Buick Park Avenue Complaints (1999)

140 consumer complaints on file.

#10258452February 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY 1999 PARK AVENUE SUDDENLY STARTED TO RUN RUFF, CAUSING ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, AS WELL AS TWO IGNITION COILS. HE STATED THAT THE PLUGS HAD INDICATION OF BURNS THAT ARE ATTRIBUTED TO ANTI FREEZE COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE PLUGS. DURING THE REPAIR HE ALSO INDICATED THAT HE NOTICED ANTI FREEZE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE IN THE AREA OF THE PLENUM. THE REPAIRMAN STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3800 MOTOR, THAT THE PLENUM LEAKS CAUSING ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS DUE TO THE ANTI FREEZE COMING IN CONTACT WITH ENGINE COMPONENTS. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE IF NOT CORRECTED BY REPLACEMENT OF THE PLENUM AND THE INTAKE GASKET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246657October 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE OCCURRED ON 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE WITH APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND RESULTED IN A MISFIRE CODE IN MULTIPLE CYLINDERS. SYMPTOMS EXPERIENCED BY THE DRIVER WERE A ROUGH IDLE AT START FOR 30 SECONDS, AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WOULD COME ON, SOMETIMES STAYING ON AND SOMETIMES EXTINGUISHING AFTER 15 SECONDS. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY DRIVEN FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER INITIALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A COMBINATION OF DIRTY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM (CLEANED REGULARLY, BUT STILL NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AGAIN TO CONVINCE DEALER TO RULE OUT THIS PROBLEM). WHEN PROBLEM PERSISTED IN CYLINDER #6, THE PROBLEM WAS THEN DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR WHICH WAS REPLACED. WHEN THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, IT WAS NOTICED THAT COOLANT HAD GOTTEN INTO CYLINDER #6 IN SMALL AMOUNTS AND CAUSE A MISFIRE. DEALER THEN DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. WEB SEARCHING REVEALS THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM AS THE DESIGN WAS CHANGED FROM METAL TO PLASTIC. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO CURRENT RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. COST TO REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1,700. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229831June 3, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS ON FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DO NOT FUNCTION AND DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED WITH EITHER REMOTE, KEY OR FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209533November 20, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE INSIGNIA SL, SIZE P225/60R16 TIRES. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2004. IN MAY OF 2007, THE FIRST TIRE BEGAN TO SEPARATE AT 45,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHERE THE TIRE WAS LOCATED ON THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIRE BEGAN TO SEPARATE AT 78,000 MILES IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007 AND THE THIRD TIRE SEPARATED IN THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER OF 2007 AT 87,000 MILES. THE TIRES WERE BOUGHT IN A SET OF FOUR AND SHE BELIEVES THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT CAUSED 3 OUT OF THE 4 TIRES TO SEPARATE WITHIN MONTHS OF ONE ANOTHER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE AND PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SECOND AND THIRD TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207899November 5, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE. IN 2004, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V090000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY). HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE RECALL REPAIRED AT 30,000 MILES. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED ALL DAY, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUGHT FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER THAT PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR AND THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BUT A MECHANIC AT A DIFFERENT SHOP STATED THAT THE FAILURE ORIGINATED FROM THE ISSUE STATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197227July 23, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED FOR THE ANTIFREEZE. WHEN HE CHECKED THE LEVEL IN THE PROPER RECEPTACLE, IT WAS EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE ANTIFREEZE IS STILL LEAKING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175006December 3, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED FLOODING ENGINE INTERIOR WITH COOLANT. ENGINE LOCKED UP. VEHICLE OPERATOR WAS ACCELERATING FROM IDLE TO ENTER TRAFFIC WHEN ENGINE LOCK UP OCCURRED, BUT LUCKILY HAD NOT YET ENTERED TRAFFIC. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR BUICK PARK AVENUES WITH MILEAGE ABOVE 90,000 MILES. REPAIRS EXCEEDED $1,100. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167437September 6, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON DRY HIGHWAY ROADS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE SHAKING GRADUALLY BECAME WORSE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THERE WAS A BLISTER THE SIZE OF A MELON ON THE TREAD OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND. THE CONSUMERS SECOND TIRE ALSO HAD TREAD SEPARATION. UPDATED 10/04/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164767July 31, 2006
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE SEVERED BRAKE LINES, LEFT FRONT AXLE BROKE DUE TO A CRACKED CRADLE. *KB ***NAR*** WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. UPON INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE CRADLE HAD CRACKED. WHEN THE CRADLE CRACKED IT SEVERED THE BRAKE LINE AND BROKE THE FRONT LEFT AXLE. THE TECHNICIAN ORDER TWO CRADLES FROM TWO DIFFERENT JUNK YARDS. BOTH CRADLE HAD CRACKS IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. NEW CRADLES HAD TO BE ORDERED AND INSTALLED AND THE LEFT AXLE AND BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155173March 29, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
