1998 Buick Park Avenue complaints

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND BROKE DOWN ON HIGHWAY. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLASTICK INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING FAILURE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING LOST COMPLETE POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

LOOSE BOLT STUCK IN TRANSMISSION. NAR 07/09/2003*MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, BECAUSE THE BOLTS BACKED OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE GASKET TO LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY APPROX $1400. IN REPAIRS AND FEELS THAT THESE DAMAGES WERE CAUSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS PLACED ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. *CB THE ROTORS ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

ON MAY 25, 2003 I STARTED TO PULL OUT ONTO A STREET, AND MY 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE GOT PART WAY OUT INTO THE STREET AND THEN WOULD NOT MOVE, EXCEPT AT A SNAIL'S PACE. FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL ON OUT, BUT NOT BEFORE A CAR WAS RIGHT UPON ME. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND TSB EXISTED ON A VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THIS TSB SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO A RECALL, BECAUSE I ALMOST GOT HIT WHEN I PULLED OUT BECAUSE THE CAR MORE OR LESS STALLED WHILE I WAS ENTERING THE STREET. IF YOU SEE THAT YOU HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, ONE DOES NOT EXPECT THE CAR TO SUDDENLY CREEP OR STALL. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY PROBLEM-I EXPERIENCED IT FIRST HAND. *NLM

INTAKE MANIFOLD HAS MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACK OR HOLE. COOLANT LEAKED INTO CYLINDERS AND OIL CAUSING ENGINE NOT TO RUN. REPAIR COST OVER $900.00. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM AND BUICK DID NOT OFFER TO SHARE ANY OF THE REPAIR EXPENSE. THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD, WAS OVER $300 FOR THE PART, WHICH SHOULD HAVE NOT FAILED, OR AT LEAST SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHEAP TO REPLACE SINCE IT WAS PLASTIC. THIS IS A LONG TERM KNOW DEFECT AND BUICK SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS AND FIXED IT IN THE NEWER VEHICLES. *NLM

WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE EXPLODED AND A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. *MR *SCC *JB

VEHICLE PROBLEMS WITH START UP/ VEHICLE FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *MR THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD OVERNIGHT. (PRIOR TO THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT, THE BATTERY APPEARED TO BE CHARGED) THE ENGINE EXPLODED AS SOON AS THE KEY WAS TURNED ON. THERE WAS SLIPPAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE INTAKE PLENTIUM, FUEL RAIL, THE IGNITION WIRES, 2 INJECTORS, ENGINE COVER SHIELD, OIL FILLER CAP, MAP SENSOR, PCV COVER, AND THE BATTERY ALL WERE REPLACED. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. *JB

THE CLIP TO THE MASTER CYLINDER BROKE, WHICH CAUSED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED WHILE IN THE GARAGE WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE "EXPLODED" UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FRACTURED AND RESULTED IN THE FUEL RAIL BENDING. ONE OF THE FUEL LINE HOLDING CLIPS ALSO WAS BROKE. *NLM THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT START. THE BATTERY HAD RUN DEAD AND WAS CHARGED, THE FUEL PRESSURE WAS CHECKED, THE ENGINE BACKFIRED AND HAD BLOWN THE INTAKE GASKET. THE INTAKE GASKET WAS REPLACED, THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REMOVED, THE CYLINDERS WERE BLOWN OUT, THE FUEL RAIL WAS STRAIGHTENED, THE LEAKING FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, AND FUEL FEED LINE/FUEL RAIL TO FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED. BUICK DIVISION OF GM AGREED TO COVER 50 PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COST. SCC

ENGINE FIRE RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. *AK REFERENCED IN EA02-030

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN BUT COULD HAVE BEEN EITHER ELECTRICAL OR FUEL RELATED. *NLM

LIFTERS DAMAGED FROM APPARENT COOLANT LEAK IN UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AT 80,000 MILES. ROD BEARING KNOCK OCCURRED AT 81,820 MILES. CAUSE AS YET UNKNOWN. POSSIBLY RELATED TO EARLIER COOLANT LEAK PROBLEM. NOW IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE.*JB

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED, WHICH CAUSED A LOUD NOISE AND SMOKE TO APPEAR.*JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. BEARING CAME LOOSE AND DAMAGED INTERNAL PARTS.

1998 BUICK PARK AVE TIRE JACK FAILED. SCREW JACK THREADS STRIPPED AND VEHICLE FELL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE. JACK HAD BEEN USED 20 TIME PREVIOUSLY TO ASSIST IN TIRE ROTATATION. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE? IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURE. THE MANIFOLD ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. PH

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BEGAN LEAKING ANTIFREEZE IN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. PH

'98 PARK AVE 4DR. ENGINE BACKFIRED, LUCKY TO GET IT STARTED IT SOUND LIKE A HOT-ROD, BUT DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE, WE REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR (DIAPHRAGM RUPTURED)$750.00. WE ALSO,DROVE IT HOME ABOUT 50 MILES. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE DROVE IT HOME WITH OUR 1 YEAR OLD SON IF WE KNEW THAT IT WAS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD. THANKS!

