1996 Buick PARK AVENUE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
99,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 37 complaints (10.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 10.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 8.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 8.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 8.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.7% |
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 | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module: 3; Tires: 3; Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 2; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 5
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
1996: 2; 2000: 3; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 10; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10013918 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013918 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020439 · 2003-07-17 (July 17, 2003)
ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE'S OIL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE ROD BEARINGS, UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLDS WERE REPLACED. *JB THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071303 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
COOLANT LEAK LEAD TO REPAIR OF UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. REPAIRS CAUSED WATER PUMP TO FAIL, AND SERPENT BELT TENSIONER TO FAIL. FURTHER REPAIRS WERE DONE, 500 KM LATER, OIL PUMP FAILED AND ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. BUICK 3.8L SERIES II V-6.
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071303 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083253 · 2004-07-19 (July 19, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED WATER ACCUMULATED UNDER THE REAR FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE LOCATION FOR THE COMPUTER FOR THE AIR BAG WAS LOCATED IN THE WATER DRENCHED AREA. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE CONSUMER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 162,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103131 · 2005-01-05 (January 5, 2005)
THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE RACK AND PINION BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. CONSUMER COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BOLTS HELD THE RACK AND PINION TO THE FRAME. STEERING WAS IMPAIRED ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103131 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107137 · 2005-01-10 (January 10, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES,AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10107137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112823 · 2005-02-22 (February 22, 2005)
WHILE PARKING, THE FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR BURNS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10112823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117735 · 2005-04-11 (April 11, 2005)
WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT A RED LIGHT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. DEALER STATED WATER GOT INTO THE AIRBAG MODULE WHICH WAS NORMAL. DRIVER SUSTAINED CUTS AND BRUISES TO HIS RIGHT ARM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 71,690 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117735 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
95V204000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
Reported: 1995-10-23 (October 23, 1995)
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER CHIME REMINDER FUNCTIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTING CONTROLS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKING FEATURES ARE ALSO AFFECTED.
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE; THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR THAT THE SAFETY BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V044000 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 1996-03-05 (March 5, 1996)
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH ONE OR MORE INCORRECT SAFETY BELT AND/OR SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ENDS. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF AN INCORRECT PART IS USED, THE BELT MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT ALL FRONT AND REAR SAFETY BELT LATCH ENDS AND SAFETY BELT BUCKLES FOR CORRECT PARTS AND REPLACE ANY INCORRECT PARTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V116000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
Reported: 1996-07-01 (July 1, 1996)
A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