1998 Buick Park Avenue complaints

I NOTICED COOLANT IN RESERVOIR WAS DISAPPEARING WITH NO VISIBLE EXTERIOR LEAKING. I FILLED IT AND WATCHED IT CAREFULLY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS. WITHIN 20 MILES I HAD USED 2 QUARTS OF COOLANT AND THEN MY SES LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT AND DETERMINED THAT NO. 6 CYLINDER WAS TAKING IN COOLANT. AFTER REMOVING THE INTAKE PLENIM HE FOUND A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE COOLANT JACKET BY THE EGR VALVE. HOPEFULLY, MY ENGINE IS O.K. BUT SEEMS TO HAVE LOST SOME MILEAGE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. MY TOTAL BILL CAME TO ONLY $382.00 INCLUDING THE NEW PLENIM AND GASKET. (LABOR IN TOWN IS A BARGAIN). I HAVE THE OLD PART AND WILL PROVIDE IT IF REQUESTED.*AK

VEHICLE BATTERY FAILED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE BATTERY CABLE CAME LOOSE WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE USING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BY UNLOCKING THE DOORS MANUALLY. *NM

ANTI-FREEZE LEAK THROUGH THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PAST THE EGR VALVE AND THROTTLE BODY, ENGINE RAN HOT, HYDROSTATIC ENGINE LOCK. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED, UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED, SPARK PLUGS, AND THERMOSTAT. OTAL COST $685.75. *AK

1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. *MR (LEAKING FUEL REGULATORS) ON FEBRUARY 11, 2003, THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT RECALL# 03V473000 WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

THE SEVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WITHIN A DAY OR TWO MY CAR KEPT NEEDING COOLANT. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH A BUICK DEALER BUT THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WITHIN HOURS OF GETTING THERE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN UPPER AND LOWER INTERNAL MANIFOLD LEAK. THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THAT HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT SAY IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. WHY WOULD A DEALER CARRY A MANIFOLD THAT IS A NON-MOVING PART BUT A CAST PIECE OF IRON IF THIS WAS NOT CONTINUAL PROBLEM? I WORK IN A FOUNDRY FOR CATERPILLAR THAT MAKES CAST BLOCKS AND HEADS AND WAS TOLD BY AN ENGINEER THIS IS A BAD DESIGN.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO GET INSIDE THE ENGINE. THIS COST $1200.00 TO REPAIR. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE, WHO BASICALLY TOLD HIM THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE BUICK DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND BUICK WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BUICK SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD CONSUMER THEY KEPT A NUMBER OF THEM BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, THE STARTER HOUSING BROKE. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE ENGINE FULL OF COOLANT AND TRACED THE PROBLEM TO AN UPPER INTAKE FAILURE DUE TO HEAT FROM THE EGR PASSAGE ERODING AWAY THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

VEHICLE'S MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. *MR THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AND A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WARRANTY INSURANCE DENIED COVERAGE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. *SC THE STARTED HOUSING WAS ALSO CRACKED. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER HEARD ALOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED THE LOSS OF STEERING, AND THE BRAKES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. AN INDEPENDENT SHOP DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE ALTERNATOR BEARING FREEZING UP.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR BEARING LOCK UP AND THE DRIVE BELT BROKE. THE DRIVER TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. *NM

CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. *MR THE ENGINE CRANKED AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG EXACTLY AS THE RECALL STATED. FOLLOWING THE BANG WAS A LOUD NOISE AND WHITE SMOKE THAT HAD COME FROM THE TAIL PIPE. ANTI FREEZE ENTERED THE ENGINE AND MIXED WITH THE OIL. THE ENGINE WAS RE-MANUFACTURED. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AS WELL. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SHOWING THAT THE COOLANT WAS LOW. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FILLED THE RESERVOIR WITH COOLANT. BETWEEN THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CONSUMER'S HOME COOLANT DRAINED FROM THE RESERVOIR AND THE RADIATOR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE MANIFOLD, THE GASKET, AND UPPER PLENUM ON THE ENGINE. *AK

AN INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AT THE OWNER EXPENSE OF $ 692.00. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALL. CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHY THEY DENIED THE REIMBURSEMENT. *NM *SC *JB

INTAKE MANIFOLD DEFECT CAUSING ENGINE DESTRUCTION AND FAILURE, RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE 88947 MILES. *AK

CONSUMER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE. *PH THE RECALL WAS FOR THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR (03V-473). THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THAT THE DOCUMENTATION THAT THE CONSUMER PROVIDED DID NOT SUBSTANTIATED THE REQUEST. THE CONSUMER RESUBMITTED THE CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *NM

THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PART WASN'T COVERED UNDER RECALL. *PH THE FUEL PRESSURE DIAPHRAGM LEAKED WHICH OCCURRED 10 MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND BROKE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT BLEW THE CAP OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE SERVICE DEALER HAD NOT REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR, WHICH HE DID. THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED A CLAIM FOR DAMAGES WHICH HE PAID FOR AND THE CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE PART WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL#03V473000. *SC *JB

CONSUMER DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR MOTOR REPLACEMENT PRIOR TO RECEIVING FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR RECALL. *PH THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE 03V-473. THE RECALL WAS FOR THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. *NM

REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR MADE PRIOR TO LEARNING OF RECALL NOTICE. *PH THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (03V-473). THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION FOR REIMBURSEMENT BUT HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE STATUS OF HIS REIMBURSEMENT. *NM

REAR LIGHT HOUSING PRODUCED MOISTURE. AS A RESULT, A THICK FILM COVERED THE LENS. *AK DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE'S A 30% FAILURE RATE ON THESE COMPONENTS. *LA

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND CONSUMER NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO A HOLE INSIDE OF THE TUBE. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL BECAUSE IT CAME FROM A DIFFERENT PLANT. *PH THE RECALL WAS ON THE VEHICLE FUEL PRESSSURE REGULATOR. *NM

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

WHILE ENROUTE HOME FROM VACATION LOW COOLANT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WITHIN A FEW MILES THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP BACK A MILE OR SO TO A CHEVROLET DEALER I HAD PASSED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD FAILED, COSTING $593 TO REPLACE ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS, OIL AND FILTER. HOWEVER, UPON RETURNING HOME, I OPENED THE OIL FILLER CAP TO FIND A GLOB OF WATER CONTAMINATED OIL INSIDE. NOW EVEN SHORT TRIPS RESULT IN WATER DROPLETS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE OIL FILLER CAP. ALSO, THE ENGINE IDLE IS DOWN ABOUT 100 RPM, IT DOESN'T SOUND OR RUN AS SMOOTHLY AS BEORE AND THERE'S A SLIGHTLY DETECTABLE METALLIC KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS ALSO FAILED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD AND GASKET DESIGN, A $34,000 VEHICLE HAS A SICK ENGINE AT ONLY 64,000 MILES. THE MECHANIC THAT REPLACED THE GASKET SAID HE HAD ONLY WORKED AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THREE WEEKS, BUT REPLACING THESE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS HAD BEEN A CONTINUOUS JOB. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID I WAS LUCKY, BECAUSE ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAD SEIZED THE STARTER AND BROKEN THE FLYWHEEL TRYING TO JUMP START HER CAR FULL OF COOLANT FROM A FAILED INTAKE GASKET.*AK THIS PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET DESIGN IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY GM AND NOT BORNE BY THE CUSTOMER. I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED MOST OF THE OTHER CHARACTERISTIC FAILURES WITH THIS CAR SUCH AS, WARPED BRAKE ROTORS, FAILED IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, FA

FRONT SHOULDER BELT (PASSENGER SIDE) BECAME STUCK. TOOK VEHICLE FOR REPAIR TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT A PUBLIC SAFETY CAMPAIGN WAS RELEASED. MECHANIC RECOMMENDED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. *LA

DRIVER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. *AK

WHEN MAKING A TURN IN EITHER ON A STRAIGHT " " DIRECTION THE VEHICLE STALLED. BUT THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. *AK *SC

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE HOSES IN THE POWER STEERING. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVE OVER BUMPS, THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AREA. THE ASH TRAY LID WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL OIL PRESSURE. *NM

I HAVE A 1998 BUICK PARK AVE. PURCHASED AT MY DEALERSHIP: BRUNSWICK BUICK PONTIAC, 1120 ROUTE 18 NORTH, EAST BRUNSWICK NJ, 08816, PHONE# 732-651-4110, MR. JOSE PASCUAL (SERVICE ADVISOR), WITH ORIGINAL GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES SERIAL NUMBERS: 0606, 0610, 0615, 0623 ON THE VEHICLE. AT APPROX. 41593 MILES, MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT IN MY DRIVEWAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE ABOVE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT A GASH APPROX. 5" LONG ON THE 'INTERIOR CAUSED BY A DISPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES STEEL BELT, AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY THE SERVICE REP., I WAS TOLD THAT THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE ON THE VERGE OF A SIMILAR FAILURE. HAD THE FAILURE NOT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY BUT ON THE HIGHWAY I MIGHT NOT BE WRITING THIS. I CONTACTED A MR. TOM D. AT GOODYEAR (732-821-4700) REFERENCE # 671401, AND WAS TOLD TO BRING ALL FOUR TIRES TO A GOODYEAR DEALER WHICH I DID AND WAS TOLD THE DETERIORATION WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, BUT I TOLD GOODYEAR THAT NO-ONE WOULD BUY THESE TIRES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE BELTS WOULD COME APART AT APPROX. 40000 MILES. I CONVEYED THEIR COMMENTS TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DID NOT AGREE WITH THIS CONCLUSION AND IS HOLDING THE FOUR TIRES FOR A G.M. REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE TIRES. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO REPLACE THE TIRES PREMATURELY AT MY EXPENSE AS I HAD MORE NORMAL USE OF THE EXISTING TIRE RUBBER. I AM SEEKING: 1- REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST $409.53 OF THE TIRE REPLACEMENTS FROM GOODYEAR, AND 2- TO APPRISE YOUR AGENCY OF THIS CONDITION AS RECOMMENDED BY A

