DID THE RIGHT AXLE. HE HAS HAD A HARD TIME FINDING A GOOD USED CRADLE AS GM DOES NOT MAKE NEW ONES ANYMORE.

NHTSA complaint #10205683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 134,500 miles Medford, NJ

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

TWO DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT I STARTED HAVING AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR OVER A RELATIVES HOUSE A HALF MILE FROM MY HOME, AND DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FROM THEIR. ON THE DRIVE HOME, THE RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME (ENGINE FRAME OR CRADLE) AT THE AFTER BRACKET WHICH RESULTED IN THE RIGHT HALF SHAFT FAILING. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY DEVELOPMENT. THE SUBFRAME WAS SERIOUSLY CORRODED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE SUBFRAME AND HALF SHAFT REPLACED WITH NEW PARTS. I CONTACTED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A MAJOR STRUCTURAL FAILURE ON THE CAR. THEY DECLINED TO OFFER ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR, DUE TO THE VEHICLES AGE (NINE YEARS) AND MILEAGE (134,500). I MAINTAIN THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED, AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT HAD IT OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #10203192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,000 miles Elkhart, IN

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT. A LOCAL MECHANIC IS CURRENTLY REPLACING THE FRAME. THE PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PICTURES OF THE DEFECT. UPDATED 07/06/07

NHTSA complaint #10192054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gagestown, MI

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

DT: 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRADLE ON THE FRONT END ROTTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER JACKED IT UP AND NOTICED THE FRAME WAS ROTTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP; HE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS TO DRIVE ANYMORE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS, AND THE MANUFACTURER TOLD HIM THE SAME THING. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY FOR RUST. THE CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT WITH BUICK, #1-363337234.*AK

NHTSA complaint #10136930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,480 miles Carleton, MI

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

DT: THE FRONT FRAME OF THE CAR RUSTED AT IT'S WELD AND BROKE OFF THE CAR. THE CONSUMER NOTICED IT 2 MONTHS AGO CONTACTED THE DEALER ONCE AND THE MANUCATURER TWICE. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AFTER THE YEAR 2003. THE CONSUMER HAS PRICED A NEW FRAME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND OTHER PLACES.*AK THE FRONT FRAME IS ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BODY AND SUPPORTS THE ENGINE, TRANSAXLE STEERING RACK AND STEERING PARTS.*SB

NHTSA complaint #10120122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER STATES DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE, AND DEALER STILL HAS NOT PUT DOOR BACK ON PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #562086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Buick Park Avenue problems

← Full 1998 Buick Park Avenue report