114 of the
1,880 complaints filed about the Buick Park Avenue
are about the steering —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MOVE INDEPENDENTLY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND BRUISES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10764694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING DOWN THE HIWAY, HAD JUST PASSED A SEMI; THANK GOODNESS IT WAS AFTER THAT THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW MAKING THE CAR QUITE DIFFICULT TO STEER. TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE; HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT TIRES REPLACED AND INSTRUCTED TO BRING IT BACK THE WEEK AFTER FOR AN ALIGNMENT. AT THAT TIME I DISCOVERED THAT BOTH NEW FRONT TIRES WERE ALREADY RUINED DUE TO THE CRADLE/FRAME ASSEMBLY WHICH WAS RUSTED OUT. THIS COST ME $863. YESTERDAY - 08/12/2015 THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WENT OUT. UPON MY INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE. I WAS TOLD IT HAD BEEN FIXED.. ALTHO THERE WASN'T ANY CONCRETE PROOF GIVEN TO ME THAT IT HAD AS THE DEALERSHIP I CALLED WAS NOT THE DEALERSHIP THAT SAID THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE JUST WEEKS AFTER SPENDING $863 TO HAVE ONE ISSUE RESOLVED. I FIND IT PARTICULARLY APPALLING THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO HELP RESOLVE ANY OF THESE ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #10748582 — 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 HAVE A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE, WHEN I TURN TO THE RIGHT ONLY EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BIT I HEAR A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION AREA. I HAD THE WHEEL BEARINGS CHECKED AND REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE BEARING AND STILL HAD THE SAME NOISE. I DO NOT KNOW IF ITS PART OF THE STEERING OR MAYBE THE PILOT BEARING IF IT HAS ONE ON THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. MAYBE THE RACK PINION SYSTEM. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FIX IT. PLEASE HELP...?
NHTSA complaint #10564545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 1997 PARK AVE ULTRA WITH SEVERAL RECALL REPAIR ISSUES THE FOLLOWING WERE ADDRESSED BY GM BUT NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED: (FAULTY) ABS SYSTEM (WITH CAMPAIGN CODE STICKER) REPLACED ABS SYSTEM CUTS OUT RANDOMLY CAUSING CHANGES IN STOPPING DISTANCE (IN SEVERE BRAKING SITUATIONS THE ABS SYSTEM HAS CUT OUT ON ME GETTING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES JUST TO COME TO A NORMAL STOP) FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT REPLACEMENT(NO CAMPAIGN STICKER) MIDDLE REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR WAS NEVER FIXED OR TORQUED TO PROPER SPECIFIED STANDARDS WHILE IN FOR REPAIRS LET ALONE ADDRESSED AT ALL RACK AND PINION HAS MULTIPLE ISSUES SOME DUE TO AGE AND MILES BUT REGARDLESS THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY IS LOOSE AND BEARINGS ARE SHOT THE FAULTY RECALL REPAIRS ON MY VEHICLE DON'T INSTILL TRUST IN GM'S ABILITY TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE A SECOND TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10449285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING CONSISTENTLY VIBRATES AT LOW SPEED AND PARKING SPEEDS CONCERN FOR LOSS OF STEERING AT HIGHER SPEEDS TSB 990232007 NHTSA 608376 REPAIRED BY TSB DIRECTION ON 11-16-2010 BECAUSE OF GREATER EXPENSE OF HOSES AND LABOR FOR REPAIR, IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM.
