Buick Park Avenue Complaints

1,366 consumer complaints on file.

#10061177February 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE OVERHEATED TWICE WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD. COOLANT ELBOW BROKE WHEN VEHICLE OVERHEATED THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD BROKE. *LA *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058918February 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE ENROUTE HOME FROM VACATION LOW COOLANT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WITHIN A FEW MILES THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP BACK A MILE OR SO TO A CHEVROLET DEALER I HAD PASSED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD FAILED, COSTING $593 TO REPLACE ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS, OIL AND FILTER. HOWEVER, UPON RETURNING HOME, I OPENED THE OIL FILLER CAP TO FIND A GLOB OF WATER CONTAMINATED OIL INSIDE. NOW EVEN SHORT TRIPS RESULT IN WATER DROPLETS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE OIL FILLER CAP. ALSO, THE ENGINE IDLE IS DOWN ABOUT 100 RPM, IT DOESN'T SOUND OR RUN AS SMOOTHLY AS BEORE AND THERE'S A SLIGHTLY DETECTABLE METALLIC KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS ALSO FAILED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD AND GASKET DESIGN, A $34,000 VEHICLE HAS A SICK ENGINE AT ONLY 64,000 MILES. THE MECHANIC THAT REPLACED THE GASKET SAID HE HAD ONLY WORKED AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THREE WEEKS, BUT REPLACING THESE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAD BEEN A CONTINUOUS JOB. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID I WAS LUCKY, BECAUSE ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD SEIZED THE STARTER AND BROKEN THE FLYWHEEL TRYING TO JUMP START HER CAR FULL OF COOLANT FROM A FAILED INTAKE GASKET.*AK THIS PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET DESIGN IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY GM AND NOT BORNE BY THE CUSTOMER. I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED MOST OF THE OTHER CHARACTERISTIC FAILURES WITH THIS CAR SUCH AS, WARPED BRAKE ROTORS, FAILED IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, FAILED SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR, BROKEN ASH TRAY DOOR LATCH, SHUDDER IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED, SUSPENSION VIBRATION DUE TO DEFECTIVE BUSHINGS, ETC. AFTER 26 YEARS OF GM OWNERSHIP LOYALTY, I'M CALLING IT QUITS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059595February 23, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DRIVER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058699February 22, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING CAR QUITS RUNNING. WILL WAIT APPROXIMATELY 3 MINS AND IT WILL RESTART. TOOK TO DEALER AND SEVERAL GARGAGE'S AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. SAID I WAS CRAZY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059691February 19, 2004
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE COMPLETELY OFF OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. *LA *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059315February 19, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL OIL PRESSURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053501February 19, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS MADE IT HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO VIEW TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053980February 19, 2004
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
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. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044638February 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN MAKING A TURN IN EITHER ON A STRAIGHT " " DIRECTION THE VEHICLE STALLED. BUT THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057143February 13, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FROM TIME TO TIME THE FRONT SET PASSENGER SHOULDER SEAT BELT BECOMES STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. IT USUALLY TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES OF PLAYING WITH IT TO GET IT UNSTUCK SO THAT THE SEAT BELT CAN BE USED AS DESIGNED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057056February 12, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE WITH LESS THAN 6000 MILES ON IT HAS HAD BRAKE FAILURE TWICE. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURED AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 10 MPH. BOTH INCIDENTS INVOLVED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITH THE PEDAL GOING CLEAR TO THE FLOOR AND NO STOPPING ACTION AT ALL. THE FIRST INCIDENT IN AUGUST 2003 RESULTED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THERE WAS NO FIRE AND NO INJURIES. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT REPORTED TODAY DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH BUT COULD HAVE EASILY HAD I NOT THROWN THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. DEALER REPORTS HE "CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM", AND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO FIX. ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE BETWEEN ME AND THE DEALER AS I FEEL THE CAR IS DEFINITELY UNSAFE AS IS, AND IF THERE IS "NOTHING TO FIX", THEN OBVIOUSLY THE CAR WILL REMAIN UNSAFE AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITIES NOT ONLY TO MYSELF BUT TO OTHERS. I STRONGLY URGE NHTSA GET INVOLVED BEFORE ANY LIVES OR LOST OR SERIOUS INJURIES OCCUR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056848February 9, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE PAINT ON THE ROOF AND SIDES OF THE CAR HAS STARTED TO BUBBLE UP AND PEEL. LOOKS LIKE THE ORIGINAL PAINT JOB IS DEFECTIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057582February 5, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056318February 2, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I HAVE A 1998 BUICK PARK AVE. PURCHASED AT MY DEALERSHIP: BRUNSWICK BUICK PONTIAC, 1120 ROUTE 18 NORTH, EAST BRUNSWICK NJ, 08816, PHONE# 732-651-4110, MR. JOSE PASCUAL (SERVICE ADVISOR), WITH ORIGINAL GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES SERIAL NUMBERS: 0606, 0610, 0615, 0623 ON THE VEHICLE. AT APPROX. 