1998 Buick Park Avenue

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVED POST CARD FOR AIRBAG RECALL. I CALLED THE 888 NUMBER & WENT ON THE INTERNET AS DIRECTED. NO ONE CAN IDENTIFY MY VEHICLE. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. CALL DORIS AT 1-575-208-0154 WHERE DO I GO FOR THIS RECALL LIVE IN ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO I'M AFRAID SOMETHING TERRIBLE WILL HAPPEN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND BECAME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V117000 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. ...UPDATED 09/14/16 *BF CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT SEAT BELT FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE IS ENTIRELY CONSISTENT WITH THE ATTACHED RECALL NOTICE YET GM ASSERTS THAT THIS RECALL DOESN'T APPLY TO VEHICLES VIN NUMBER. UPDATED 5/30/18*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT PROPERLY RETRACTING AND DETRACTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V117000 (SEAT BELTS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

DRIVING DOWN THE HIWAY, HAD JUST PASSED A SEMI; THANK GOODNESS IT WAS AFTER THAT THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW MAKING THE CAR QUITE DIFFICULT TO STEER. TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE; HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT TIRES REPLACED AND INSTRUCTED TO BRING IT BACK THE WEEK AFTER FOR AN ALIGNMENT. AT THAT TIME I DISCOVERED THAT BOTH NEW FRONT TIRES WERE ALREADY RUINED DUE TO THE CRADLE/FRAME ASSEMBLY WHICH WAS RUSTED OUT. THIS COST ME $863. YESTERDAY - 08/12/2015 THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WENT OUT. UPON MY INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE. I WAS TOLD IT HAD BEEN FIXED.. ALTHO THERE WASN'T ANY CONCRETE PROOF GIVEN TO ME THAT IT HAD AS THE DEALERSHIP I CALLED WAS NOT THE DEALERSHIP THAT SAID THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE JUST WEEKS AFTER SPENDING $863 TO HAVE ONE ISSUE RESOLVED. I FIND IT PARTICULARLY APPALLING THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO HELP RESOLVE ANY OF THESE ISSUES.

I BROUGHT THE RECALL PRINT OUT FROM THE NHTSA # 00V117000 AND THE DEALER SAID GM DOESN'T LIST MY VEHICLE, BUT WHEN YOU RUN THE VIN MY VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I'VE HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FOR YEARS AND IT NEED TO BE FIXED. THE LOCAL GM DEALER IN THE HOUGHTON LAKE, MICHIGAN AREA IS: NESTER CHEVROLET. NESTER CHEVROLET PHONE NUMBER IS: 989-422-5126. MY PASSENGERS CAN'T GET THE SEAT BELT TO FASTEN BECAUSE THE RETRACTOR WON'T EXTEND FAR ENOUGH TO BUCKLE THE BELT. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE SEAT BELT LAW IN MICHIGAN NOT TO WEAR A SEAT BELT. I NEED YOUR HELP! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE HEATER AND REAR DEFROSTER WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT THEN SMELLED A BURNING ODOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMALL FLAMES EMITTING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW PANEL. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND DISCONNECTED THE DEFROSTER WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE AND WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

SO THERE HAS BEEN MANY TIME WERE M CAR DOORS HAVE WENT OUT AND WHEN I SAY OUT I MEAN TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN ONLY OPEN FROM THE INSIDE NOW I HAVE GONE OUT AND PAID TO HAVE THEM FIXED NOW I AT THE POINT WHERE I FEEL SOMETHING ELSE IS UP. I AM DOWN TO ONE DOOR AND THAT IS A BACK ONE SO YOU SEE THE PROBLEM. *TT

FUEL PRESSURE IS INCORRECT, STALLING, HIGH AND LOW RPMS, AT STOP SIGN, INCLUDING AND NOT LIMITED TO START, DRIVING, ETC. PLEASE HELP!. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

LOSS OF COOLANT INTERNALLY TO COMBUSTION/COMPRESSION CHAMBERS, HYDRO LOCKED ENGINE, THICK SMOKE FROM ENGINE EXHAUST, COOLANT MIXING INTO OIL, UNSTABLE TEMPERATURE REQUIRING VEHICLE STOPPAGE TO AVOID OVERHEATING/FIRE, CAR WILL NOT RUN. INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE AND HEAD GASKET DAMAGE. *TR

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A LOUD BACKFIRE AND VISIBLE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BLOWN APART. THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF RAW FUEL. I CONTACTED A LOCAL BUICK DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN CAMPAIGNS CONCERNING THIS VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST IN THE RANGE OF $2000 - $2500 DOLLARS.

PURCHASED CAR 04/20/2006. IN JULY '09 USED CAR DEALER REPLACED INTAKE GASKET SET. (THEIR COST) IN JUNE '09 REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTOR & THERMOSTAT (MY EXPENSE) AUGUST '10 SAME MECHANIC REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (MY EXPENSE) ODM 53405 DEC '10 I DISCOVERED ON INTERNET THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THESE PROBLEMS. CONTACTED BUICK AND JULIAN DELCOUR, VICE PRESIDENT SAID THE PROBLEMS HAD BEEN REPAIRED IN 2001 BUT UNABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH DOCUMENTATION. NOTE: RECALL ID#56853 DATED 2/24/2004 RELATED TO FUEL SYSTEM. SEAT BELT RECALL WAS IN 2000. DELCOUR DECLINED MY REQUEST FOR REPAYMENT OF REPAIRS MADE AT MY EXPENSE. THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO ME IN WRITING, ONLY PHONE CONVERSATIONS. MY ANSWERING MACHINE RECORDED HIS LAST CALL TO ME REGARDING THE NON-PAYMENT OR RELEASE OF RECORDS. QUESTIONS TO YOU: 1-WHY COULDN'T HE PROVIDE PROOF OF REPAIRS MADE AND UNABLE TO PROVIDE THIS TO ME, I THEN AM UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY HAVE NO PROOF. 2-SHOULDN'T THEY BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND PAY FOR MY EXPENSES? I HAVE DOCUMENTED EVERYTHING RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD BE ABLE TO FURNISH YOU COPIES. HOPEFULLY, THIS PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED WITH YOUR ASSISTANCE AND I WILL BE SENT A CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $931.21 PLUS $100 FOR TWO TOWING CHARGES FROM BUICK.

1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING OIL ON JULY 3, 2006. THE DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET. ON JULY 9, 2009 THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 395.91. TWO MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM RESURFACED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR PULLED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. BEING ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM MY REPAIR SHOP, I SLOWLY DROVE THERE. THE MECHANIC TOOK THE CAR BACK ON THE ROAD AND WHEN BRAKED, PULLED MORE VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. UPON INSPECTION THE FRAME, ENGINE CRADLE SECTION, HAD BROKEN. IN 30 YEARS, THE MECHANIC HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN. THE CAR HAS ONLY 65,000 MILES AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE IT WAS IN GOOD SHAPE. UPDATED 10/05/10 *BF PICTURES RECEIVED. UPDATED 10/07/10 UPDATED 101810 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 10/21/10*JB *TR

CAR OVERHEATED, ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH,I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO A STOP OFF OF THE ROADWAY, ENGINE LOCKED UP. HAD IT TOWED TO BUICK SHOP, WAS TOLD THAT COOLANT HAD GOTTEN INTO THE ENGINE. NEEDED TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLDS AND GASKETS, VALVE COVER GASKETS, SPARK PLUGS AND CHANGE ENGINE OIL AND FILTER. FLUSH COOLING SYSTEM. RESET TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND TEST CAR. COST ABOUT $1800. 81000 MILES ON THE CAR. *TR

1. ENGINE STALLED - SKIPPED, MISSED. LOSS OF ANTIFREEZE. FINALLY COMPLETELY DIED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. 2. OCCURRED TWICE 3. REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY TWICE IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD START THE VEHICLE, HHE NOTICED THAT IT WOULD TURN ON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD A LOUD POP COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH , THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SPARKS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FLAMES BEGAN TO APPEAR UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 10/30/2008. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT LAP BELT IS LOCKED IN A POSITION AND CANNOT BE PULLED OUT TO WRAP ACROSS THE PASSENGER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V117000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING) WAS REFERENCED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CRACKED LIKE IT DOES ON ALL OF THE 3.8 LITRE ENGINES G.M. NEEDS TO COVER THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR WHEN THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, RUN HOT, AND MAKE SOUNDS AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS GULPING WATER. THE MOTOR LOCKED UP. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. A MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE MOTOR LOCKED UP BECAUSE COOLANT WAS ENTERING INTO THE MOTOR. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN THREE YEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. HE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS ON BOTH OCCASIONS. THE PURCHASE DATE, POWERTRAIN, AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03-25-08 *BF THE DEALER STATED PERFORMED FUEL RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. UPDATED 03/25/08 *TR

PAINT PEELING OFF THE CAR ALMOST EVERY WHERE. *TR

DRIVER SIDE MIRROR TURNS A BRONZE COLOR AND IT IS HARD TO VIEW THROUGH IT. I CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT PLACE TO SUBMIT THE VEHICLE MAKE. THE VEHICLE IS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TOWN. I MOVED OVER ON THE STREET NEAR MY HOME TO LET ANOTHER CAR PASS AND I FELT A LARGE BUMP AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR DROPPED DOWN. I GOT OUT THINKING I HAD A FLAT TIRE BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE TIRE WAS IN THE WHEEL WELL AT A VERY CROOKED ANGLE AND SIT SOME WHAT ON THE TIRES EDGE. I WAS ABLE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEEL AND LIMPED HOME. THE MECHANIC ON MONDAY SAID THE CRADLE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR RUSTED OUT AND HAD BROKEN. WHEN THE CRADLE BROKE SO DID THE RIGHT AXLE. HE HAS HAD A HARD TIME FINDING A GOOD USED CRADLE AS GM DOES NOT MAKE NEW ONES ANYMORE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TOWN. I MOVED OVER ON THE STREET NEAR MY HOME TO LET ANOTHER CAR PASS AND I FELT A LARGE BUMP AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR DROPPED DOWN. I GOT OUT THINKING I HAD A FLAT TIRE BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE TIRE WAS IN THE WHEEL WELL AT A VERY CROOKED ANGLE AND SIT SOME WHAT ON THE TIRES EDGE. I WAS ABLE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEEL AND LIMPED HOME. THE MECHANIC ON MONDAY SAID THE CRADLE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR RUSTED OUT AND HAD BROKEN. WHEN THE CRADLE BROKE SO DID THE RIGHT AXLE. HE HAS HAD A HARD TIME FINDING A GOOD USED CRADLE AS GM DOES NOT MAKE NEW ONES ANYMORE. *TR

TWO DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT I STARTED HAVING AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR OVER A RELATIVES HOUSE A HALF MILE FROM MY HOME, AND DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FROM THEIR. ON THE DRIVE HOME, THE RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE SUBFRAME (ENGINE FRAME OR CRADLE) AT THE AFTER BRACKET WHICH RESULTED IN THE RIGHT HALF SHAFT FAILING. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY DEVELOPMENT. THE SUBFRAME WAS SERIOUSLY CORRODED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE SUBFRAME AND HALF SHAFT REPLACED WITH NEW PARTS. I CONTACTED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A MAJOR STRUCTURAL FAILURE ON THE CAR. THEY DECLINED TO OFFER ANY REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR, DUE TO THE VEHICLES AGE (NINE YEARS) AND MILEAGE (134,500). I MAINTAIN THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED, AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT HAD IT OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

