Buick Park Avenue Complaints (1998)

246 consumer complaints on file.

#10122506June 24, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DT: CONSUMER STATES: PASSENGER SEAT BELT WON'T WORK, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT FROM THE RETRACTOR. HAD TROUBLE WITH IT NORMALLY, CAN PULL ON IT AND IT WILL COME OUT, BUT NOW IT'S STUCK.*AK CONSUMER ADDS SEAT BELT WAS HARD TO RETRACT AND NOW HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. THERE IS A RECALL BUT VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY. *TT *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125696June 17, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE COOLANT SPILLED INTO THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED , CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE SUCKED UP ALL THE COOLANT. APPARENTLY IT WAS SUCKED IN TO THE ENGINE FROM THE EGR PORT HOLE BECAUSE IT HAD BECOME DEGRADED. ALSO NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 00V117000 WAS ISSUED IN 2000. IT STATED THAT PASSENGER VEHICLES, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELTS THAT MAY TWIST, ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR. THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING, BUT MANUFACTURER INSISTED THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120122June 3, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
DT: THE FRONT FRAME OF THE CAR RUSTED AT IT'S WELD AND BROKE OFF THE CAR. THE CONSUMER NOTICED IT 2 MONTHS AGO CONTACTED THE DEALER ONCE AND THE MANUCATURER TWICE. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AFTER THE YEAR 2003. THE CONSUMER HAS PRICED A NEW FRAME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND OTHER PLACES.*AK THE FRONT FRAME IS ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BODY AND SUPPORTS THE ENGINE, TRANSAXLE STEERING RACK AND STEERING PARTS.*SB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112611March 6, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAG SYSTEAM READY LIGHT WILL STAY ON.OPEN HOOD TO CHECK BATT. AND CAME ON AFTER SHUTING IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108334February 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1. LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT WITH NO APPARENT EXTERNAL LEAKAGE 2. DIFFICULTY STARTING AND THEN FAILURE TO START ENGINE 3. CORRODED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ALLOWS ENGINE COOLANT INTO ENGINE DESTROYING ENGINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108147January 28, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
VEHICLE IS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVE. THE PLASTIC IDLER PULLEY AND ASSEMBLY FAILED AND THE SURPENTINE BELT NO LONGER TURNED SO THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST (AND MAYBE POWER BRAKES ALSO). THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON I 45 IN HOUSTON AND EXITING OVER A CLOVERLEAF ONTO BELTWAY 8. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO USE MY MUSCLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE AND THE PULLEY ASSEMBLY AND BELT WAS REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128037January 18, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE PCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101141December 15, 2004
SEAT BELTS
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 00V117000. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK THE TWO FRONT SEAT BELTS FREQUENTLY BEGAN JAMMED IN THE SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR. THIS NOT ONLY HAPPEN WHILE INITIALLY BUCKLING THE BELT BUT ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING LEAVING SLACK IN THE BELT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098631November 10, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I AM SUBMITTING THIS FOR MY FATHER-IN-LAW WHO IS 85 YEARS OLD. THERE IS A DEFECT IN GM 3800 ENGINES (VIN K-RPO L36) AT LEAST FROM 1995 TO 2003. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DEFECT WHICH MAY HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS. MY FATHER-IN-LAW WAS PASSING ANOTHER CAR AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON A TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE IN HIS 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE LOCKED-UP. THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO REQUIRE THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL BUICK DEALER STATED THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES (IN FACT, IT'S RATHER WELL KNOWN AMONG AUTO MECHANICS), BUT HAS A POLICY OF NOT ASSISTING WITH REPAIRS AND HAS NOT RECALLED THE ENGINES. