Buick Park Avenue Complaints (1997)
219 consumer complaints on file.
- #10122507May 31, 2005STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DT: CONSUMER STATED: WHILE BACKING VEHICLE OUT INTO THE STREET, JUST CHANGED THE OIL A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THE FRAME BROKE RIGHT FROM WHERE THE OIL FILTER WAS. THEN, THE DRIVESHAFT BROKE. NEIGHBOR HEARD A NOISE WHEN IT HAPPENED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10119515May 3, 2005POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CALLER STATED: TRANSMISSION FAILING. LOCKED UP AND SHOOK THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THERE WAS THE SENSATION OF SOMETHING HITTING THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR FROM UNDERNEATH. HAPPENED WHEN CAR WAS PUT INTO MOTION, AND INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10112964March 28, 2005AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONSUMER HIT A DEER. THE DUAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT, HOWEVER THE DRIVER SIDE CAUGHT FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB FIRE SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN THE FIRE TRUCK DID ARRIVE FLAMES HAD BURNT THE LEATHER SEAT, MELTED THE STEERING COLUMN AND BURNT THE WINDSHIELD VISOR. *BF *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10112548March 5, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PUSHROD MALFUNCTIONED IN THE ENGINE, CAUSED CAR ACCIDENT.*AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10107346February 16, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE STALL WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE AUTOMATIC POWER DOOR LOCKED TRAPPING THE DRIVER INSIDE. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *NM *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10109272January 31, 2005SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V117000; DAIMLER CHRYSLER ISSUED A SHOULDER BELT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, BUT HAD PROBLEMS RETRACTING BACK TO NORMAL POSITION. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10108624January 21, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BACK FIRE AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10093571October 4, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
NO ENGINE FAILURE YET....I AM CONSUMING ALMOST AS MUCH ANTIFREEZE AS I AM GASOLINE. JUST KIDDING, BUT IN LESS THAN 1000 MILES I HAVE USED 11/2 GALLONS OF DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE. I CAN FIND NO LEAKAGE ON MY GARAGE FLOOR, BUT IT SURE IS GOING SOMEWHERE. AM I IN EMINENT DANGER OF ENGINE FAILURE?????*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10087210August 4, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10081403July 26, 2004STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING PROBLEM WHICH WAS BEING RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT BECAUSE OF THE VIN CONSUMER WAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED. THERE WAS A STIFFENS WHEN TURNING LEFT AND SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT 50 MPH OR MORE, GETTING OFF AT AN OFF RAMP, THE STEERING WOULD LOOSEN THEN GO BACK TO NORMAL. *SC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10079040June 29, 2004VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE GAS PEDAL STUCK ON HER 1997 BUCIK, PARK AVENUE. SHE HAD TO BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET AND PLACE VEHICLE IN PARK WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING AT A HIGH RPMS. I CHECKED THE THROTTLE AREA AND THE THROTTLE WHEEL THAT ROTATES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED WAS RUBBING AGAINST A LARGER CABLE THAT WAS NOT LETTING THE WHEEL RETURN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED. I FIXED THE PROBLEM BY PULLING & STRAPPING THE CABLE AWAY FROM THE THROTTLE AREA. A LOCALE DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED ON THE ENGINE, AND I DON'T KNOWN WHETHER THE CABLE WAS INSTALLED LIKE THAT AT THE FACTORY. I COULD SEE SOME WEAR ON THE CABLE WHERE THE WHEEL HAD BEEN RUBBING ON IT FOR A WHILE. I COULD ALSO SEE A NOTCH ON THE WHEEL THAT COULD'VE CAUGHT THE CABLE AND CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10078707June 23, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICHLE STALLED WHILE TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION AND WAS NOT DRIVEABLE; VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. UPON DIAGNOSIS, THE VEHICLE "HYDROLOCKED" DUE TO DEXCOOL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CHAMBER FROM A MELTED UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT CRANK SENSOR AND MAP SENSOR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. IT WAS THEN FURTHER DETERMINED DUE TO AN INTOLERABLY LOUD ENGINE KNOCK THAT THE DEXCOOL HAD CORRODED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BEARINGS; THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10059487March 17, 2004SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $545.00. *AK REFER TO RECALL#77955 *SC
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10061026March 1, 2004STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND WITH OUT ANY WARNING STEERING WHEEL FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC INDICATED THE BELT BROKE. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10061177February 24, 2004ENGINE 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
- #10057582February 5, 2004SERVICE 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
- #10070934January 15, 2004SERVICE 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
- #10071148January 15, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING LEAKS ONTO FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE (NEW) AND WE COMPLAINED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WATER PUMP. STILL LEAKED. BECAME MUCH WORSE IN JULY 2003 (REQUIRED A ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS TO KEEP THE FRONT FLOOR BOARD SEMI DRY ON TRIPS). WE TOOK IT TO FITZPATRICK IN CONCORD, CA AND THEY STATED THAT ALL GM VEHICLES DID THAT AND THERE WAS NO REPAIR NEEDED. THIS WAS WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW, NO LONGER IS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10071333January 15, 2004UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
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 [email protected] 905-238-0007 EX. 2624 (DAYTIME)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10069363January 15, 2004POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION STARTED TO JUMP INTO OD. VIBRATION AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. REPLACED TRANNY WITH GM REBUILT.AFTER 700 MILES PROBLEM CAME BACK (VIBRATION ONLY) SAME PROBLEM BUT NOW HAS METAL TO METAL GRINDING WHEN MAKING LEFT TURN AND ACCELERATING. REPLACED ENGINE MOUNTS. THEY WERE CRACKED. PRIOR TO THIS DEALER SAID IT WAS THE SOLINOID, REPALCED. THEY ONLY MADE THIS TRANNY IN 1997
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0