49 of the
1,880 complaints filed about the Buick Park Avenue
are about the other systems —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1998.
Sub-frame rust is severe where 2 at front of the engine mounting bushings all have rust, but the worst are the ones supporting the transmission -under the transmission, 2 have almost no metal frame and engine/transmission could drop down, as seen on some of the You tube videos. Inspected and find the engine appears to have dropped some... there is a gap where the steering wheel cover connects to the drive. This is a self inspection after replacing the stabilizing bar end link, had to be replaced.
NHTSA complaint #11418321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE GEAR SHIFTER DOES NOT SHIFT IN TO THE CORRECT SELECTED GEARS. THE PREFABRICATION WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY ON THE BOTTOM ROCKER PANELS, THAT CAUSED THEM TO RUST PREMATURELY. THE PAINT IS JUST PEELING OFF THE TOP AND THE HOOD OF THE CAR. 8 YEARS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, GM DEALER PARTS BECAME UNAVAILABLE. I HAVE KEPT MY CAR IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. I HAVE ALL MY SERVICE RECORDS AND RECEIPT'S FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR TO THIS VERY DAY!!! I STILL HAVE THE CAR TO THIS DAY. IF THERE WASN'T A RECALL THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. ESPECIALLY FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER AND ROCKER PANELS...???? ALSO THE HORN PAD HAD A DEFECT WITH THE SPRINGS UNDER THE HORN PAD. GEAR SHIFTER OCCURRED MOST OF THE TIME WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT THE CAR IN TO ONE GEAR OR ANOTHER. THE HORN WAS PAD WAS REPLACED WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING AND NO HORN. IT IS A VERY NICE CAR BUT WHO EVER HELP PUT IT TOGETHER HAD TO BE ON SOMETHING??? MY 1995 PARK AVENUE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. IT ONLY HAS 167,787 MILES ON IT. NEVER DRIVEN IN WINTER UNTIL 2014.
NHTSA complaint #11084497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO AREAS THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. NO STEERING, BRAKES, OR POWER WHATSOEVER. WILL PLACE IN PARK AND TURN KEY, CAR WILL START RIGHT UP. SO FAR I HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE WHO CAN FIND THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND JUST RECOMMEND REPLACING NUMEROUS PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10782243 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE AFTERNOON OF FEBRUARY 14 MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING FROM INDIANA ON I-70 EAST TOWARDS DAYTON, OHIO. AS WE WERE DRIVING WE NOTICED HOW THE SNOW STORM WE THOUGHT WE WERE LEAVING BEHIND IN INDIANA SEEMED TO BE EVER WITH US. ABOUT 3 P.M. IN THE AFTERNOON I, THE DRIVER, SMELLED A FAINT ELECTRICAL ODOR. HAVING HAD THAT EXPERIENCE BEFORE WITH NO CONSEQUENCE I THOUGHT I MIGHT JUST BE MISTAKEN OR SMELLED THE ODOR FROM ANOTHER CAR. ABOUT THE SAME TIME, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHETHER IT WAS JUST BEFORE OR JUST AFTER THIS, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH IT HAS DONE INTERMITTENTLY IN THE RECENT PAST WITH NO CONSEQUENCE. JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER, HOWEVER, THE RADIO CEASED TO OPERATE. SINCE OUR AM CAPABILITY HAD VANISHED ALMOST A YEAR AGO, WE BOTH TOOK NOTE OF THIS OBVIOUS INTERRUPTION. FOR THE NEXT FEW MOMENTS WE WERE DISTRACTED BY NOT HAVING RADIO, BUT FIDDLED WITH THE DIAL, AND SOON HAD A SIGNAL RETURN FOR JUST A BRIEF MOMENT THEN IT WENT SILENT AGAIN. AT ABOUT THAT SAME MOMENT I AGAIN DETECTED A WHIFF OF ELECTRICAL ODOR. EARLIER, SINCE THE REAR WINDOW WAS FREE OF SNOW, I HAD TURNED OFF THE DEFROSTER. BUT, SCANNING THE MIRRORS, I WAS SURPRISED TO DISCOVER A TINY FLAME IN THE REAR WINDOW. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR, AND IN THE UPPER CORNER OF THE REAR WINDOW, THERE WAS A CIGARETTE LIGHTER SIZE FLAME. OBVIOUSLY AMAZED AND SURPRISED, I TOLD MY WIFE WHAT I SAW AND QUICKLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE SO I COULD PULL OVER. AFTER STOPPING AND OPENING THE PASSENGER DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, I SWATTED INSTINCTIVELY AT THE FLAME WITH MY LEFT HAND, HOPING THAT SUCH A MOTION WOULD DOUSE THE FLAME. THAT ONLY SUCCEEDED IN INJURING MY HAND IN WHAT LATER TURNED OUT TO BE A 2ND DEGREE BURN. THE CAR WAS EVENTUALLY CONSUMED BY FIRE EXCEPT THE FRONT FENDERS & TIRES - TOTALLED BUICK DID NOT ATTEND TO MY CASE BECAUSE I NO LONGER OWNED THE CAR WHEN I CALLED THEM {CASE # 711288559106].
