1997 Buick Park Avenue complaints

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BELIEVE THIS FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A LOOSE WIRE ON THE STARTER, CLAIM 25-5562-917. *SLC

ALL FOUR DISC BRAKE ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT ONLY 54000 MILES. PRODUCT PRCLUDES TURN DOWN? LIFE IS TERRIBLE FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RELATED ITEM. REPAIR FACILITY REPORTS MANY SIMILAR FAILURES ARE OCCURING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING, AND CHIMMING. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD STOPPED AND RAISE THE HOOD. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. STOPPED THE ENGINE SAW THAT IT WAS NOT OVERHEATED. ATTEMPTED TO START. IT WOULDN'T. WRECKER TOOTO BRIAN HARRIS DEALER. DEALER REPACED BOTH INTAKE MANIFOLDS BECAUSE THEY WERE PITTED AND ALLOWED COOLANT TO ENTER INTO CYLINDERS AND LOCK THE ENGINE. DEALER SAID BOTH MANIFOLDS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

THE PART IN FRONT OF THE RETRACTOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER STATES IT WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF THE MAIN ROLLER. *SLC

ON TWO OCCASSIONS, ONE ON DRY PAVEMENT, ONE ON WET, IN A PANIC STOP SITUATION, THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO BRAKING FOR A TIME. IT WAS AS IF THE ABS STARTED ON THE WRONG CYCLE (NO BRAKING). THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED SIGNIFICATLY IN BOTH CASES. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING A REPAIR TO THE FRONT SEAT BELTS(00V-117). DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED TWICE, HOWEVER HAS NOT INFORMED CONSUMER AS TO WHEN THE VEHICLE CAN EXPECT REPAIRS. YD

AT 21,470 MILES, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT WHEN USED, AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT RETRACT FROM RETRACTOR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK PASSENGERS RIGHT FRONT LAP BELT IS NOT STUCK AND WILL NOT RELEASE, DEALER STATED IN THE BEGINNING THAT HE WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER WHEN HE FOUND OUT THE COST, HE DECLINED HIS OFFER. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOX IN FRONT PASSENGER DOOR SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A FAILURE IN POWER WINDOWS/LOCKS/MIRRORS. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REPAIRED THIS DEFECT. *AK POWER DOOR LOCK CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT DOOR, EXPRESS MODULE, AND PIG TAIL WERE REPLACED. *YH

ELECTRONIC BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING ABS TO ACTIVATE WHEN IT WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO. ALSO, TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATED WHEN TAKING OFF, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. RECALL 97V064000/ ABS FAILURE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRING OF STEERING COLUMN WHICH CAUSES BRAKES TO VIBRATE AND MAKE A RUMBLING NOISE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN MAKING A STOP AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THIS DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

ITEM 1. RETURNING HOME, PLAY DEVELOPED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WITH THE CAR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, DURING INVESTIGATION , THE STEERING WHEEL TOTALLY DISCONNECTED FROM THE STEERING RACK, SO THE CAR WAS NO LONGER STEERABLE. DEALER SAID THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE RACK INPUT, BUT COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN. RACK ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN REPLACED 03/28/97, 2101 MILES BEAUSE OF OIL LEAKS. ITEM 2. TAKING CAR HOME FROM DEALER AFTER ENGINE OIL LEAK REPAIR, THERE WAS MUCH PLAY, 1/3 TURN, IN STEERING WHEEL. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BROKEN MOUNTING EAR ON STEERING RACK AND PINION, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF RACK ASSEMBLY. RACK ASSEMBLE HAD BEEN REPLACED 03/28/97, 2101 MILES DUE TO OIL LEAKS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ENGINE STALLED. DEALER FOUND POWER CONTROL MODULE AND ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION #00039 FOR FRONT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR, CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE REPAIR COMPLETED ONLY TO BE TOLD PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, SECOND OCCASION PARTS WERE IN CONSUMER RETURNED VEHILCE AND WAS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT AFTER CHECKING TO SEE IF PROBLEM WAS FIXED CONSUMER REALIZED SEAT BELT WAS STILL EXHIBITING SAME PROBLEM, CONSUMER WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP A THIRD TIME AND WAS ADVISED THAT PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED, THE LAST TIME CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM DEALERSHIP STATING THERE WERE NO PARTS AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT REQUIRE REPAIR OF THE DEFECT, CONSUMER WAS LATER ADVISED THAT MECHANIC STATED CONSUMER DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE RECALL AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS FINISHED. *JB

