1998 Buick PARK AVENUE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
214 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 83 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 214 complaints (13.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 20 | 9.3% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 8.4% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 7.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 28 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 22 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 21 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 17 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 |
| Seat Belts | 10 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 7 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 28; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 22; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling: 17; Fuel System, Gasoline: 14; Seat Belts: 10; Electrical System: 8; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 131 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 28 |
| 2001 | 26 |
| 2002 | 37 |
| 2003 | 36 |
| 2004 | 40 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 28; 2001: 26; 2002: 37; 2003: 36; 2004: 40; 2005: 13; 2006: 6; 2007: 6; 2008: 7; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 16 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000670 · 2003-01-01 (January 1, 2003)
ENGINE STALLS AND WATER IN CYLINDERS. WATER IN CYLINDERS WAS CORRECTED WITH A NEW PLETIUM. THE ENGINE STALL PROBLEM WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. I WAS ASSURED THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE CORRECTED. TO DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.I GAVE UP ON WILKENS BUICK (ON THE 2ND RETURN OF VEHICLE) WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NOT BE GIVEN A RENTAL BUT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. AGIAN THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO THEM, THEY ARE THE ONE'S THAT MADE ME AWARE OF IT. CAR STALLS EVEYTIME THAT YOU ARE COMING TO A STOP AND ON OCCASIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027037 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING LOST COMPLETE POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006513 · 2002-04-13 (April 13, 2002)
I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS/REAR ROTORS, AND REAR CALIPERS REPLACED ON A CAR THAT WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/102 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****760647
Owner-reported narrative. 38,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006513 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017646 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
THE CLIP TO THE MASTER CYLINDER BROKE, WHICH CAUSED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 74,342 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006690 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURE. THE MANIFOLD ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009829 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN BUT COULD HAVE BEEN EITHER ELECTRICAL OR FUEL RELATED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012291 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED WHILE IN THE GARAGE WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE "EXPLODED" UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FRACTURED AND RESULTED IN THE FUEL RAIL BENDING. ONE OF THE FUEL LINE HOLDING CLIPS ALSO WAS BROKE. *NLM THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT START. THE BATTERY HAD RUN DEAD AND WAS CHARGED, THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS CHECKED, THE ENGINE BACKFIRED AND HAD BLOWN THE INTAKE GASKET. THE INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED, THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REMOVED, THE CYLINDERS WERE BLOWN OUT, THE FUEL RAIL WAS ST…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,496 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007644 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. BEARING CAME LOOSE AND DAMAGED INTERNAL PARTS.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022539 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
VEHICLE PROBLEMS WITH START UP/ VEHICLE FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *MR THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD OVERNIGHT. (PRIOR TO THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, THE BATTERY APPEARED TO BE CHARGED) THE ENGINE EXPLODED AS SOON AS THE KEY WAS TURNED ON. THERE WAS SLIPPAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE INTAKE PLENTIUM, FUEL RAIL, THE IGNITION WIRES, 2 INJECTORS, ENGINE COVER SHIELD, OIL FILLER CAP, MAP SENSOR, PCV COVER, AND THE BATTERY ALL WERE REPLACED. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055263 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10508673 · 2013-04-18 (April 18, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508673 at NHTSA ↗