GREETINGS, I PROCURED A CAR FROM THE TWIN CITY BUICK DEALERSHIP ON 3046 AIRPORT HIGHWAY [ALCOA TN 37701] TO PURCHASE A NICE USED CAR FOR MY SON. THE SALESMAN, WAS NICE ENOUGH TO SHOW ME / STEER ME IN THE DIRECTION OF A 1998 BUICK PARK AVE WITH 30K ORIGINAL MILES. WE RAN A BACKGROUND CHECK ON THE MILES AND CAR HISTORY REPORT AND WITH A HANDSHAKE CALLED THE DEAL DONE. MY SON USED THE CAR FOR ONE YEAR AND PUT ABOUT 10K MILES ON THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS GETTING A LITTLE WARMER THAN NORMAL. THE CAR WAS CHECKED OUT AT CLIFTON BUICK DEALERSHIP IN ROCKWOOD TENNESSEE MY SON WAS AT SUMMER CAMP IN ROCKWOOD TENNESSEE AS A BOY SCOUT LEADER FOR THE LAST TWO SUMMERS AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PLENUM GASKET DEVICE WAS DEFECTIVE. IN ADDITION, ANTI-FREEZE WAS DISCOVERED LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE AS WELL. THE BILL TO GET BEN'S CAR BACK ON THE ROAD WAS IN $568.06 ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR DISCOVERED AND MOST LIKELY ATTRIBUTED TO THE ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING THROUGH THE TAILPIPE AS WAS SUGGESTED BY THE DEALER. THIS COST WAS $315.66. FINALLY, ABOUT A WEEK GOES BY AND NOW THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. AGAIN WE ARE AT THE DEALER AND DISCOVERED IT WAS NOT THE ANTI-FREEZE BUT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE FROM THE PLENUM ISSUE. THE COST TO TROUBLE-SHOOT THE CAR WAS $82.60. ADDITIONAL DETAIL PROVIDED BY THE DEALER IS $3,360.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A USED ENGINE THAT HAS 68K MILES AND 1 YEAR WARRANTY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT. A LOCAL MECHANIC IS CURRENTLY REPLACING THE FRAME. THE PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PICTURES OF THE DEFECT. UPDATED 07/06/07 *TR

4/12/2007. 1998 BUICK PARK AVE. AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED. *MC *JB

SUPERCHARGER TENSIONOR PULLEY/BEARING ASSEMBLY AND BELT HAS BROKE FOR THE THIRD TIME AT MILEAGES OF 82457, 93720, 139,000. *NM

ON MAY 6, 2006 WE WERE COMING BACK TO SPARTANBURG, SC FROM THE BEACH. WE WERE ABOUT 7 MILES FROM KINGSREE, SC. AFTER LEAVING A SERVICE STATION, WE STARTED GETTING "CHECK ENGINE" MESSAGES. WE WENT BACK TO THE SERVICE STATION TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. WE HAD NO COOLANT. I PUT A GALLON OF COOLANT IN AND DECIDED TO GO INTO KINGSTREE, SC IN CASE THERE WAS MORE TROUBLE. JUST AS WE GOT TO KINGSTREE, SC WE STOPPED AT ANOTHER STATION AFTER GETTING MORE "CHECK ENGINE" MESSAGES. AGAIN, WE WERE OUT OF COOLANT AND NOW THE CAR WOULD NOT START. A WRECKER TOWED IT TO A GARAGE. THE MECHANIC SAID HE WAS FAIRLY CERTAIN OF WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE BUICK HAD BEEN HAVING LOTS OF TROUBLE WITH A PARTICULAR PART. HE THEN CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE UPPER INTAKE. HE REPLACED THE UPPER INTAKE PART WITH A REVISED PART FROM BUICK AND ASSURED US WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY MORE TROUBLE WITH THE COOLANT. THIS COST $571.48 AND A 6 HOUR DELAY. THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS IF WE HAD NOT BEEN NEAR A SERVICE STATION. BUICK REFUSES TO PAY OR ACKNOWLEDGE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE OVERHEATED SEVERAL TIMES AND CONTINUOUSLY REQUIRED ADDITIONAL COOLANT FLUID. THIS WAS ALWAYS PRECEDED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS A PINHOLE SIZED LEAK IN THE MANIFOLD. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE LEAK.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN MAY 2003 THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START AT TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE PLENUM ON THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. TWO WEEKS AGO ON 2-4-06 THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN HOME. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 2-6-06 WHERE THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE PLENUM ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AGAIN. COOLANT HAD SEEPED INTO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED.