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE COMING TO A SLOW AND NORMAL STOP ABS WILL KICK IN, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ABS KICKS IN WHEN IT IS NOT NECESSARY. *AK

CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE AND HEARD WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A BACK FIRE, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, CLAIM 52-2467-692. *SLC

ELECTRICAL SEAT CONTROL SOMETIMES WILL POP OUT. COULD NOT BE PUT BACK IN PLACE.DEALER COULD NOT FIX DEFECT.*AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD CLINK BEFORE ENGAGING. TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE OVERHAULED. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN DEFECTIVE. SIMILAR FAILURES WERE FOUND ON INTERNET BY THE CONSUMER. *YH

FIRE OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FUSE BOX RELAY SUSPECTED AS CAUSE, CLAIM 42-1331-250. *SLC

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS/SHUTS OFF WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS FOR DIFFERENT REPAIRS ON SAME PROBLEM, BUT PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK

PLASTIC ELECTRICAL SWITCHES ARE BREAKING AND FALLING OFF. DOOR PANNEL AND SEAT ADJUSTMENT SWITCH FALLING OFF. WE ALSO FEEL LIKE IT MAY HAVE BEEN FLOODED AT ONE TIME AND WAS NOT DISCLOSED AT TIME OF PURCHASE.*AK

OWNER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V-227, EXPERIENCED DEFECT PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION, SEATBELT WOULD NOT RETRACT. *CJ

CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR A RECALL FOR BUCKET SEAT LATCH, AND DEALER BROKE PART OF SEAT THAT WAS ON RECALL. TOLD CONSUMER THAT THAT PARTS WERE IN, BUT IN A WHILE CONSUMER WAS WAITING AND PARTS FELL OFF. *AK

SEAT BELTS BECAME INOPERATIVE PRIOR TO RECALL 00V-117, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

THE CONSUMER FEELS THE HEAD REST DESIGN IS NOT SUFFICIENT AND WOULD NOT PROTECT THE CONSUMERS HEAD DURING A COLLISION. *MJS

OWNER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM MANUFACTURE FOR RECALL (00V-117). REPAIRS WERE MADE PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION, OWNER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSE FOR CHARGES. *CJ

RACK AND PINION STEERING IS BINDING DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER REGARDING RECALL NO 00V117000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00039, DEALER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM CONSUMER NOTICED SHOULDER BELT WAS LOCKING WHEN MAKING ANY SLIGHT MOVEMENT.*AK THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS STILL DOES NOT RETRACT. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH GOING DOWN HILL BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. CONSUMER COULD NOT PRESS BRAKE, AND HAD TO COAST DOWN THE HILL. *AK THE POSSIBLE CAUSE IS BRAKES HEATING THE FLUID AND WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER. *YH

CONSUMER WILL HEAR A LOUD THUMP AND VEHICLE WILL JERK WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE, AND PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. THEY HAVE CONTACTED A SERVICE ADVISOR, CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THE SERVICE ADVISOR TO RETURN CALL SINCE JANUARY 2000.*AK

FIRST TIME REPAIRED BRAKES AT 19000 MILES. *AK

00 117 000/GM SHOULDER BELTS: RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE, INFORMING THAT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. CONTACTED DEALER(WEST POINT BUICK, HOUSTON, TEXAS, PHONE # 281/493-2000 FOR A APPOIMENT, AND WAS INFORMED THAT PART WERE NOT AVAILABLE. APPOINTMENT WOULD NOT BE MADE UNTIL LATER. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

FORNT SEATBELTS TWISTED, ALLOWING WEBBING TO BE JAMMED INTO THE RETRACTOR. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE VEHICLE MAKE; HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED AN OFF TRACK FUNCTION, WITHIN MINUTES VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND CONSUMER WAS LOCKED IN FOR 15-20 MINUTES. DEALER NOTIFIED. BUT, VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK

SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY FOR A BIG PERSON, BUT WORKS FINE FOR A SMALLER PERSON. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

MY ISSUE IS CONSTANT VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE REPLACED ALL TIRES, ALL STRUTS, BALANCED NUMEROUS TIMES. BUICK PEOPLE TELL ME ITS THE TIRES. TIRE PEOPLE TELL ME ITS THE DRIVE TRAIN. MEANWHILE, NOTHING GETS DONE EXCEPT I KEEP SPENDING MONEY. I DON'T MIND A PROBLEM NOW AND THEN AS LONG AS SOMEONE RESPONDS TO IT. BUT IN THIS CASE, BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE AND READING ACCOUNTS OF OTHER OWNERS, THIS ISSUE NEVER GOES AWAY. MY GUESS IS NOW THAT I'M OUT OF WARRANTY, GM WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO STICK IT ON THE RACK AT THE GOING LABOR RATE AND MAYBE GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. I SEE TSB 833004, WHICH I JUST DISCOVERED, WAS PUBLISHED IN 9/98, LONG BEFORE I WENT INTO SUN BUICK WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY NEVER MENTIONED OR DID ANY OF THE REMEDIATION CALLED FOR IN THAT TSB. WHAT OTHER BUTTONS ARE THERE FOR A CONSUMER TO PUSH?*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED A SMALL OIL LEAK. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. THEY REPAIRED IT. DEALER SAID THAT A GMC BULLENTIN ABOUT OIL PANS ON BUICKS STATED THAT PAN WAS WAVY AND COULD CAUSE AN OIL LEAK. *AK

SEAT BELTS WRINKLE AND JAM INTO RETRACTORS FROM ORDINARY MOVEMENT OF PASSENGER AND /OR DRIVER. THEY BECOME USELESS. CONVERSATIONS WITH DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER STATES THAT IS A "MANIFACTURERS DEFECT" AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. DISCUSSIONS WITH MANIFACTURER IS NO HELP. THEY REFER US BACK TO THE DEALER. *AK

CONSUMER TOLD OF MANUFACTURE SERVICE BULLETIN # 9908-50-013 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF FRONT SEAT BELTS, LOCAL DEALER REPLACED PASSENGER BELT BUT IS RELUCTANT TO REPLACED DRIVER SIDE BELT, THE DRIVER SIDE BELT IS FOLDING AND JAMMING. YH

SEAT BELTS BECOME TWISTED AND UNABLE TO USE DUE TO JAM OF THE RETRACTING MECHANISM. *AK

WHILE MAKING A TURN BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED AND STAYED ON. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUBBING ON TRANSMISSION AND WORE A HOLE THROUGH THE BRKAE LINE. WOULD HAVE LED TO TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK *ML

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETURN TO THE RETRACTING MECHANISM , CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK *ML

SERPENTINE BELT SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE TWICE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

DRIVER'S SHOULDER BELT IS STICKING , WILL NOT RETRACT, CAUSING A LOSS OF PROTECTION. DEALER HAS INSTALLED A REDESIGNED SEAT BELT IN NOV 1999, BUT DEFECT HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

EA00002, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS TO TWIST, WHICH WONT PROPERLY PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN EVENT OF A CRASH. CONSUMER HAVE TAKEN THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER 12 TIMES. DEALER SAYS AS LONG AS THE BELT RETRACTS THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT. *AK.ET.

FRONT END SHAKES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. DEALER DOES NOT NOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *AK

ODOMETER FOUND TO BE BROKEN

FACTORY REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SEPT 1998 SAME AS BEFORE. THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM PERSISTS; SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT BUICK COULD DO NOTHING. PASSENGER CAN EXTEND SEAT BELT, BUT IT OFTEN FOLDS & JAMS, LEAVING 1-2 FT OF LOOSE BELT WHICH VOIDS THE SAFETY OF SEAT BELT. WARPED BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PROBLEM IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO BUICK WHO HAS LAST WEEK SUGGESTED A TRIAL OF CHANGING HOSES.

WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED THERE IS A PULSATING FEELING IN THE PEDAL . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK