49 of the
1,880 complaints filed about the Buick Park Avenue
are about the throttle and cruise control —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
49
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
12
Crashes
1
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
TL THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND FAILED TO BRAKE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD AND A TELEPHONE GUIDE WIRE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CALLED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AND DIAGNOSED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.
NHTSA complaint #11154905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING A BUICK PARK AVE 2000. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO A BUSY 3 LANE CITY STREET. WHEN I ACCELERATED AND BEGAN CHANGING LANES THE CAR LUNGED A LITTLE AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE AND IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS A BLOCK OF WOOD UNDERNEATH IT. THE BRAKE WAS NOT WORKING AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING I WAS APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE LIGHT WAS RED. I TRIED DOWN SHIFTING BUT NOTHING CHANGED. I KEPT TRYING TO BRAKE BUT .IT DIDN'T WORK AND THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING SO AS I APPROACHED THE RED LIGHT THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK TO DO WAS TRY MAKING A SHARP TURN WITH THE CARS THAT WERE TURNING HEADED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION I WAS GOING. I MANAGED TO SLICE BETWEEN TWO CARS IN THE TURN BUT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INCREDIBLY STIFF AND I COULDN'T NEGOTIATE THE TURN AS HOPED. I RAN INTO TWO CARS THAT IN TURN WERE PUSHED INTO TWO OTHER CARS AS A RESULT OF MY NOT BEING ABLE TO BREAK OR CONTROL THE STEERING INTO THE TURN. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE WHO WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAD INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #10573618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON US 495 IN SECOND LANE FROM RIGHT GETTING READY TO EXIT TO ROUTE 7 AND TRAVEL WEST TOWARDS LEESBURG WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE ENGINE WAS RACING. I TRIED EVERYTHING TO AVOID OTHER TRAFFIC AND STOP OR SLOW DOWN THE CAR WHILE TURNING THE AUTO TO THE ADJACENT LANE. THIS INCLUDES SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL AND PARK, APPLYING BRAKES, APPLYING EMERGENCY BRAKES AND FINALLY SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. THE AUTO MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP WITH LITTLE CONTROL OF STEERING. I WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR TO GET AWAY FROM TRAFFIC. AUTO STARTED UP AGAIN BUT ENGINE NO LONGER RACED. I SHIFTED INTO THIRD AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY ABOUT 6 MILES AWAY IN A NORMAL MANNER.ITS BEEN A GREAT CAR, AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.
NHTSA complaint #10538415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 70 MPH HE ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE IT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER 70 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLES HEAD LIGHTS, HIGH BEAMS AND THE FUEL GAUGE GAVE AN INCORRECT READING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF FUEL THE GAUGE DISPLAYED FULL AND WHEN THERE WAS NO FUEL IT ALSO DISPLAYED FULL. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86743 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,651. UPDATED 3/7/11 *CN UPDATED 04/29/11
NHTSA complaint #10348310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND THERE WAS A SLIGHT DECREASE IN SPEED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN UNUSUALLY LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE INTO A GRASSY FIELD TO AVOID A CRASH; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AT 90 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A STATE TROOPER WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.
NHTSA complaint #10327750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING TO 80 MPH AND ABOVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED ALSO INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED SOME RESISTANCE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,365.
NHTSA complaint #10266054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1994 BUICK PARK AVENUE RAN OFF THE ROAD HIT A CONSTRUCTION BARREL AND A LIGHT POLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER HIT THE LIGHT POLE IT PUSHED IT OVER AND THE LIGHT POLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT RELEASE, SO HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN HE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #10209423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DURING A TRIP FROM NEW MEXICO TO ARKANSAS, I WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. SUDDENLY THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ZOOM. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 8 TIMES. ONE TIME I WAS IN A PLACE TO SEE HOW FAR IT WOULD GO. FROM A SPEED OF 65, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 90 MILES PER HOUR. IT DISCONNECTED WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE. ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING ON THIS TRIP, AFTER DISCONNECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL BY APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY RECONNECTED WITH OUT ANY INPUT FROM ME. I FEEL THAT THESE TYPE UNCOMMANDED INPUTS ARE DANGEROUS AND ASK FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO SEE IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10208714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE TOPPED OUT AT 40 MPH. THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED USING EXCESSIVE FORCE, WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN SLOWING THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION WAS SHUT OFF, AND THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED INTO A PARKING SPACE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE THROTTLE IMMEDIATELY OPENED UP, REVVING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AGAIN, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISCONNECTED AT THE THROTTLE BY THE CONTACT, WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. A SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE.