FAILURE OF PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE CYLINDERS. THE REPAIR BILL COST $990. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OTHER MANUFACTURER BESIDES GENERAL MOTORS CONSTRUCT THEIR INTAKE MANIFOLDS OUT OF PLASTIC. THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP NOTED THAT THEY ARE REPLACING AN AVERAGE OF 3 PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS EACH WEEK DUE TO PLASTIC FAILURE AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CYLINDERS. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS THIS ENGINE (3.8 LITER) AND PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD HAVE BEEN AND CONTINUE TO BE USED IN MULTIPLE GM VEHICLES FROM AT LEAST 1996 THROUGH THE PRESENT. *JB

WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS FILLED TO HIGH GAS SPILLED OVER INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR: THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WENT OUT ON MY 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE 3800 V6 AND I HAD IT REPLACED ON 8-19-03 AT A COST OF $142.79. IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT BUICK HAS NOW ISSUED A RECALL ON THE BUICK PARK AVENUE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #03V473000) FOR FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS AND BUICK HAS INFORMED ME THAT MY PARK AVENUE IS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR IS INVOLVED WITH THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT BUICK IS NOW INVOLVED IN. I BELIEVE THAT IF MY CAR IS INVOLVED THAT BUICK SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MY REPAIR AND THE COST THAT I HAVE INCURRED. I HAVE DOCUMENTS TO SUPPORT THE FACT THAT THE PART WAS REPLACED AND I PAID FOR THE REPAIR. *CB

AFTER BUYING MY '98 PARK AVENUE, I NOTICED THAT AFTER WASHING IT ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS THAT THE PAINT HAD BEGAN TO CHIP. I TOOK IT TO A COUPLE OF PAINT SHOPS AND EVERYONE SAID THAT THIS CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE PAINT PEELING AND IT WAS A DEFECT BECAUSE THEY COULD SEE THE FACTORY PRIMER. MY ENGINE DIED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE TEPERATURE GAUGE DIDN'T SHOW THAT IT WAS OVERHEATED AND NO SMOKE OR STEAM CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED THE DIC SHOWED : CHECK COOLANT LEVELS AND EVEN THEN IT DIDN'T BEEP AS IT SHOULD HAVE. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY SEAT BELTS SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. THEY ARE CONTINUOUSLY TANGLED AND TWISTED WHEN THEY CROSS THE BODY. MOREOVER, MY OWNER'S MANUAL HAS AN ILLUSTRATION THAT STATES THAT MY SEATBELT USAGE IS INCORRECT.

3.8L ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED, CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO FOUL SPARK PLUGS DISABLING THE VEHICLE.

3.8L ENGINE SEIZED IN MID-DRIVE ON HIGHWAY. TOWED AND DIAGNOSED BY BUICK DEALER AS CORRODED MANIFOLDS FROM DEX COOL. REPLACED BOTH MANIFOLDS. REPLACED ALL GASKETS ON PANS ETC. REPLACED FLUIDS, OIL AND COOLANT, AS WELL AS PLUGS AND CLEANED ALL.

THE PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED AN INTERNAL CRACK, WHICH LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE COMBUSTION CYLINDERS. THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THEN HYDROLOCKED. IT WAS REPAIRED BY A CERTIFIED BUICK DEALER. THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED, WITHIN 20 MILES OF DRIVING, THE REAR MAIN BEARING SEAL FAILED. THE DEALER FELT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE COOLANT MIXING WITH THE OIL. AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE ENGINE RAN APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES AND SPUN A MAIN BEARING, DUE TO THE COOLANT/OIL MIXTURE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO BUICK. THEY FEEL IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM.