NHTSA complaint #10365954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RACK AND PINION BREAKAGE CAUSED BY RUST OUT OF COMPONENT DUE TO PLACEMENT OF AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DRAIN PIPE. CONDENSATE DRIPPED DIRECTLY ON COMPONENT AND CAUSED THE COMPONENT TO FAIL WHILE IN SERVICE CREATING STEERING HAZARD AND INABILITY TO CONTROL VEHICLE STEERING. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED DUE TO RUST OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10358226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH NO WARNING. THE HORN WAS SOUNDING AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND BEFORE IT ARRIVED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND SEEMED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE POLICE WERE CALLED, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED REPORT #10-24586. THE TOW TRUCK TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A STORAGE LOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS POSSIBLY DESTROYED. GENERAL MOTORS WAS CALLED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10346320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THREE OF THE FOUR REAR SUB-FRAME BOLTS RUSTED AWAY, ALLOWING THE SUB-FRAME TO DROP ON ONE SIDE AFFECTING THE ALIGNMENT OF THE FRONT WHEELS. THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FOR THE SUSPENSION IS ATTACHED TO THE SUB-FRAME. IF THE FOURTH BOLT WAS RUSTED AS BAD AS THE OTHER THREE, THE WHOLE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WOULD DROP ALONG WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND STEERING LINKAGES DISMOUNTING CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. PLEASE CALL OR E-MAIL FOR VIN #-- I AM AWAY FROM HOME AND DO NOT HAVE VIN AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10296637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE CAME HOME AND STATED THIS CAR WAS DRIVING WOBBLY AND MAKING A NOISE.I INSPECTED VEHICEL AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING. VEHICLE STEERING RACK SEPERATED FROM CRADLE..FIRST NOTICED LOUD NOISE WHEN STEERING ROTATED LOCK TO LOCK..VISUAL INSPECTION COULD SEE TIE ROD CONTACTING RIGHT SIDE UNIBODY RAIL...CLOSER INSPECTION FOUND CASTING OR RACK HOUSING CRACKED AND SEPERATED FROM IT'S MOUNTING POINT ON RIGHT SIDE..THIS ALLOWED STEERING RACK TO LIFT UP AND BIND AGAINST RIGHT RAIL OR VEHICLE INNER STRUCTURE...LOSS OF STEERING AND CONTROL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STEER VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10276418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE CAR LOST POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY FOUND THAT THE THREE BOLTS HOLDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE OFF IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THEY REPLACED THE BOLTS AT A COST OF $275. I HAD JUST COMPLETED A 1200 MILE TRIP.
NHTSA complaint #10190200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH AND MAKING TURNS THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED IN MOTION AND SOUND. THERE WAS ALSO DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH DIRECTED THAT THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE AND A POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE TO BE REPLACE. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT THERE HAD BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSE BY WAY THE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURER WHICH ALLOWED FOR THE HOSES TO SOFTEN CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WEAR AND TEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ALERTED THE CONTACT THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10167085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*:THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE IGNITION SMELL OF ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNING. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. UPDATED 5/2/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10154978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
(1) SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF IMPENDING FAILURE. (2) MOMENTARY LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO THE MAJOR INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT WHILE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS, 20 MPH. I'M 81 YEARS OLD. (3) DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING RACK WITH WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A REBUILT UNIT, THEREFORE, I IMAGINE THE OEM UNIT WAS RETURNED TO ?
NHTSA complaint #10148803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: 2001 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON JULY 14, 2005. THEY FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD HAD GONE BAD. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 33,939 MILES ON IT. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO HAVE BOTH TIE RODS FIXED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10132041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: CONSUMER WAS STEERING WHEN THE STEERING RACK BROKE. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THIS RACK BREAKING. SHE WAS PULLING INTO HER DRIVEWAY WHEN THE STEERING RACK BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #10122281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VIN, [XXX] BUICK 2001 PARK AVENUE DEALER: PERFORMANCE BUICK - PONTIAC 4033 PORTSMOUTH BLVD CHESAPEAKE, VA 23321-9249 PH: (757) 488-3500 E-MAIL: WWW.PERFORMANCEBUICK.COM CUSTOMER NO: [XXX] INVOICE NO.: [XXX] REPAIR: REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK, POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE AND ALIGN. COMPLAINT: THE AUTOMOBILE, A 2001 PARK AVENUE, WITH A MILEAGE OF 66,469 MILES STEERING SYSTEM HAD TO HAVE THE REPAIR AS LISTED ABOVE. AS A BUICK OWNER SINCE 1987, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF REPAIRS ON ANY OF THE PREVIOUS FAMILY LUXURY CARS (ELECTRA & PARK AVENUES) WITHOUT BEEN COVER UNDER FACTORY WARRANT. WITH A TOTAL REPAIR PRICE OF $1235.23 FOR LABOR ($276.00) AND PARTS ($959.23), I NEED A VERY CLEAR EXPLANATION AND/OR A REFUND FOR SUCH REPAIRS FOR A BUICK PARK AVENUE WITH LOW MILEAGE. QUESTION: IN THE FUTURE, WILL MY FAMILY AND I BE SUBJECTED WITH THIS STEERING PROBLEM AND REPAIRS EVERY 66,000 MILES OR LESS? IF SO, PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY OTHER PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT DEVELOPE FROM YOUR MAGNETIC STEERING SYSTEM. PLEASE REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10105688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING EXHIBITS A HORRIBLE NOISE AND SHUTTER ON STATIC TURNS AND THIS CONTINUES N THE FORM OF A "STICK SLIP" FEEL UP TO 60 MPH. THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO TO SEE IF THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL THIS LEAD TO EARLY FATIGUE. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NO KNOWN FIX. THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10102917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE RACK AND PINION BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. CONSUMER COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BOLTS HELD THE RACK AND PINION TO THE FRAME. STEERING WAS IMPAIRED ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10103131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.