NHTSA complaint #10168735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ANTI-FREEZE LEAK THROUGH THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PAST THE EGR VALVE AND THROTTLE BODY, ENGINE RAN HOT, HYDROSTATIC ENGINE LOCK. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED, UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS, AND THERMOSTAT. OTAL COST $685.75.
NHTSA complaint #10091084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE GAS PEDAL STUCK ON HER 1997 BUCIK, PARK AVENUE. SHE HAD TO BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET AND PLACE VEHICLE IN PARK WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING AT A HIGH RPMS. I CHECKED THE THROTTLE AREA AND THE THROTTLE WHEEL THAT ROTATES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED WAS RUBBING AGAINST A LARGER CABLE THAT WAS NOT LETTING THE WHEEL RETURN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED. I FIXED THE PROBLEM BY PULLING & STRAPPING THE CABLE AWAY FROM THE THROTTLE AREA. A LOCALE DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED ON THE ENGINE, AND I DON'T KNOWN WHETHER THE CABLE WAS INSTALLED LIKE THAT AT THE FACTORY. I COULD SEE SOME WEAR ON THE CABLE WHERE THE WHEEL HAD BEEN RUBBING ON IT FOR A WHILE. I COULD ALSO SEE A NOTCH ON THE WHEEL THAT COULD'VE CAUGHT THE CABLE AND CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10079040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON A RECENT TRIP TO DELAWARE, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SET OR RESUME SPEED, THE SPEED INCREASED RAPIDLY UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS MANUALLY DISABLED. MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 BUICK PARK AVENUE. GM SERVICE BULLETINS 120901 AND 030604056 DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM BUT DO NOT CLASSIFY IT AS A SAFETY DEFECT. I BELIEVE THE INCIDENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS HAD WE NOT REACTED QUICKLY.
NHTSA complaint #10074531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WILL CONTINUOUSLY HESITATE TO ACCELERATE WHEN PULLING OUT. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED EVERY COMPONENT THAT CAN CAUSE THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, CANNOT BE FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10030073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WITH BRAKES APPLIED, VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, JUMPED THE CURB, INJURING THREE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN A RESTAURANT BOOTH. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE ENTIRE TIME. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED, AND VEHICLE DIED OUT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #567033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER COMING TO A STOP, APPLIED ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE REVVED, VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES. DEALER DETERMINED THAT PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID FAILED, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK THE CONSUMER SAYS THE VEHICLE'S FAILURE TO MOVE AFTER STOPPING IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #899021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTIVATED VEHICLE DOES NOT GO DOWN A HILL, SYSTEM OPERATES PROPERLY ON LEVEL GROUND, AND NOT WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #896980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WOULD MAKE WEIRD NOISES; FIRST TIME WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURN, WAS GRINDING AND THEN STOPPING. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO JERK FORWARD. THEN, A THUMPING NOISE BEFORE SUDDENLY ACCELERATING. HAD HAPPENED EVERY FEW YARDS. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING AFTER TEST DRIVING. SECOND WAS IN PARKING LOT AND BACKING OUT WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A POLE. HAD SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, AND IT ACCELERATED FORWARD AND HIT A BUILDING. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHEELS WERE SPINNING LIKE CRAZY.
NHTSA complaint #895973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. CONSUMER NOTED KEY HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #882331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.