1999 PARK AVENUE SENSOR FOR THE REAR WINDSHIELD CAUSED MOISTURE TO FREEZE ON THE WIPERS. *TS THE DEVICE CAUSED MOISTURE ON THE WINDSHIELD TO FREEZE ONTO THE WIPERS. THE END RESULT WAS THAT THE WIPERS WOULD NOT CLEAN OFF THE WINDSHIELD. THE SENSOR CAUSED THE BLADES TO MOVE SO QUICKLY THAT THEY SPED UP THE FREEZING PROCESS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153729March 26, 2006
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES ON RF, RR, AND LR FAILED. MECHANISM INSIDE OF DOOR BROKE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. EMPHASIZE THAT ONLY THE LF DOOR COULD BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY TO USE EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES TO REACH OCCUPANTS. RF, RR, AND LR DOOR HANDLES ALL FAILED IN THE EXACT SAME MANNER (PLASTIC COMPONENT ON DOOR HANDLE CRACKED/FATIGUED). CONDITION WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING DOOR HANDLES. NO OBVIOUS DESIGN ENHANCEMENTS WERE OBSERVED ON REPLACEMENT PARTS. FAILED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE BY REQUEST.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149727January 26, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
1999 BUICK PARK AVE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BECAME STUCK IN THE LOWER RETRACTION SYSTEM. *TS A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER'S MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148039January 18, 2006
SEAT BELTS
ON 12/28/2005, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BECAME STUCK IN THE LOWER RETRACTION SYSTEM ON OUR 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE. I ASSUME THE BELT BECAME TWISTED AS IT WAS RETRACTING, BUT I AM UNSURE. THE FAILURE & POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR THIS SEAT BELT FAILURE WOULD BE THE INJURY AND/OR DEATH OF A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT LEFT PASSENGER SEAT. I CALLED OUR LOCAL DEALER (GIUFFRE BUICK) & THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE FACTORY WARRANTY SINCE IT IS OVER 3 YEARS OLD. TO VERIFY THIS STATEMENT, I CONTACTED BUICK CORPORATE DIRECTLY VIA EMAIL & THEY SAID THE SAME THING. I DID SOME FURTHER RESEARCH VIA THIS SITE & FOUND THE FOLLOWING INFO UNDER THE ODI DEFECT INVESTIGATION SEARCH: NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 00V117000. ALTHOUGH THE RECALL IS FOR 1997 & 1998 IT DID MENTION THE SAME TYPE OF SEAT BELT FAILURES ON 784 OUT OF 55,960 VEHICLES ON MODEL YEAR 1999 VEHICLES. I FORWARDED THE DOCUMENT TO MICHAEL REETZ, CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER, BUICK CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, TO WHICH HE REPLIED - QUOTE "THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE BUICK CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE US IN REGARDS TO YOUR FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE CONCERN WITH YOUR SEAT BELTS. INFORMATION ON THIRD PARTY WEBSITES IN NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE FOR YOUR SEAT BELT CONCERN." I AGREE, THERE IS NOT CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR MY 99' PARK AVENUE, BUT I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131308July 25, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
RECALL REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PRIOR TO THE RECALL AND THEREFORE HE REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. RECALL # 04V090000 *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123939June 24, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT: THE 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE HAS A PLASTIC PLENUM THAT FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION UNANNOUNCED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, LOCKING THE ENGINE UP. CONSEQUENTLY, THERE IS A TOTAL POWER FAILURE. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES DO NOT WORK, AND THE CAR HAS NO POWER. CAN'T COAST OR ANYTHING ELSE. CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH BUICK, BUT, THERE WAS NO RECALL. CONSUMER CONSIDERED THIS VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE. CAR JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS INSTANTANEOUS, AND WITH NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO HIS MECHANIC, AND THEY REPLACED THE PLENUM FROM GM PRODUCTS. *AK *TT *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118654April 28, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113138February 28, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. CONTACTED THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105516February 23, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN ROUGH, OVER HEAT AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE 3.8L ENGINE HAS BLOWN A HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIR. *JB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105300January 23, 2005
WHEELS:HUB, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE COMPLAINT WAS RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. I WENT TO GOODYEAR TO HAVE MY BRAKES CHECKED WHEN THEY REMOVED THE WHEEL CAP, AND THE PLASTIC SNAPS THAT HOLD THE WHEEL CAPS IN PLACE FELL OFF. THE MECHANIC CALLED ME OVER AND REFUSED TO TAKE ANY MORE CAPS OFF. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I NEEDED FRONT BRAKES, AND I GAVE HIM PERMISSION TO TAKE THE SECOND CAP OFF. ONE MORE SNAP BROKE OFF. MY CAR IS A 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE ULTRA OF 42,000 MILES. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO I HAD TO REPLACE A CAP THAT WAS MISSING AT A COST OF $54.00. THESE CAPS ARE POORLY MADE AND CANNOT WITHSTAND THE PROCESS OF HAVING TIRES ROTATED, REPLACED OR WHATEVER CONDITION REQUIRES THAT THE TIRES BE REMOVED. REPLACING THESE CAPS HAS BECOME AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM NOT ONLY THAT, BUT DANGEROUS AS WELL. THIS IS A FAULTY PRODUCT, AND SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. I HAVE CALLED THE BUICK PEOPLE, AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THESE CAPS. ALSO, WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103611December 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD COVER IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, AND HAS BECOME DEFECTIVE FOR A SECOND TIME. THE ANTIFREEZE IS GOING INTO THE ENGINE.*AK..........*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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