NHTSA complaint #10608583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PURCHASED CAR 04/20/2006. IN JULY '09 USED CAR DEALER REPLACED INTAKE GASKET SET. (THEIR COST) IN JUNE '09 REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTOR & THERMOSTAT (MY EXPENSE) AUGUST '10 SAME MECHANIC REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (MY EXPENSE) ODM 53405 DEC '10 I DISCOVERED ON INTERNET THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THESE PROBLEMS. CONTACTED BUICK AND JULIAN DELCOUR, VICE PRESIDENT SAID THE PROBLEMS HAD BEEN REPAIRED IN 2001 BUT UNABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH DOCUMENTATION. NOTE: RECALL ID#56853 DATED 2/24/2004 RELATED TO FUEL SYSTEM. SEAT BELT RECALL WAS IN 2000. DELCOUR DECLINED MY REQUEST FOR REPAYMENT OF REPAIRS MADE AT MY EXPENSE. THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO ME IN WRITING, ONLY PHONE CONVERSATIONS. MY ANSWERING MACHINE RECORDED HIS LAST CALL TO ME REGARDING THE NON-PAYMENT OR RELEASE OF RECORDS. QUESTIONS TO YOU: 1-WHY COULDN'T HE PROVIDE PROOF OF REPAIRS MADE AND UNABLE TO PROVIDE THIS TO ME, I THEN AM UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY HAVE NO PROOF. 2-SHOULDN'T THEY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND PAY FOR MY EXPENSES? I HAVE DOCUMENTED EVERYTHING RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD BE ABLE TO FURNISH YOU COPIES. HOPEFULLY, THIS PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED WITH YOUR ASSISTANCE AND I WILL BE SENT A CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $931.21 PLUS $100 FOR TWO TOWING CHARGES FROM BUICK.
NHTSA complaint #10396495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.
NHTSA complaint #10252090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE ARE A LIST OF RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED ON THEM. SEE THE WEBSITE. CAN I HAVE THESE ITEMS FIXED OR BE REIMBURSED FOR THE MONEY THAT I HAVE PAID OUT? HTTP://WWW.ALLDATA.COM/TSB/07/890742II.HTML THESE ARE ONLY APPROXIMATE DATES AS I CAN EXACTLY REMEMBER. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10229664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 BUICK PARK AVENUE WITH ONSTAR CUSTOMER STATES THAT ONSTAR HAS INFORMED HIM THAT THEY DECIDED TO INSTALL ANALOG WIRING ONLY**CC THE CONSUMER IS DISAPPOINTED THAT GM WILL CHANGE HER VEHICLE OVER TO DIGITAL IN ORDER TO CONTINUE USING ONSTAR FEATURES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HER VEHICLE WAS CAME EQUIPPED WITH ANALOG WIRING ONLY
NHTSA complaint #10194333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PURCHASED A 2005 BUICK PARK AVENUE FROM VAN BUREN BUICK 2257 JERICHO TURNPIKE GARDEN CITY PARK, NY 11040 1-888-300-1376. PRIOR TO PURCHASE REQUIRED SEVERAL SAFETY FEATURES AND ONE OF THESE WAS ONSTAR SYSTEM. ASKED DEALER IF SYSTEM WAS DIGITAL READY AND WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO VEHICLE BEING A 2005 IT ALREADY IS DIGITAL READY AND WILL BE CONVERTED PRIOR TO 2008. NOW GM TELLS ME IT IS ONLY ANALOG AND WILL CEASE TO FUNCTION BY 12/31/07 VEHICLE WENT IN FOR A SAFETY DEFECT (ONSTAR) AND WORK ORDER #296327 FULLED OUT"ONSTAR CANNOT BE UPGRADED TO DIGITAL" THEREFORE, A SAFETY FEATURE THAT I PURCHASED WHICH SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE TO THE CONSUMER EVEN THOUGH I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WILL BE UPGRADED. DEALER SHOULD RE-PURCHASE VEHICLE TO BE APPLIED TO A GM VEHICLE WITH DIGITAL ONSTAR.
NHTSA complaint #10192160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.*MR DURING A NORMAL 15000 MILE SERVICE A CHEMICAL WAS INTRODUCED IN THE A/C SYSTEM. THE OWNER IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED ALLERGIC REACTIONS THAT IMPAIRED HER DRIVING. THE REACTION HAD CONTINUED AND IS AN ON-GOING DANGER. AFTER FURTHER INFORMATION WAS OBTAIN FROM THE DEALER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE A/C FOGGER HAD A SLIGHT HEALTH RISK LISTED ON THE MSDS SHEET WHICH INDICATED "...HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. MAY IRRITATE EYES, SKIN AND RESPIRATORY TRACT......". THE GARAGE MANAGER STATED THAT THE CHEMICAL WAS USED TO ELIMINATE A MOLD AND MILDEW PROBLEM. NO ODOR OR MILDEW PROBLEM HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED BY THE OWNER, SO THE CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOWN WHY THE CHEMICAL WAS USED AND WHY WASN'T THE CONSUMER INFORMED OF IT'S USE.
