Buick PARK AVENUE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,016 owner complaints analyzed
16 distinct recall campaigns
75,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1984 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 387 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 70 of 1,016 complaints (6.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 158 | 15.6% |
| Steering behavior | 123 | 12.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 61 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 54 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 51 | 5.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 16 | 1.6% |
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 | 70 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 60 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 58 |
| Electrical System | 54 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 50 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 37 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 35 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 34 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 70; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 60; Engine And Engine Cooling: 58; Electrical System: 54; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 50; Fuel System, Gasoline: 37; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 35; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 34
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 25 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 83 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 84 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 70 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 83 |
| 150,000 and above | 42 |
Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 83; 50,000 to 74,999: 84; 75,000 to 99,999: 70; 100,000 to 149,999: 83; 150,000 and above: 42
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (84). 629 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 74 |
| 1996 | 38 |
| 2000 | 125 |
| 2001 | 116 |
| 2002 | 113 |
| 2003 | 110 |
| 2004 | 114 |
| 2005 | 63 |
| 2006 | 41 |
| 2007 | 33 |
| 2008 | 36 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
1995: 74; 1996: 38; 2000: 125; 2001: 116; 2002: 113; 2003: 110; 2004: 114; 2005: 63; 2006: 41; 2007: 33; 2008: 36; 2009: 14; 2010: 21; 2011: 19; 2012: 11; 2013: 12; 2014: 23; 2015: 15; 2016: 15; 2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 5; 2020: 1; 2021: 4; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 158 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 123 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 61 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 10237637 · 2008-08-11 (August 11, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 BUICK PARK AVENUE ELECTRA. THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007 AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING IN MARCH OF 2008 AND REMAINED LIT. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE INSPECTED BY A BUICK DEALER. BOTH THE CONTACT AND THE MECHANIC HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 87V093000 (SERVICE BRAKES: HYDRAULIC, ANTILOCK). THE CURRENT M…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501973 · 1996-03-12 (March 12, 1996)
REAR BRAKES FAILED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 965774 · 1995-05-24 (May 24, 1995)
CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTRAIN THE PERSON, HIS FACE HIT THE STEERING, WHEEL CAR WAS TOTALED. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060414 · 2004-03-04 (March 4, 2004)
PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM, WILL NOT TURN WHEN COLD/OR ON INITIAL STARTUP, STIFFNESS IN STEERING LED TO LOOSENESS IN STEERING WHEEL, DUE TO LONG TIME PROBLEM OF TURNING THE WHEEL,THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY, MY FATHER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, SPECIAL ORDER, TWO DOOR PARK AVE.1985. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060414 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 982217 · 1996-04-02 (April 2, 1996)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE BROKE OUT, ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ELECTRICAL SHORT, ALL WIRING AND HOSES BURNED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 507935 · 1996-08-27 (August 27, 1996)
ALTERNATOR DEFECTIVE, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE BATTERY/IMMOBILITY OF VEHICLE.(1ST VEHICLE ON 601576)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144520 · 2005-12-05 (December 5, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A TINY NYLON CLIP THAT HOLDS THE TIMING BELT ON. THE CONTACT HAD THE HOSES AND BELTS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH THE CAR STALLED. THE CLIP WAS CRACKED AND THE TIMING BELT LOOSENED AND WENT OUT OF TIME AND BLEW THE ROD IN THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE BECAUSE HE HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPLAINT BEING FILED WAS TO KEEP SOMEONE FROM GETTING HURT OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 468583 · 1995-08-25 (August 25, 1995)
COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL (OTHER VEHICLE FROM 483440). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 468583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069340 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
NEW AIR-CONDITIONING INSTALLED IN 1990. CAR NOT DRIVEN OFTEN. AGAING AC NOT WORKING FOR PAST 3 YEARS. CAR GARAGED AND WELL CARED FOR..SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. ONE PERSON DRIVER..MIDDLE AGE LADY.. PAINT IS PEELING OFF ..GM WILL NOT PAY FOR IT. TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT SO SOON.. AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS..FILE IS 3 INCHES THICK OF MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS..
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 883361 · 2001-03-19 (March 19, 2001)
VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO BACKWARDS. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS TRANSMISSION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 883361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8016398 · 2002-08-15 (August 15, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE STARTED DECELERATING WITHOUT BRAKES BEING APPLIED.CONTACTED DEALER. FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED AS A RESULT OF PIECES OF PLASTIC PEELING OFF OF GAS TANK ,AND BLOCKING THE FLOW OF THE FUEL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8016398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162314 · 2006-07-13 (July 13, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE IGNITION WAS ENGAGED. WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP, WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THERE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH POWER TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THERE WERE OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE HEADLIGHTS TURNING THEMSELVES ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A SHADED OR DARK AREA. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED GOING ON AND OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. INSPECTIONS WERE MADE BY…
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162314 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
1989: 0; 1990: 1; 1991: 1; 1992: 1; 1993: 1; 1994: 0; 1995: 1; 1996: 3; 1997: 3; 1998: 2; 1999: 3; 2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 0; 2005: 0