1997 Buick Park Avenue complaints

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE GAS PEDAL STUCK ON HER 1997 BUCIK, PARK AVENUE. SHE HAD TO BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET AND PLACE VEHICLE IN PARK WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING AT A HIGH RPMS. I CHECKED THE THROTTLE AREA AND THE THROTTLE WHEEL THAT ROTATES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED WAS RUBBING AGAINST A LARGER CABLE THAT WAS NOT LETTING THE WHEEL RETURN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED. I FIXED THE PROBLEM BY PULLING & STRAPPING THE CABLE AWAY FROM THE THROTTLE AREA. A LOCALE DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED ON THE ENGINE, AND I DON'T KNOWN WHETHER THE CABLE WAS INSTALLED LIKE THAT AT THE FACTORY. I COULD SEE SOME WEAR ON THE CABLE WHERE THE WHEEL HAD BEEN RUBBING ON IT FOR A WHILE. I COULD ALSO SEE A NOTCH ON THE WHEEL THAT COULD'VE CAUGHT THE CABLE AND CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT.*AK

VEHICHLE STALLED WHILE TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION AND WAS NOT DRIVEABLE; VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. UPON DIAGNOSIS, THE VEHICLE "HYDROLOCKED" DUE TO DEXCOOL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CHAMBER FROM A MELTED UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT CRANK SENSOR AND MAP SENSOR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. IT WAS THEN FURTHER DETERMINED DUE TO AN INTOLERABLY LOUD ENGINE KNOCK THAT THE DEXCOOL HAD CORRODED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BEARINGS; THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *AK

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $545.00. *AK REFER TO RECALL#77955 *SC

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND WITH OUT ANY WARNING STEERING WHEEL FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC INDICATED THE BELT BROKE. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED TWICE WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD. COOLANT ELBOW BROKE WHEN VEHICLE OVERHEATED THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD BROKE. *LA *JB

THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

THE A/C WILL TURN ON AGAIN AFTER I TURN IT OFF. THE RADIO WILL SHIFT TO CASSETTE AND BACK WHILE DISPLAYING E33. DRIVERS WINDOW WILL COME DOWN UNEVENLY AND GET WEDGED. THE ALTERNATER WENT OUT AND THE BOTTOM BOLT STRIPPED DURING REMOVAL. THERE IS A LURCH SOMETIMES DURING SHIFTING.

TRANSMISSION STARTED TO JUMP INTO OD. VIBRATION AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. REPLACED TRANNY WITH GM REBUILT.AFTER 700 MILES PROBLEM CAME BACK (VIBRATION ONLY) SAME PROBLEM BUT NOW HAS METAL TO METAL GRINDING WHEN MAKING LEFT TURN AND ACCELERATING. REPLACED ENGINE MOUNTS. THEY WERE CRACKED. PRIOR TO THIS DEALER SAID IT WAS THE SOLINOID, REPALCED. THEY ONLY MADE THIS TRANNY IN 1997

THE HEATER IN THE SEAT QUIT WORKING. A NEW ONE WAS INSTALLED AND IT DOESN'T HEAT UP CORRECTLY. THE MOTOR IN THE WINDOW FAILED. THE ROTORS/BRAKES WERE WARPED. THE STEREO FAILED. THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP CORRECTLY DESPITE A NEW ONE BEING PUT IN. THE STARTER IS DRAGGING. SOME OF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER THE SMART CHOICE EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER SOME OF THE REPAIRS ARE STILL NEEDED AND I STILL HAVE TIME REMAINING ON MY SMART CHOICE WARRRANTY BUT THEY HAVE WENT BANKRUPT AND MY DEALER SAYS THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER VALID AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS DONE.

HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING LEAKS ONTO FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE (NEW) AND WE COMPLAINED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WATER PUMP. STILL LEAKED. BECAME MUCH WORSE IN JULY 2003 (REQUIRED A ROLL OF PAPER TOWELS TO KEEP THE FRONT FLOOR BOARD SEMI DRY ON TRIPS). WE TOOK IT TO FITZPATRICK IN CONCORD, CA AND THEY STATED THAT ALL GM VEHICLES DID THAT AND THERE WAS NO REPAIR NEEDED. THIS WAS WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW, NO LONGER IS.