1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE ULTRA SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON. *TS THE MECHANIC STATED THE DOOR MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE SECURITY MODULE WAS PROBABLY DEFECTIVE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST PROBLEM INVOLVED COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE NEXT MORNING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED. UPON INSPECTION THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING ACROSS A PATCH OF ICE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE TRACTION STABILITY AND ABS FAILED. THE V TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FRONT END STARTED TO SLIDE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED,THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS RESET THEMSELVES AND WERE WORKING PROPERLY.*AK UPDATED 3/3/2006 - *NM

1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE MALFUNCTIONED.*MR THE TABS ON THE HANDLE BROKE, THEREFORE THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. *JB

DT: 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRADLE ON THE FRONT END ROTTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER JACKED IT UP AND NOTICED THE FRAME WAS ROTTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP; HE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS TO DRIVE ANYMORE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS, AND THE MANUFACTURER TOLD HIM THE SAME THING. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY FOR RUST. THE CONSUMER FILED A COMPLAINT WITH BUICK, #1-363337234.*AK *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER NOTED THAT THE SEAT BELT JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR WHILE THE SEAT BELT WAS IN USE, AND THERE WAS A NEED FOR MOVEMENT, THE SEAT BELT SIMPLY JAMMED. THIS HAPPENED TO THE WEBBING PORTION OF THE BELT. NHTSA RECALL 00V117000 WAS ISSUED CONCERNING THE SEAT BELT. THIS HAPPENED TO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ONLY. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED, AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL BUICK DEALER. THEIR RECORDS INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE RECALL REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER FELT THE RECALL REPAIR WORK WAS NEVER PERFORMED. THE BUICK MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE RECORDS INDICATED THE WORK HAD BEEN DONE. HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT WAS STILL A PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE USED VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2000, BUT CONSUMER'S NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2000.*AK

I PURCHASED 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE, FROM SANDERSON LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALERSHIP, GLENDALE, AZ 85301, ON FEBRUARY 24, 2005. SUBSEQUENTLY, I EXPERIENCED A MECHANICAL BREAK-DOWN ON APRIL 30, 2005. HENCE, I HAVE DISCERNED THAT THERE WERE TWO RECALLS ISSUED ON FEBRUARY 24, 2004, CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V0900000 AND CAMPAIGN NUMBER 00V17000 ON APRIL 18, 2000. I AM WRITING BECAUSE I HAVE EXPERIENCED BOTH DEFECTS. THE FORMER CAMPAIGN CAUSED ME TO EXPEND $900. FOR REPAIRS FOR A CRACKED MANIFOLD AND THE LATTER WAS RECENTLY EXPERIENCE WHEN THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER COULD NOT ATTACH THE SAFETY SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT HAD JAMMED. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHAT MY RECOURSES SHOULD BE? POWER BUICK, SCOTTSDALE, AZ, NEVER ADVISE ME OF A RECALL THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE AUTO'S BREAKDOWN...BUT DID CHARGE ME $887.44 FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. *NM

1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE HAD THE WATER PUMP , FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, OIL PRESSURE SWITCH, LEFT DOOR LOCK CONTROL BEZEL, TENSIONER PULLEY AND BEARING REPLACED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE JUMPED PAST THE FULL MARK THEN ALL THE WAY BACK AROUND TO EMPTY. THE PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE PLENUM WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD WARPED FROM THE HEAT AND STARTED TO LEAK. *NM

MY 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE WOULDN'T START BECAUSE OF A LINE THAT LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE CYLINDERS OF THE ENGINE. AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANINC AND TALKING WITH A PARTS FOREMAN AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP I FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS QUITE COMMON. IF IT IS COMMON WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL AND WHY AREN'T THE BEING FIXED FREE OF COST TO US OWNERS?

