30 of the
1,880 complaints filed about the Buick Park Avenue
are about the equipment —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1993.
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT THEN THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND STEAM STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS THE HEATER HOSE FITTING THAT HAD FAILED. ACCORDING TO MOST DEALERSHIPS THIS IS BECOMING A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE COOLANT SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10632680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PURCHASED 2005 BUICK PARK AVENUE FROM VAN BUREN BUICK IN GARDEN CITY PARK, NEW YORK WAS CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE HAD ALL CURRENT SAFETY FEATURES AS LISTED IN BROCHURE. ABS, AIR BAGS, DTABLE TRACK AND ON-STAR WERE SOME OF THE MAIN SAFETY FEATURES. SPECIFICALLY ASKED SALESMAN ( PAT LONGO) IF ON-STAR WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AFTER THE DIGITAL CUTOVER IN JAN 2008. SALESMAN ASSURED ME THAT UNIT WAS DIGITAL READY AND WOULD BE CONVERTED BY DEALER AT NO CHARGE PRIOR TO JAN 2008 NOW BOTH DEALER AND GM REFUSE TO HONOR THIS PLEDGE AND SAY I WAS SOLD A ANALOG ONLY ON_STAR UNIT AND DEALER DENIES THAT HIS SALESPERSON COMMITTED FRAUD BY SELLING ME A VEHICLE THAT DID NOT MEET MY REQUESTED STANDARDS. DEALER OFFERED ME $500.00 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE FOR $40,000.00 THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN BACK AT FULL PURCHASE PRICE TO BE APPLIED TO A CAR WITH THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT REQUESTED AS THE SALE WAS AN INTENDED FRAUD IN ORDER TO SELL THE VEHICLE GM STATED THAT IT IS THE DEALERS RESPONSIBILITY AS THE HAD FULL KNOWLEDGE THE MY CAR HAD AN ANALOG ON-STAR SYSTEM THAT COULD NOT BE UPDATE TO THE 2008 DIGITAL STANDARDS.
NHTSA complaint #10239063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE A/C WILL TURN ON AGAIN AFTER I TURN IT OFF. THE RADIO WILL SHIFT TO CASSETTE AND BACK WHILE DISPLAYING E33. DRIVERS WINDOW WILL COME DOWN UNEVENLY AND GET WEDGED. THE ALTERNATER WENT OUT AND THE BOTTOM BOLT STRIPPED DURING REMOVAL. THERE IS A LURCH SOMETIMES DURING SHIFTING.
NHTSA complaint #10069116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY NUMBER ONE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR IS THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE OIL WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE MAIN BEARINGS WERE DESTROYED AND I HAD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. (I HAVE THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IN MY POSSESSION.) THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN NOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE EGR VALVE AND EVENTUALLY SUFFERS FROM THERMAL FATIGUE AT THE EGR AND STRESS RELAXATION AROUND THE FLANGE OF THE MANIFOLD. I NOTIFIED GM OF THE PROBLEM IN WRITING AND THEY OFFERED ME $800 COMPENSATION FOR MY $5,000.00 PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS PROBABLY ON ITS LAST LEGS. I TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN BABIED AND OFFERED UP RESULTS OF THE MANDATORY EMISSIONS TEST THAT THE CAR UNDERWENT NOT 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO FAILURE AS PROOF THAT THE CAR WAS IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER. (IN TORONTO, ALL VEHICLE OWNERS MUST SUBMIT THEIR CARS FOR EMISSIONS TESTING EVERY 2 YEARS. THE CAR IS MEASURED FOR HYDRO CARBON OUTPUT, NOX OUTPUT, CO, AND CO2. IF THE ENGINE HAD BEEN MALFUNCTIONING, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN QUALIFIED.) THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF GM DIDN'T SWITCH FROM ALUMINUM TO PLASTIC. OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR INCLUDE A REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE, - 3'RD ALTERNATOR, 2ND BATTERY , A SECURITY SYSTEM THAT SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, WATER IN THE TRUNK (SEVERAL ATTEMPT TO REPAIR, ENDED UP DRILLING A HOLE IN THE TRUNK), FAILED AC COMPRESSOR, FAILED HEATED SEAT, SEVERAL INSTRUMENT CONTROL LIGHT BULBS HAVE BURNED OUT AND CAN NOT BE REPLACED, YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT. THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS THAT WARP EVERY 35,000 KM. - FUEL GAUGE THAT DOESN'T WORK BELOW A QUARTER TANK. IF YOU WOULD LIKE COPIES OF CORRESPONDENCE SENT TO GM, LET ME KNOW. REGARDS DOUG WEBB 13 BRUMELL AVENUE TORONTO, ONTARIO M6S 4G3 DOUG.WEBB@SYMPATICO.CA 905-238-0007 EX. 2624 (DAYTIME)