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT IN THIS CASE, HOWEVER, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR ANYTIME AN ENGINE LOCKS UP AT SPEED. I FEEL THAT THESE ENGINES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND MODIFIED/REPAIRED AT GM'S EXPENSE (THERE IS AN AFTER-MARKET KIT AVAILABLE WHICH IS AN INDICATOR OF THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM). THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ENGINES CAN DEVELOP A LEAK NEAR OR UNDER THE THROTTLE BODY AREA OF THE UPPER (PLASTIC) INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE EGR PASSAGE MELTS THE UPPER INTAKE PLENUM WHICH RESULTS IN AN EXTERNAL (IF YOU ARE LUCKY) OR AN INTERNAL WATER LEAK. IF THE LEAK IS INTERNAL, THE ENGINE CAN ALMOST INSTANTLY LOCK-UP CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. MY FATHER-IN-LAW'S CONNECTING RODS WERE BENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097114October 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DISINTEGRATED. AS A RESULT ANTI- FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE MANIFOLD AND STARTED TO BURN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095984October 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I NOTICED COOLANT IN RESERVOIR WAS DISAPPEARING WITH NO VISIBLE EXTERIOR LEAKING. I FILLED IT AND WATCHED IT CAREFULLY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. WITHIN 20 MILES I HAD USED 2 QUARTS OF COOLANT AND THEN MY SES LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT AND DETERMINED THAT NO. 6 CYLINDER WAS TAKING IN COOLANT. AFTER REMOVING THE INTAKE PLENIM HE FOUND A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE COOLANT JACKET BY THE EGR VALVE. HOPEFULLY, MY ENGINE IS O.K. BUT SEEMS TO HAVE LOST SOME MILEAGE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. MY TOTAL BILL CAME TO ONLY $382.00 INCLUDING THE NEW PLENIM AND GASKET. (LABOR IN TOWN IS A BARGAIN). I HAVE THE OLD PART AND WILL PROVIDE IT IF REQUESTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089583September 28, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
VEHICLE BATTERY FAILED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE BATTERY CABLE CAME LOOSE WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE USING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BY UNLOCKING THE DOORS MANUALLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091084September 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ANTI-FREEZE LEAK THROUGH THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PAST THE EGR VALVE AND THROTTLE BODY, ENGINE RAN HOT, HYDROSTATIC ENGINE LOCK. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED, UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS, AND THERMOSTAT. OTAL COST $685.75. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091524August 30, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. *MR (LEAKING FUEL REGULATORS) ON FEBRUARY 11, 2003, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT RECALL# 03V473000 WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088709August 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE SEVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WITHIN A DAY OR TWO MY CAR KEPT NEEDING COOLANT. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH A BUICK DEALER BUT THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WITHIN HOURS OF GETTING THERE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN UPPER AND LOWER INTERNAL MANIFOLD LEAK. THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THAT HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT SAY IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. WHY WOULD A DEALER CARRY A MANIFOLD THAT IS A NON-MOVING PART BUT A CAST PIECE OF IRON IF THIS WAS NOT CONTINUAL PROBLEM? I WORK IN A FOUNDRY FOR CATERPILLAR THAT MAKES CAST BLOCKS AND HEADS AND WAS TOLD BY AN ENGINEER THIS IS A BAD DESIGN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081997August 20, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO GET INSIDE THE ENGINE. THIS COST $1200.00 TO REPAIR. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE, WHO BASICALLY TOLD HIM THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE BUICK DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND BUICK WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BUICK SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD CONSUMER THEY KEPT A NUMBER OF THEM BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, THE STARTER HOUSING BROKE. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE ENGINE FULL OF COOLANT AND TRACED THE PROBLEM TO AN UPPER INTAKE FAILURE DUE TO HEAT FROM THE EGR PASSAGE ERODING AWAY THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089366August 19, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE'S MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. *MR THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AND A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WARRANTY INSURANCE DENIED COVERAGE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. *SC THE STARTED HOUSING WAS ALSO CRACKED. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083777July 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER HEARD ALOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED THE LOSS OF STEERING, AND THE BRAKES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. AN INDEPENDENT SHOP DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079875June 23, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE ALTERNATOR BEARING FREEZING UP.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR BEARING LOCK UP AND THE DRIVE BELT BROKE. THE DRIVER TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079532June 17, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. *MR THE ENGINE CRANKED AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG EXACTLY AS THE RECALL STATED. FOLLOWING THE BANG WAS A LOUD NOISE AND WHITE SMOKE THAT HAD COME FROM THE TAIL PIPE. ANTI FREEZE ENTERED THE ENGINE AND MIXED WITH THE OIL. THE ENGINE WAS RE-MANUFACTURED. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AS WELL. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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