MY NUMBER ONE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR IS THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE OIL WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE MAIN BEARINGS WERE DESTROYED AND I HAD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. (I HAVE THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IN MY POSSESSION.) THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN NOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE EGR VALVE AND EVENTUALLY SUFFERS FROM THERMAL FATIGUE AT THE EGR AND STRESS RELAXATION AROUND THE FLANGE OF THE MANIFOLD. I NOTIFIED GM OF THE PROBLEM IN WRITING AND THEY OFFERED ME $800 COMPENSATION FOR MY $5,000.00 PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS PROBABLY ON ITS LAST LEGS. I TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN BABIED AND OFFERED UP RESULTS OF THE MANDATORY EMISSIONS TEST THAT THE CAR UNDERWENT NOT 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO FAILURE AS PROOF THAT THE CAR WAS IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER. (IN TORONTO, ALL VEHICLE OWNERS MUST SUBMIT THEIR CARS FOR EMISSIONS TESTING EVERY 2 YEARS. THE CAR IS MEASURED FOR HYDRO CARBON OUTPUT, NOX OUTPUT, CO, AND CO2. IF THE ENGINE HAD BEEN MALFUNCTIONING, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN QUALIFIED.) THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF GM DIDN'T SWITCH FROM ALUMINUM TO PLASTIC. OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR INCLUDE A REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE, - 3'RD ALTERNATOR, 2ND BATTERY , A SECURITY SYSTEM THAT SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, WATER IN THE TRUNK (SEVERAL ATTEMPT TO REPAIR, ENDED UP DRILLING A HOLE IN THE TRUNK), FAILED AC COMPRE

HARD STEERING TURNING RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. ITEM REPAIRED 1/14/2004 AT DEALER AT A COST TO ME OF $1351.18. REPAIR INVOICE STATES " INTERNAL FAILURE OF STEERING GEAR DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED STEERING GEAR." AUTO IS 1997 BUICK PARK AVE ULTRA WITH 32000 MILES.*AK

MY FACTORY INSTALLED SUPERCHARGER HAS HAD A PULLEY MECHANISM FALL APART. AS A RESULT THE BELT FROM THIS SYSTEM (SIMILAR TO A DRIVE TRAIN BELT) FELL DOWN THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ABRUPTLY STOPPING MY VEHICLE AS THE BELT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE ANOTHER COMPONENT IN THE ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND EACH TIME HAS INVOLVED A DIFFERENT PULLEY ON THE SYSTEM.*AK

STEERING GEAR BRACKET BROKE ON 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS GIVEN COPIES OF THE REPAIR BILL AND THE STATEMENT FROM ENTERPRISE FOR THE THREE DAYS IT TOOK TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR CONSIDERING A REIMBURSEMENT. *CB

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A HOLE AND LEAKED ANTI FREEZE ONTO THE CYLINDER. THIS RESULTED IN ENGINE LOCKING UP AND THE CRANK SHAFT BEARING GOING BAD. *AK THE ROD BEARINGS ALSO FAILED DUE TO WATER ENTERING THE OIL PAN. *NLM

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAS FAILED. IT WILL NO LONGER RETRACT AND MUST BE REPLACED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A SEAT BELT SHOULD FAIL. *JB

THE PLASTIC AIR PLENNOM ON THE TOP OF THE 3800 ENGINE OF THE NEWER GEN MOTORS CARS THAT THEY ARE NOW USING WILL NOT HOLD UP UNDER THE HEAT. THE EGR TUBE WHICH EXTENDS UP INTO THE PLASTIC AIR INTAKE BURNS A HOLD INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM SURROUNDING THE EGR TUBE, CAUSING COOLANT TO DRIAN INTO THE THE MOTOR INTAKE CHAMBER. IN TURN, THE COOLANT THEN MIXES WITH THE OIL AND RUINS THE MOTOR ROD BEARINGS. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED ONE MOTOR AND AM NOW EXPERIENCING SIMILAR TROUBLE WITH THE SECOND MOTOR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO THE METAL AIR INTAKES!*AK

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED DRIVER VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED. *AK

THE DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. THE BELT HAD ABOUT 18-18 INCHES OF SLACK AT ALL TIMES. *NLM *CB *NLM

