56 of the
1,880 complaints filed about the Buick Park Avenue
are about the suspension —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1998.
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.
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2012. THE BODY, INTERIOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. THE CAR WAS SOLD IN GREAT CONDITION AND I WAS TOLD OF NO MAJOR MECHANICAL ISSUES. I PERFORMED A CARFAX ON THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WAS FOLLOWED AND FOR THE FIRST 80,000-90,000 PLUS MILES WAS ONLY DRIVEN BETWEEN 5000-6000 MILES PER YEAR FOR THE FIRST 14 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND TEST DRIVING I BEGAN TO NOTICE A NOISE AND DECIDED TO PERFORM A BREAK JOB AND INSPECT THE SUSPENSION WHEN I FOUND THE SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER RUSTED/ROTTED OUT ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THIS PART SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND OTHER VITAL PARTS IN THE SUSPENSION. INSPECTION OF THE REAR SHOWED ONLY MINOR RUST. AFTER HAVING THE CAR INSPECTED BY A SECOND PARTY I WAS WARNED THAT TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THIS ROT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND WOULD BE DANGEROUS UNTIL REPAIRED. THE BREAK THROUGH OF THE RUSTED/ROTTED AREA COULD EASILY BE CAUSED BY HITTING REPEATED BUMPS, LARGE POTHOLES, OR BY DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE RUST/ROT OF THE SUB MEMBER CROSSFRAME WAS ABNORMAL AND PROBABLY CAUSED BY DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL/FRAME, SEEING THAT THE RUST/ROT WAS MOST SEVERE IN THIS ISOLATED AREA WITH ONLY MINOR RUST ELSEWHERE. CARFAX REPORTS LIST THIS CAR IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH NO REPORTING BY THE BUICK DEALER OR THERE MECHANICS THAT PERFORMED A MAJORITY OF THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE AS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH ROT IN THE SUBFRAME CROSSMEMBER THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS PRESENT AND SEVERE. IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE NEED OF A BRAKE JOB THIS DEFECT IN QUALITY OF WORKMANSHIP/MATERIALS WAS LIKELY TO LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AT SOME POINT AND CAUSE INJURY OR POSSIBLY DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #10451736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK PARK AVENUE WITH BRIDGESTONE INSGINIA TIRES, SIZE: P225 60 RX16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WOULD WEAR PREMATURELY. THE TIRES WERE NOT ROTATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 200,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. .. UPDATED 11/25/11 *BF UPDATED 12/12/11 THE CONSUMER WANTS TO CANCEL HIS COMPLAINT. 02/06/12
NHTSA complaint #10434978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TWO GABRIEL STRUT MOUNT KIT ITEM #142640 WERE INSTALLED IN A 2000 BUICK PARK AVENUE IN THE SPRING OF 2010 . BOTH STRUT MOUNTS FAILED AFTER ABOUT 5 MONTHS, ABOUT 3500 MILES. THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT HAD PIERCED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE HOOD. BOTH STRUT MOUNTS WERE REPLACED, AGAIN NEW GABRIEL KIT #142640 WERE INSTALLED IN SEPTEMBER 2010. THE NEW STRUT MOUNTS ON BOTH SIDES FAILED IN OCTOBER 2010, THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT WENT THROUGH, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT DENTED THE HOOD. A REPLACEMENT HOOD WAS LOCATED BUT HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED YET. THE HOLE IN THE HOOD HAD INCREASED IN SIZE AFTER THE SECOND FAILURE. I HAVE PHOTOS SHOWING THE MOUNT SEPARATING FROM THE STRUT AND THE DENT AND HOLE THE STRUT MADE IN THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #10363044 — 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.
NUMEROUS SAFETY AND NON SAFETY PROBLEM'S WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT HAS BEEN NEW. GM REFUSED TO FURTHER WORK ON THIS VEHICLE SAYING (WITH A 7 YEAR, 100,000 MILE FULLY PAID HIGHEST LEVEL EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM THE SELLING DEALER) AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES THAT THERE WERE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD NO LONGER WORK ON THE VEHICLE, AND DID NOT. NEITHER THE DEALER OR GM RESPONDED AT ALL TO A BBB COMPLAINT. CONTACTS WITH GM ITSELF WERE TOTALLY FRUITLESS WITH A PERCEIVED ATTITUDE OF "WHO CARES" ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WE MANUFACTURED, SINCE YOU PAID FOR IT IN FULL. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUS OVER THE 7 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP WITH NO SATISFACTION FROM GM. THEREFORE, THIS REPORT IS NOT ON ONE SPECIFIC PROBLEM, BUT MANY, MANY PROBLEMS OVER A SEVEN YEAR TIMEFRAME, THE LEAST OF WHICH I BELIEVE ARE PLAIN OUTRIGHT FRAUD!
NHTSA complaint #10218954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HIGH SPEED SHAKE OR SHIMMY--THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, ONE AXLE HAS BEEN REPLACED, ADDITIONAL BALANCING WAS DONE, FINALLY, WE WERE TOLD IT COULD NOT BE FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10209616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HIGH SPEED SHAKE OR SHIMMY--THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, ONE AXLE HAS BEEN REPLACED, ADDITIONAL BALANCING WAS DONE, FINALLY, WE WERE TOLD IT COULD NOT BE FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10209616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS A WIND-LIKE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED, THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THERE WAS ALSO A TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING TO EITHER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE HUB ASSEMBLY WAS OUT OF BALANCE. BOTH HUB ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10172903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1) CUSTOMER LOST STEERING OF CAR 2) LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT BROKE FROM FRAME; MOUNT WAS NOT FULLY WELDED TO FRAME. (HAVE PHOTOS AND OLD FRAME) 3) REPLACE COMPLETE SUB FRAME
NHTSA complaint #10118654 — 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.
AS CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED AND THE ENGINE REVVED AND NO DRIVE MOTION WAS OCCURRING, CONSUMER HAD TO COAST TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY GO INTO LOW GEAR, NO OTHER GEARS WERE OPERATIVE, ALSO A WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED, THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED.
NHTSA complaint #8020008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERIOURS DESIGN DEFECT IN WHICH A SUDDEN DOWNWARD MOTION OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION CAN CAUSE A SUFICIENT G-FORCE FOR THE "PRY BAR ARM" LEFT FRONT TRANAXLE MOUNT (GM PN25881933) TO PULL THE THREE THREADED BOLT BOSS OUT ALONG WITH PIECES OF THE CASTING. TRANSAXLE THEN DROPS DOWN APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCHES AND BLOWS MOST OF THE FLUID OUT FROM THE GAPING HOLES.
NHTSA complaint #9004943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.