2003 Buick PARK AVENUE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
52,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 33 complaints (15.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
Tires: 5; Engine: 4; Electrical System:Horn: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2003: 4; 2004: 5; 2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 4; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10043259 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)
MY 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE (ULTRA) HAS LESS THAN 19,000 MILES AND TWICE HAS HAD THE BRAKES FAIL ON IT. TODAY, I AM HEARING THE FAMILIAR BRAKE FAILURE SQUEAL AND KNOW THAT MY BRAKES WILL BE FAILING AGAIN. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS CAR AND HAS GREAT DIFFICULTY STOPPING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND SHIMMIES AT LOWER SPEEDS WHEN STOPPING. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057056 · 2004-02-12 (February 12, 2004)
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'…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,593 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019189 · 2003-05-23 (May 23, 2003)
TOOK CAR IN FOR ALLIGNMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT FRONT OUTER TIE ROD ENDS WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LIFETIME LUBRICATED HAD FAILED. HAD NOTICED SOME SMALL PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHICH IS WHY I TOOK IT TO DEALER. LEARNED THAT THEY HAVE HAD OTHER CARS WITH SAME PROBLEM. A STEERING DEFECT IS SERIOUS TO ME AND I BELIEVE SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK IN TO THIS AND SEE HOW MANY CARS LIKE MINE MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT UNLESS YOU TAKE IT IN FOR AN ALLIGNMENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019189 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065917 · 2004-04-11 (April 11, 2004)
SINCE PURCHASED THE HORN DOES NOT BLOW WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE DESIGNATED SPOT ON THE STEERING WHEEL. YOU MUST 'SEARCH' FOR A SPOT TO PUSH THAT THE HORN WILL THEN BLOW. THIS IS 'HIT OR MISS'. IT MAY BLOW AND IT MAY NOT. THE DEALER HAS DONE ALL THAT HE CAN DO TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHICH IS TO PUSH ON VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SAY YOU SHOULD PUSH THERE. THE BEST HE CAN DO. I HAVE LODGED STRENUOUS COMPLAINTS WITH BUICK AND THEY ASSIGNED IT "REQUEST NUMBER 1-200878647 AND IT HAS BEEN HANDLED GENERALLY BY A MR. SEAN ARMSTRONG. …
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10915532 · 2016-10-12 (October 12, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10915532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10734425 · 2015-07-15 (July 15, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. SUDDENLY LIGHTS STARTED GOING OFF ON MY DASHBOARD INDICATING THAT MY ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND SATIABILITY CONTROL WERE OUT. NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP ON THE HIGHWAY OR CONTACT SOMEONE TO GIVE ME A LIFT HOME I PROCEEDED TO THE NEAREST BUICK DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. DURING THE JOURNEY THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF, BUT THINKING IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I STILL HEADED TOWARDS THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT BY A SERVICE TECH. I WAS TOLD MY BRAKE MODULE COMPUTOR WAS OUT AND I NEEDED A REPLACEMENT. THE COS…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10734425 at NHTSA ↗