NHTSA complaint #10071333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER PUSHED IN CIGARETTE LIGHTER TO ACTIVATE. LIGHTER ONLY GOT WARM. CONSUMER DEPRESSED AGAIN. THIS TIME LIGHTER GOT HOT, BEGAN SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE BURNING OUT THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10031695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT EH DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH CAUSED PREMATURE GASKET FAILURE. THAT FAILURE CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD AND BURN IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLES A/C COMPRESSOR ALSO FAILED. *AK *CB *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10024940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED, REAR BRAKES ADJUSTED, HOWEVER BRAKES STILL SQUEAK, MASTER CYLINDER HAS LEAKED TWICE. OIL PAN LEAKS, ENGINE OVERHEATED, FAN CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. AIR CONDITIONER INOPERABLE DUE TO FAULTY CORE AND EVAPORATOR. CONSUMER STATES TIRES WERE BAD, ONE TIRE EXPERIENCED A LEAK, FAULTY VALVE STEM, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN. EXHAUST PIPE FAILURE, REPLACED FUEL FILTER, INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED. BATTERY AND GENERATOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED. STEERING GEAR FAILURE. TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES LEAKED. ROCKER PANELS RUSTED AND WERE REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #561928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NATURE OF PROBLEM: I PURCHASED A LEMON!! I PURCHASED A 1993 BUICK PARK AVENUE ON 2/21/98 FOR $12,800.00 (ALONG WITH MY HUSBANDS 1991 JEEP WRANGLER) FROM STEPHENS BUICK/JEEP. AT THAT SAME TIME I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 48 MONTH OR 40,000 MILES, CLASSIC JCX FOR $1,466.00. SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. HERE IS A LIST OF PROBLEMS IN DATE ORDER:1) 2/23/98 REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS (I DONT THINK THIS WAS ON ALL 4 WHEELS)3) 3/11/98 REPAIR TIRE LEAKING ALIGN FRONT END (I HAD TO PERSIST ON GETTING TIRED CHECKED OUT)4) 7/06/98 A/C INOP REPLACED A/C CORE & EVAPORATOR (A/C DIDNT WORK AT ALL)5) 6/24/99 SEAL FRONT EXHAUST PIPE / REPLACE (CONTINUED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT SOME LEAK IN FRONT OF CAR)6) 10/8/99 DUE TO EXTREME RUST ON ROCKER PANELS AND LOW MILEAGE ON CAR REPLACE R/L ROCKER PANELS7) 10/28/99 THE ANTENNA WAS INOP AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF ROCKER PANELS. REPLACED NEW POWER ANTENNA8) 12/14/99 REPLACED GENERATOR ASSEMBLY / <DISMOUNT TIRE (LEAKY SINCE 3/98), CLEAN BEAD, INSTALL NEW VALVE STEM/REMOUNT/BALANCE> CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM AND REPLACED BATTERY REPLACED FUEL FILTER/FUEL INJECTED.9) 7/18/200 COMPLAINED ABOUT SOME CLUNKING NOISE ON RIGHT FRONT END WHEN ESPECIALLY TURNING SHARP TURNS. *LEFT FROM WHEEL BRG REPLACED/NOISY/CLEANED AND ADJUSTED REAR BREAKS. BREAKS STILL CONTINUE TO SQUEAK10) 3/12/2001 MANY PROBLEMS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THIS DEALER SHIP1. OIL PAN (SEE 3/3/98) INTAKE MANIFOLD/STEERING GEAR/BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING R.2. LEAKY UPPER/LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD3. LEAKY MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER4. LEAKY TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES WARRANTY COMPANY DENIED TO REPAIR/REPLACE5. FAN CONTROL MODULE WARRANTY COMPANY DENIED TO REPAIR/REPLACE *DUE TO THE FACT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES AND FAN CONTROL MODULE WERE NOT REPLACED, THE CAR IS TOTALLY INOP. THE ENGINE OVER HEATS BADLY.
NHTSA complaint #748080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL. WHEN THIS HAPPENED BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY GOT HARD , CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PEDAL WAS HIT TOO HARD AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK IN 8/14/96 ALTERNATOR FAILED TWICE. 10/3/96 DRIVER SIDE AND RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKES FAILED. 6/16/97 SERPENTINE BELT FAILED. 7/20/98 ANTENNA MOTOR FAILED. 1/31/00 BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. 5/4/00 ABS WHEEL CYLINDER, BRAKE SHOES FAILED. BATTERY FAILED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #861956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT TURN OFF EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF , HAD TO TAKE OFF THE PLUG TO TURN OFF . NOW THE AC CUTS OFF EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE MOSTLY WHEN THE BLINKER GOES ON AND ALSO WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON. NOW AC ONLY BLOWS ON LOW
NHTSA complaint #701813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.