THERE IS A CHATTER, NOISE, VIBRATION WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT

WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HEARD A POP & THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I WENT ANOTHER BLOCK AND THE CAR LOST POWER & WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHAUST. I TURNED ENGINE OFF & TRIED TO RESTART WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. I CONTACTED BUICK DEALER BECAUSE AFTER TALKING TO A FEW PEOPLE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM AUTOS. CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME TO GO TO DEALER & THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME ON THE COST OF THE REPAIR. AFTER A WEEK OF WASTED TIME I WENT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE AUTO AT A COST OF $1,049. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF PARTS THE MANUFACTURER USES DURIN G PRODUCTION. I AM RELIEVED THAT NOBODY WAS INJURED DURING THIS INCIDENT BUT IF THIS HAD OCCURED ON A HIGHWAY AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET OFF TO A SHOULDER THE SITUATION MIGHT HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. THIS AUTO AT THE TIME HAD 68,000 MILES AND 1 WEEK AFTER THE TIME FRAME OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES.THIS IS A $33,000 VEHICLE AND I WOULD HOPE THAT AN ENGINE WOULD LAST LONGER THAN 70,000 MILES. I OWN TWO OTHER VEHICLES (TOYOTA'S) AND THEY HAVE A COMBINED MILEAGE OF OVER 300,000 MILES AND BOTH PURCHASED NEW COST LESS THAN THIS VEHICLE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS TYPE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT ON 11/06/03 VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION IN WHICH HE SUSTAINED INJURIES. WHEN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON CONSUMER HIT THE POST OF THE WINDSHIELD, BOUNCED BACK AND WAS THROWN FORWARD. HE HIT HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE SEAT BELT NEVER HELD HIM. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SEAT BELT BURNS ACROSS THE COLLAR BONE. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO SHOULDER BELTS WERE REPAIRED DUE TO A RECALL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH WARNING LIGHT FOR COOLANT CAME ON. CONSUMER PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND STOPPED. CAR STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND UPPER MANIFOLD PLENTIUM, WHICH WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, HAD ALLOWED ANTIFREEZE TO FLOOD ENGINE. *NLM

DEFECTIVE BRAKES ON MY 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. INCORRECT INFORMATION FROM G.M. AND THE DEALER HAS CAUSED A DANGEROUS SITUATION!*AK

CONSUMER REPORTED TO THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR, TOM SCHAEFER, THAT WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT HEARD A LOUD THUMP, AND THEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT OUT. SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MR. SCHAEFER SAID THAT THE CONSUMER USED THE WORD THUMP NOT BANG TO DESCRIBE THE INITIAL INCIDENT. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, SHOULDER HARNESS WOULD NOT EXTEND. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HARNESS WOULD NOT EXTEND EITHER. THERE WAS A RECALL ON SEAT BELT, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK *NLM

POWER STEERING GEAR BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BIND WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE OF THE PART BREAKING WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK THERE WAS NOT A LOSS OF FLUID. THE FAILURE WAS AN INTERNAL PART OF THE STEERING GEAR. *SCC *JB

THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER HOOD. THIS OCCURRED WHEN KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION BECAUSE THE UNDER HOOD COMPONENTS WERE MELTED TOGETHER.*AK

INITIATION OF PROBLEM STARTED 19 SEPT 2003 WHILE ON A ROUNDTRIP, TX TO CA. AFTER APPROXIMATELY $3,200 IN REPAIRS, CA & TX, THE CULPRIT IS IDENTIFIED AND THE PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY FIXED (30 OCT 2003). THE CULPRIT IS A WARPED UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDERS (FINALLY HYDRO-LOCKING THE ENGINE). THIS HARD-PLASTIC, DOMED ORIGINAL GM PART HAS ABOUT A 1-MM WARP ON THE END NEAREST CYLINDERS #1 & #2. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S FLAW, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS MORE THAN 75,000 MILES. THE TX DEALER HAS SEEN OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. A GM/BUICK REPRESENTATIVE DOES NOT WANT TO CONSIDER SHARING SOME OF THE REPAIR COSTS. I HAVE A THOROUGH FILE ON THIS PROBLEM. I NOTE OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS INTEGRAL PART OF THE ENGINE. -- JACK SANDERS, DALLAS. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH DEALER. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT BOTH THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD PROBLEMS EARLY ON. *SCC *JB

LEAKY INTAKE GASKET ON 3.8K ENGINE, LEAKED COOLANT AND FOULDED PLUGS, ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER AT 81,000 MILES.*AK

DOORS WILL NO LONGER OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. *AK

DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. DEALER STATES DOOR'S LATCH MECHANISM BROKE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, ENGINE LIGGHT CAME ON AND BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. SUSEQUENT FINDINGS WERE THAT THE COMPOSITE INTAKE PLENUM HAD SEVERAL PIN HOLE LEAKS WHICH RESULTED IN DUMPING OF COOLANT INTO ENGINE AND SEIZURE VERY SHORTLY AFTER LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE. NEW ENGINE SEEMS TO HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS NOW WITH POWER AND SMOOTH OPERATION AND EXCESSIVE RATTLING.*AK