NHTSA complaint #10079874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR WENT OUT AROUND 2:00 THE OTHER NIGHT. WE WERE ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD. TRYING TO DETERMINE IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG IN TILT STEERING TO CAUSE THIS. SEEMS AS IT IS WIRE BROKE OR SOMETHING CAME UNPLUGGED. HAVE ALREADY CHECKED FUSES.
NHTSA complaint #10068889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
THE HEATER IN THE SEAT QUIT WORKING. A NEW ONE WAS INSTALLED AND IT DOESN'T HEAT UP CORRECTLY. THE MOTOR IN THE WINDOW FAILED. THE ROTORS/BRAKES WERE WARPED. THE STEREO FAILED. THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP CORRECTLY DESPITE A NEW ONE BEING PUT IN. THE STARTER IS DRAGGING. SOME OF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER THE SMART CHOICE EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER SOME OF THE REPAIRS ARE STILL NEEDED AND I STILL HAVE TIME REMAINING ON MY SMART CHOICE WARRRANTY BUT THEY HAVE WENT BANKRUPT AND MY DEALER SAYS THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER VALID AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10070934 — 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.
AFTER BUYING MY '98 PARK AVENUE, I NOTICED THAT AFTER WASHING IT ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS THAT THE PAINT HAD BEGAN TO CHIP. I TOOK IT TO A COUPLE OF PAINT SHOPS AND EVERYONE SAID THAT THIS CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE PAINT PEELING AND IT WAS A DEFECT BECAUSE THEY COULD SEE THE FACTORY PRIMER. MY ENGINE DIED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE TEPERATURE GAUGE DIDN'T SHOW THAT IT WAS OVERHEATED AND NO SMOKE OR STEAM CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED THE DIC SHOWED : CHECK COOLANT LEVELS AND EVEN THEN IT DIDN'T BEEP AS IT SHOULD HAVE. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY SEAT BELTS SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. THEY ARE CONTINUOUSLY TANGLED AND TWISTED WHEN THEY CROSS THE BODY. MOREOVER, MY OWNER'S MANUAL HAS AN ILLUSTRATION THAT STATES THAT MY SEATBELT USAGE IS INCORRECT.
NHTSA complaint #10068946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE WERE THREE SYSTEMS THAT HAD PROBLEMS, BUT ONE OF THE SYSTEMS, THE DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM, SEEMS TO HAVE CURED ITSELF. THE OTHER TWO PROBLEMS, THAT OF THE A/C AND THE SEAT MEMORY SYSTEMS, BEGAN TO SHOW UP AS SOON AS WE STARTED DRIVING THE CAR AFTER PURCHASE. THE FIRST TIME THAT I REGISTERED THOSE PROBLEMS WITH THE DEALERSHIP, THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN 2886 MILES. WE PURCHASED THE CAR ON JULY 24, 2002. I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEPT. 11, 2002. AIR CONDITIONING: AFTER CAR SITS IN HOT SUN FOR 2 HRS OR MORE, A/C REFUSES TO COME ON. AUTO LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. BLOWER DOES NOT COME ON AND FLOOR IS SHOWN ON DISPLAY SCREEN. COMPRESSOR DOES RUN. ATTEMPTS TO MAKE RUN WILL SOMETIMES GET SYSTEM OPERATIVE. SEAT MEMORY: AFTER DOORS UNLOCKED WITH KEY PAD, DRIVER SELECTS HIS OR HER SEAT MEMORY BUTTON. SEAT MOVES FORWARD. WHEN IGNITION SWITCH IS SELECTED TO ON AND BEFORE ENGINE IS STARTED, SEAT WILL MOVE TO EXIT POSITION. THIS CONDITION INTERMITTENT--PROBABLY ONE TIME IN 50 TRIES. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE EITHER PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO REPLACE ANY COMPONENTS. BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND WE ARE IN ARBITRATION AT THIS MOMENT. WE MAY PRESS FOR A GM RE-PURCHASE OF THE CAR. WE HAVE GIVEN DEALER ONE MORE CHANCE TO FIND AND FIX THE PROBLEMS. WE LIKE THE CAR VERY MUCH AND WANT TO KEEP IT IF GM WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS. THEIR STONE WALL APPROACH IS NOT ACCEPTIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #10069598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE HOSES IN THE POWER STEERING. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVE OVER BUMPS, THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AREA. THE ASH TRAY LID WAS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10053980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PAINT IS PEELING OFF VEHICLE IN MANY AREAS. WAS TOUCHED UP BY DEALER FOR A FEE, BUT IS PROCEEDING TO COME OFF OTHER AREAS DOWN TO THE PRIMER. TERRIBLE PAINT JOB BY GM, GETTING VERY EXPENSIVE TO KEEP PAINTING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THIS CAR!!! *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10033522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.