41593 MILES, MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT IN MY DRIVEWAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE ABOVE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT A GASH APPROX. 5" LONG ON THE 'INTERIOR CAUSED BY A DISPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES STEEL BELT, AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY THE SERVICE REP., I WAS TOLD THAT THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE ON THE VERGE OF A SIMILAR FAILURE. HAD THE FAILURE NOT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY BUT ON THE HIGHWAY I MIGHT NOT BE WRITING THIS. I CONTACTED A MR. TOM D. AT GOODYEAR (732-821-4700) REFERENCE # 671401, AND WAS TOLD TO BRING ALL FOUR TIRES TO A GOODYEAR DEALER WHICH I DID AND WAS TOLD THE DETERIORATION WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, BUT I TOLD GOODYEAR THAT NO-ONE WOULD BUY THESE TIRES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE BELTS WOULD COME APART AT APPROX. 40000 MILES. I CONVEYED THEIR COMMENTS TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DID NOT AGREE WITH THIS CONCLUSION AND IS HOLDING THE FOUR TIRES FOR A G.M. REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE TIRES. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO REPLACE THE TIRES PREMATURELY AT MY EXPENSE AS I HAD MORE NORMAL USE OF THE EXISTING TIRE RUBBER. I AM SEEKING: 1- REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST $409.53 OF THE TIRE REPLACEMENTS FROM GOODYEAR, AND 2- TO APPRISE YOUR AGENCY OF THIS CONDITION AS RECOMMENDED BY A BUICK G.M. CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MS. KELLLY BRISTOL, PHONE # 866-952-4368, X58036, SERVICE REQUEST # 1-172024374, SO THAT ANY OTHER PERSONS HAVING SIMILAR TIRES CAN HAVE THEM EXAMINED FOR POSSIBLE DEFECTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056274February 1, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FAILURE OF PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE CYLINDERS. THE REPAIR BILL COST $990. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OTHER MANUFACTURER BESIDES GENERAL MOTORS CONSTRUCT THEIR INTAKE MANIFOLDS OUT OF PLASTIC. THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP NOTED THAT THEY ARE REPLACING AN AVERAGE OF 3 PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS EACH WEEK DUE TO PLASTIC FAILURE AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CYLINDERS. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS THIS ENGINE (3.8 LITER) AND PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE USED IN MULTIPLE GM VEHICLES FROM AT LEAST 1996 THROUGH THE PRESENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055116January 28, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN IS EXTREMELY HARD TO OPERATE; HAS BEEN FROM DAY ONE! I MUST TAKE EYES OFF ROAD FOR TOO LONG WHEN TRYING TO FIND RIGHT SPOT TO MAKE HORN BLOW. IT DOES NOT OPERATE AT HORN DECAL ON AIR BAG COVER, NOR AT CENTER OF COVER AS MANUAL SUGGESTS. HORN BLOWS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN DECAL AND CENTER, SOME OF THE TIME. AND WHEN I FIND THE SPOT I HAVE TO PUSH TO HARD TO MAKE IT BLOW. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF BUICK IS BOUGHT AND DRIVEN MOSTLY BY RETIRES. A LOT OF WHOM HAVE ARTHRITIC HANDS. THE HORN IS A SAFETY FEATURE AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE THIS DIFFICULT TO USE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND EACH TIME THE MAN BLOWS THE HORN AND SAYS THE AIR BAG IS THE REASON FOR THE HARD TO BLOW HORN. HE SAYS NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX PROBLEM. I BELIEVE A NEW REDESIGNED AIR BAG ASSEMBLY CAN FIX THIS SAFTEY DEFECT. BEFORE BUYING A NEW CAR AGAIN, I WILL BE SURE TO CHECK FOR EASE OF OPERATION OF HORN ASSEMBLY FIRST!!! MY 1996 OLDS 98 DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE BASICALLY THE SAME CAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057285January 22, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION. *PH ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. *TT 8JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055263January 16, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS FILLED TO HIGH GAS SPILLED OVER INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054323January 16, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR: THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WENT OUT ON MY 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE 3800 V6 AND I HAD IT REPLACED ON 8-19-03 AT A COST OF $142.79. IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT BUICK HAS NOW ISSUED A RECALL ON THE BUICK PARK AVENUE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #03V473000) FOR FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS AND BUICK HAS INFORMED ME THAT MY PARK AVENUE IS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR IS INVOLVED WITH THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT BUICK IS NOW INVOLVED IN. I BELIEVE THAT IF MY CAR IS INVOLVED THAT BUICK SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MY REPAIR AND THE COST THAT I HAVE INCURRED. I HAVE DOCUMENTS TO SUPPORT THE FACT THAT THE PART WAS REPLACED AND I PAID FOR THE REPAIR. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070934January 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Buick Park Avenue