THE DEALER REPLACED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, WATER PUMP, GASKETS AND SERPENTINE BELT. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 47000 MILES ON IT. *NLM THE VEHICLE HAD REQUIRED MANY REPAIRS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THE COOLANT TANK KEPT GOING LOW AND THE UPPER AND LOWER GASKET ALONG WITH ALL COMPONENTS. THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. *SCC *JB

FAILURE OF GAS GAUGE. *NLM

THE ROTORS WARPED PREMATURELY. *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THIS RESULTED IN CONSUMER BEING TRAPPED IN THE THEIR VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE ALTERNATOR FAILING. TS

1-23-3 ID LIKE TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH A GENERAL MOTORS ENGINE, MORE SPECIFICALLY THE BOLTS THEY'RE USING ON THE 3800 SERIES 2 V-6 (PROBABLY A CHEAP PRICED CHINESE PRODUCT). I ASKED AT MY BUICK DEALERSHIP IF THEY SEND INFORMATION TO GM ABOUT A PROBLEM A VEHICLE IS HAVING IF THEY SEE IT AS DANGEROUS OR SEE IT MORE THAN ONCE AND THE GUY LAUGHED... HA HA REAL FUNNY. MEANWHILE PEOPLE LIKE ME FIX A PROBLEM THAT MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A RECALL, OR AT MINIMUM GM COULD QUIT BUYING DEFECTIVE BOLTS TO USE ON THE 3800 SERIES 2 ENGINE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED WHEN SUDDENLY THEY CAN'T CONTROL A 3000 POUND VEHICLE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE (97,000 MILES). I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY POWER STEERING PUMP JUST FALLS OFF OF THE CAR, YES IT LITERALLY FELL OFF. I SENT IT TOO MY LOCAL BUICK DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY ARE FOR SOME REASON OUT OF THE BOLT THAT HE SAID SHEARED ITSELF OFF. THE NEXT DAY I CALL THE BUICK REPAIR SHOP TO ASK ABOUT IT SINCE THEY HAVE TO WAIT ON THE PART, AND HE CALLS ME MR. GRAY. I TELL HIM MY ACTUAL NAME AND HE APOLOGIZES AND INFORMS ME THAT THERE'S ANOTHER GUY'S CAR IN THERE AT THE MOMENT WHO HAD THAT EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIS CAR,... HIS POWER STEERING PUMP FELL OFF TOO. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE CAR ALL OF THE SUDDEN STEERS LIKE A TRACTOR WITH FLAT TIRES, FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME. A SMALLER MAN OR WOMAN COULD NOT LIKELY HANDLE CONTROLLING IT, AND GOD HELP THEM IF THEY

I HAVE A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE WITH 103,000 MILES. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN APRIL OF 1997. AFTER 10 MONTHS AND 16,000 MILES I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSIMISSION SHIFTING HARD AFTER THE CAR GOT WARMED UP. IF I WOULD STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR 15 SECONDS AND RESTART IT SHIFT SMOOTH FOR SEVERAL STOPS AND THEN START SHIFTING HARD AGAIN. I TOOK IT INTO A BUICK GARAGE AND THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 10 DAYS AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. FINALLY THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. AT 90,000 MILES THE SAME PROBLEM REOCCURED. IT DIDN'T DO IT THAT OFTEN TO BEGIN WITH BUT NOW ONE YEAR LATER IT DOES IT ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AFTER IT GET COMPLETELY WARMED UP. GIVEN IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO MY CAR IT WOULD APPEAR THERE IS A DEFECT HERE THAT BUICK SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I HAVE LOOKED OVER YOU SIGHT AND FOUND NO RECALLS FOR THE TYPE OF PROBLEM. ARE THERE ANY OUT THERE THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF? WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? MEL RUTLIN

THE VEHICLES' PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT FROM SHOULDER RETRACTOR. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

WHILE DRIVNG AT LOW SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL BINDS MAKING WHEEL HARD TO TURN. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

PROBLEMS WITH STARTING UP VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION. MR CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER GETTING GAS AT A FULL SERVICE GAS STATION. WHEN SHE TRIED THE IGNITION THE AIR BAG EXPLODED. SHE SUBSTAINED SWELLING TO BOTH ARMS AND HER RIGHT HAND. EVEN TODAY SHE'S TAKING PHYSICAL THERAPY AND HAS NERVE DAMAGE TO RIGHT ARM AND SHOULDER PAIN. PH 09-DEC-2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE PARKED WITH THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY JUMPED INTO REVERESE RESULTING IN A COLLISION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS CRACKED, CAUSING ENGINE TO FALL ON ONE SIDE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *YH

VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

AT 70 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN A LOT, THEN STALLED. TOWED TO DEALER, ANTIFREEZE FLOODED ENGINE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE.*AK. CONSUMER WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD BY AN 18 WHEELER BECAUSE VEHICLE HAD STARTED SLOWING AND CONSUMER COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO RESPOND. LOSS OF STEERING ACCOMPANIED THE SUDDEN DECELLERATION. *JG

DEFROSTER VENTS FOR WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY, THIS CAUSES DRIVER TO HAVE POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING.*AK DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, CONSUMER STATES ON ONE OCCASION THE HEAT CONTROL FAILED COMPLETELY, AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING THE HEAT WORKED. *SLC

CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TRYIED TO STOP VEHICLE QUICKLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED AND THEN THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHEN APPLIED, OWNER CHECKED BRAKE PADS, AND FOUND THEM IN GOOD CONDITION, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAKES LOCK-UP ON ICE AND THE CAR IS SLIDING. *JG *AK

LAP BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, BEING DIFFICLT TO BE RELEASED FROM BUCKLE ANCHOR.*AK

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. CONSUME RHAS DRIVEN THREE DAYS LAST WEEK WITHOUT SEAT BELTS PROTECTION BECAUSE RETRACTOR DID NOT WORK. DEALER HAS REPLACED THAT PART TWICE, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

INSURED TRIED TO CRANK THE VEHICLE WHEN IMMEDIATELY IT POPPED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. INSURED HAD NOTICED THE SMELL OF GAS, BUT REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE. CHECK FOR POSSIBLE LOSS WITH THE FUEL INJECTIONS, CLAIM 24-5198-330. *JG

INSURED BELIEVES THE ENGINE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A LOOSE WIRE IN THE STARTER, CLAIM 25-5562-917. *JG

WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, CLAIM 53-C849-836. *JG

INSURED ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE. AFTER HEARING WHAT SOUNDED LIKE BACK FIRING, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD OF VEHICLE, CLAIM 52-2467-692. *JG

FUSE BOX RELAY BOX SUSPECTED FOR CAUSE OF FIRE, CLAIM 42-1331-250. *JG

INSURED WAS STARTING THE VEHICLE WHEN HE HEARD A BIG BOOM AND THEN SMOKE CAME FROM ENGINE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 25-5607-676. *JG

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER TRIED TO CRANK VEHICLE WHEN IT IMMEDIATELY POPPED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM 24-5198-330. *SLC

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGERS SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RELEASE FROM RETRACTING MECHANISM.*AK *SLC

RECALL 97V064000; WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES THEY WILL PULSATE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, CLAIM 53-C849-836. *SLC

ENGINE BURNED OUT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN SYSTEM. ALSO TALKED TO MECHANICS, AND MECHANICS STATED PLENIUM WHICH WAS PART OF COOLANT SYSTEM, CRACKED CAUSING COOLANT ESCAPE AND BURNED ENGINE OUT. THERE BE NO COOLANT IN ENGINE.*AK

BRAKE LINES LEAKING DISCOVERED IN FLORIDA ON TRIP. BUICK DEALER REPAIRED, BOTH BRAKE PIPES FROM MASTER CYLINDER TO ABS UNIT RUBBED AGAINST TRANSMISSION, REPLACED. I WOULD SAY THIS IS A MFG. FAULT.*AK

SYMPTOM OF BATTERY FAILURE-TRIPLE A JUMP STARTED CAR -CHECKED BATTERY & ENGINE WITH COMPUTER WHICH DETECTED NO PROBLEM-DROVE CAR @ 50 MILES ON HIGHWAY-NO PROBLEM- AFTER SITTING OVER NITE STARTED NORMALLY BUT AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2 MILES LOST ALL POWER- TRIPE A COULD NOT START SO TOWED CAR TO THEIR SHOP & FOUND ENGINE FROZE UP- CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE AIR INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH DEVELOPED A LEAK ALLOWING COOLANT FLUID TO GET INTO ENGINE MIXING WITH OIL. I KNOW OF 5 OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS NATURE, 3 OF WHICH RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE.