1998 Buick PARK AVENUE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10002445 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILS TO UNLOCK BY USING ELECTRONIC LOCKING BUTTON OR MANUALLY PULLING ON THE DOOR LOCK. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003165 · 2003-01-22 (January 22, 2003)
TURNED ON IGNIION KEY OF 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE TO START AND HEARD LOUD BANG AND THEN NOTICED GREY SMOKE AT REAR OF HOOD AREA. TURNED OFF KEY, GOT OUT AND CLOSED DOOR, PROCEEDED TO HOUSE TO CALL 911 AND GOT KITCHEN FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I WENT BACK TO BURNING CAR, OPENED HOOD, OBSERVED FIRE AT SIDE OF ENGINE NEXT TO FIREWALL. I USED FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO GET MOST OF FIRE OUT. THERE WAS SOME FIRE UNDER ENGINE ON GROUND WHICH THE EXTINGUISHER DID NOT GET OUT. THE EXTINGUISHER WAS NOW EMPTY SO I WENT BACK TO HOUSE AND GOT BAKING SODA FROM KITCHEN AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004758 · 2004-03-02 (March 2, 2004)
INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING, RESULTING IN A ANTI FREEZE LEAK OVER ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK INTAKE MANIFOLD, WATER PUMP, FRONT ROTORS/PADS, SERPENTINE BELT, TENSIONER PULLEY AND PLUGS WERE REPLACED. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 87,711 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004929 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
'98 PARK AVE 4DR. ENGINE BACKFIRED, LUCKY TO GET IT STARTED IT SOUND LIKE A HOT-ROD, BUT DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE, WE REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR (DIAPHRAGM RUPTURED)$750.00. WE ALSO,DROVE IT HOME ABOUT 50 MILES. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE DROVE IT HOME WITH OUR 1 YEAR OLD SON IF WE KNEW THAT IT WAS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD. THANKS!
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005756 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
1998 BUICK PARK AVE TIRE JACK FAILED. SCREW JACK THREADS STRIPPED AND VEHICLE FELL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE. JACK HAD BEEN USED 20 TIME PREVIOUSLY TO ASSIST IN TIRE ROTATATION. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE? IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006424 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BEGAN LEAKING ANTIFREEZE IN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. PH
Owner-reported narrative. 87,711 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006424 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 ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V117000 · Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Reported: 2000-04-18 (April 18, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELTS THAT MAY TWIST, ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR.
Consequence: WHEN THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING BECOMES JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR, THE BELT MAY BE UNUSABLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF UPDATED FRONT SHOULDER BELT BEZELS AND WHERE NECESSARY, INSTALL NEW FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELT OPENING BEZEL KITS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V090000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
Reported: 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.
Consequence: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA campaign record ↗