DT: CONSUMER STATES: PASSENGER SEAT BELT WON'T WORK, THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT PULL OUT FROM THE RETRACTOR. HAD TROUBLE WITH IT NORMALLY, CAN PULL ON IT AND IT WILL COME OUT, BUT NOW IT'S STUCK.*AK CONSUMER ADDS SEAT BELT WAS HARD TO RETRACT AND NOW HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. THERE IS A RECALL BUT VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY. *TT *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE COOLANT SPILLED INTO THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED , CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE SUCKED UP ALL THE COOLANT. APPARENTLY IT WAS SUCKED IN TO THE ENGINE FROM THE EGR PORT HOLE BECAUSE IT HAD BECOME DEGRADED. ALSO NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 00V117000 WAS ISSUED IN 2000. IT STATED THAT PASSENGER VEHICLES, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELTS THAT MAY TWIST, ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR. THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING, BUT MANUFACTURER INSISTED THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

DT: THE FRONT FRAME OF THE CAR RUSTED AT IT'S WELD AND BROKE OFF THE CAR. THE CONSUMER NOTICED IT 2 MONTHS AGO CONTACTED THE DEALER ONCE AND THE MANUCATURER TWICE. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT AFTER THE YEAR 2003. THE CONSUMER HAS PRICED A NEW FRAME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND OTHER PLACES.*AK THE FRONT FRAME IS ATTACHED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BODY AND SUPPORTS THE ENGINE, TRANSAXLE STEERING RACK AND STEERING PARTS.*SB *NM

AIR BAG SYSTEAM READY LIGHT WILL STAY ON.OPEN HOOD TO CHECK BATT. AND CAME ON AFTER SHUTING IT. *AK

1. LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT WITH NO APPARENT EXTERNAL LEAKAGE 2. DIFFICULTY STARTING AND THEN FAILURE TO START ENGINE 3. CORRODED PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ALLOWS ENGINE COOLANT INTO ENGINE DESTROYING ENGINE. *AK

VEHICLE IS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVE. THE PLASTIC IDLER PULLEY AND ASSEMBLY FAILED AND THE SURPENTINE BELT NO LONGER TURNED SO THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST (AND MAYBE POWER BRAKES ALSO). THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON I 45 IN HOUSTON AND EXITING OVER A CLOVERLEAF ONTO BELTWAY 8. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO USE MY MUSCLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE AND THE PULLEY ASSEMBLY AND BELT WAS REPLACED.*AK

1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE PCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *NM

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 00V117000. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK THE TWO FRONT SEAT BELTS FREQUENTLY BEGAN JAMMED IN THE SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR. THIS NOT ONLY HAPPEN WHILE INITIALLY BUCKLING THE BELT BUT ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING LEAVING SLACK IN THE BELT. *NM

I AM SUBMITTING THIS FOR MY FATHER-IN-LAW WHO IS 85 YEARS OLD. THERE IS A DEFECT IN GM 3800 ENGINES (VIN K-RPO L36) AT LEAST FROM 1995 TO 2003. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS DEFECT WHICH MAY HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS. MY FATHER-IN-LAW WAS PASSING ANOTHER CAR AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON A TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE IN HIS 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE LOCKED-UP. THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO REQUIRE THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL BUICK DEALER STATED THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES (IN FACT, IT'S RATHER WELL KNOWN AMONG AUTO MECHANICS), BUT HAS A POLICY OF NOT ASSISTING WITH REPAIRS AND HAS NOT RECALLED THE ENGINES. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT IN THIS CASE, HOWEVER, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR ANYTIME AN ENGINE LOCKS UP AT SPEED. I FEEL THAT THESE ENGINES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND MODIFIED/REPAIRED AT GM'S EXPENSE (THERE IS AN AFTER-MARKET KIT AVAILABLE WHICH IS AN INDICATOR OF THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM). THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ENGINES CAN DEVELOP A LEAK NEAR OR UNDER THE THROTTLE BODY AREA OF THE UPPER (PLASTIC) INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE EGR PASSAGE MELTS THE UPPER INTAKE PLENUM WHICH RESULTS IN AN EXTERNAL (IF YOU ARE LUCKY) OR AN INTERNAL WATER LEAK. IF THE LEAK IS INTERNAL, THE ENGINE CAN ALMOST INSTANTLY LOCK-UP CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. MY FATHER-IN-LAW'S CONNECTING RODS WERE BENT. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD DISINTEGRATED. AS A RESULT ANTI- FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE MANIFOLD AND STARTED TO BURN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB