Owners filed 92 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 1 time.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 28 | 7 | 0 | 1 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Structure › Body › Door | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Steering › Rack and Pinion | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Defect. WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.
Risk. DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE LEVER RELEASE AND ROADLEVEL. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO ROLL, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.
Remedy. REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE TOPPED OUT AT 40 MPH. THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED USING EXCESSIVE FORCE, WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN SLOWING THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION WAS SHUT OFF, AND THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED INTO A PARKING SPACE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE THROTTLE IMMEDIATELY OPENED UP, REVVING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AGAIN, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISCONNECTED AT THE THROTTLE BY THE CONTACT, WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. A SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE.
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE TIRE LEANING ALMOST OFF THE AXLE AND FOUND LUG NUTS WERE MISSING. *TC THE CONSUMER HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
DESIGN FLAW WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER EQUIPMENT.*MR WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER THE VEHICLE'S WIPER DISCONNECTED FROM THE WIPER ARM. THE PLASTIC CLIP WHICH SECURED THE WIPER TO THE ARM RELEASED TOO EASILY. *NM
THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR WENT OUT AROUND 2:00 THE OTHER NIGHT. WE WERE ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD. TRYING TO DETERMINE IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG IN TILT STEERING TO CAUSE THIS. SEEMS AS IT IS WIRE BROKE OR SOMETHING CAME UNPLUGGED. HAVE ALREADY CHECKED FUSES.
CONCERNED CITIZEN: NEW OWNER JUST PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE OWNER A 1991 BUICK PARK AVENUE, WITH 100,000 MILES, VIN [XXX], AND WAS DRIVING THE AUTO WHEN THE MOTOR AND CRADLE FELL TO THE ROAD. THIS IN TURN DETACHED THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE CONTROL OF AUTO WAS LOSS. SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
BRAKES GO COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO WARNING AND NO STOPPING. RAN INTO CURBING TO STOP AND AVOID CRASH. ABS SENSORS REPLACED, BRAKES, DRUMS, MASTER CYLINDERS, BRAKE LINES, ETC REPLACED. PEDAL STILL GOES TO FLOOR AND ABS GRABS AT END OF STOP. COMPUTER TURNS OFF ABS SYSTEM, BUT WON'T REPORT ERROR CODE OR CAUSE. ALL THIS HAS CAUSED BRAND NEW TIRES TO WEAR DOWN TO STEEL BELT WITHIN 4 MONTHS TIME. LOW BEAMS FAILED BUT STILL HAD HIGHBEAMS. LOW BEAMS COME AND GO. HAD TO BYPASS MODULE IN ORDER TO REGAIN LIGHTS. DT
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. CONSUMER NOTED KEY HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
MOTOR CAM BEARING BROKE, DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR. *SLC
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITH OCCUPANT LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE. CAR WAS BEING PARKED IN THE GARAGE AT HOME AFTER A TRIP TO THE STORE. FIRE CAUSED VEHICLES DOOR AND WINDOW OPENERS TO FAIL. SINCE THIS INCIDENT I HAVE HEARD OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN OTHER VEHICLES. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS HAPPENING IN OTHER VEHICLES AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T GET LOCKED IN THEIR VEHICLES WHEN A FIRE STARTS AND KNOCKS OUT THE DOOR OPENERS AND WINDOWS. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY HAD MY MOTHER NOT SPOTTED THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE GARAGE IN TIME.PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ME IF YOU REQUIRE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN BELT IS LOCKED IN PLACE IT WILL RELEASE ON IT'S OWN WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH DELAYED IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND BRAKES LOCKING UP INTERMITTENTLY; DEALER NOTIFED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:
SMOKE CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED. *AK
DRIVER HIT A DEER HEAD-ON. BOTH AIRBAG'S EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *AK *YC
THE VEHICLE HAS A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE THAT CAUSED CHAFING ON THE MOUNTING BRACKET. *AK
MULTIPLE ABS FAILURES DURING OPERATION. ALL COMPONENTS (MASTER/WHEEL CYLINDERS, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS/SHOES) EXCEPT FOR THE PUMP AND ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO FOLLOW A PATTERN OF FAILURES FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL. THE BRAKE PEDAL PLUNGES TO THE FLOOR AND THERE IS LITTLE ACTIVE BRAKING AT THAT TIME. MOMENTARILY, THE PEDAL HEIGHTH RETURNS AND FULL BRAKING IS RESTORED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE SYSTEM. *AK
VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A BUICK DEALER. SEVERAL DAYS LATER , WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE, TOTALLING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML
TURNING VEHICLE OFF, CANNOT RESTART RIGHT AWAY. HAPPENING SINCE NEW. PROBLEM CONTINUOUS. POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY (UP/DOWN). TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC SAID SHORT IN ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS. *AK
THE REASON I AM SENDING THIS TO YOU IS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THE FUSE IN MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BLOWN INSTEAD OF THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN SMOKING AS IT DID,I AM WORRIED ABOUT A FIRE HAZARD
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL RECURRENT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, YET NONE OF THE RECURRENT PROBLEMS HAS BEEN COVERED BY ANY MANUFACTURERS RECALLS. WE HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY REPEATEDLY AND HAVE HAD CONTINUAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. WE HAVE HAD CONSTANT AND RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE ORIGIANL BRAKING COMPONENTS AND YET WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. WE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN MARCH 1994 IDENTIFYING THE VERY PROBLEM WE ARE EXPERIENCING. YET, THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALL. THIS CAR HAS PROBLEMS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION, AND IT HAS COST US A SMALL FORTUNE TO REPAIR ALL OF THE MALFUNCTIONS.
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 60,000 MILES. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
20 of 92 complaints, reproduced as filed.
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Deaths | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2004 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 2003 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2002 | 32 | 1 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 2001 | 57 | 2 | 6 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2000 | 81 | 3 | 7 | 0 | Routine |
| 1999 | 140 | 3 | 22 | 0 | High concern |
| 1998 | 246 | 2 | 29 | 0 | High concern |
| 1997 | 219 | 3 | 21 | 0 | High concern |
| 1996 | 59 | 3 | 4 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 1995 | 117 | 1 | 3 | 0 | Routine |
| 1994 | 48 | 0 | 3 | 0 | Routine |
| 1993 | 64 | 1 | 10 | 0 | Routine |
| 1992 | 77 | 1 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 1991 — this page | 92 | 1 | 6 | 0 | Routine |
| 1990 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Sep 23, 1991. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.