TURNED ON IGNIION KEY OF 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE TO START AND HEARD LOUD BANG AND THEN NOTICED GREY SMOKE AT REAR OF HOOD AREA. TURNED OFF KEY, GOT OUT AND CLOSED DOOR, PROCEEDED TO HOUSE TO CALL 911 AND GOT KITCHEN FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I WENT BACK TO BURNING CAR, OPENED HOOD, OBSERVED FIRE AT SIDE OF ENGINE NEXT TO FIREWALL. I USED FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO GET MOST OF FIRE OUT. THERE WAS SOME FIRE UNDER ENGINE ON GROUND WHICH THE EXTINGUISHER DID NOT GET OUT. THE EXTINGUISHER WAS NOW EMPTY SO I WENT BACK TO HOUSE AND GOT BAKING SODA FROM KITCHEN AND THREW IT UNDER ENGINE TO EXTENGUISH THE FIRE UNDER THE ENGINE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME BUT I HAD FIRE OUT BY THEN.

THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILS TO UNLOCK BY USING ELECTRONIC LOCKING BUTTON OR MANUALLY PULLING ON THE DOOR LOCK. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *NLM

ENGINE STALLS AND WATER IN CYLINDERS. WATER IN CYLINDERS WAS CORRECTED WITH A NEW PLETIUM. THE ENGINE STALL PROBLEM WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. I WAS ASSURED THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE CORRECTED. TO DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.I GAVE UP ON WILKENS BUICK (ON THE 2ND RETURN OF VEHICLE) WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NOT BE GIVEN A RENTAL BUT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. AGIAN THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO THEM, THEY ARE THE ONE'S THAT MADE ME AWARE OF IT. CAR STALLS EVEYTIME THAT YOU ARE COMING TO A STOP AND ON OCCASION GOING DOWN A HILL AND JUST LETTING UP ON GAS PEDAL. THIS IS A VERY HEAVY VEHICLE AND AT THIS POINT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO BE ON THE HIGHWAY, DUE TO INABILITY TO PROPERLY CONTROL THE STEERING WHEN THE ENGINE DIES.I CURRENTLY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AT 3 DIFFERENT REPAIR FACILITIES SINCE 12/13/2002, AND AGAIN TO DATE THE PROBLEM STILL PRESIST.

WHEN CONSUMER TURNED THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE, THEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR

INTAKE MANIFOLD DEVELOPED A CRACK OR HOLE. COOLANT LEAKED INTO CYLINDERS AND OIL CAUSING ENGINE NOT TO RUN. REPAIR COST $966.23. FUEL REGULATOR FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO BACK FIRE AND BLOW VACCUM HOSES OFF OF ENGINE. REPLACEMENT OF SAME COST $114.94. DT

THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN 2001 AT 48,000 MILES. TO CORRECT THE COOLANT LOSS THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $500.00. THE SECOND OCCURANCE WAS AT 103,000 MILES, THIS TIME GM HAD ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN NO. 01-06-01-007A DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM AND INDICATING THAT NOW BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLDS NEED TOBE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, COST $750.00. IT IS MY FEELING THAT SINCE GM KNOWS THE PROBLEM IS ONE OF FAULTY MATERIAL THEY SHOULD COVER AT LEAST THE COST OF THE PARTS, WHICH THEY HAVE FAILED TO DO. DT

CONSUMER STATES THE MOTOR "LOCKED UP" WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING INTO ENGINE CYLINDERS. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARK THE VEHICLE BATTERY FELL FROM ITS POST. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WHILE SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE TO PULL INTO A GAS STATION, CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS A BIG EXPLOSION UNDER HOOD, POPPED HOOD AND SAW FLAMES, WENT FOR HELP. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR 6 DAYS. WEATHER WAS SLIGHT DRIZZLE, WITH TEMPERATURE ABOUT 50 DEGREES. AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 PM ON 10/25/2002, I PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURNED IT. I HEARD A LOT POP FROM THE ENGINE. THE POP WAS SO LOUD THAT NEIGHBORS APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET DOWN THE STREET CAME OUT OF THEIR CLOSED HOUSES TO DISCOVER WHAT HAPPENED. SMOKE BEGIN TO POUR FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THEN FLAMES APPEARED. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. CAR WILL PROBABLY BE TOTALLED. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MADE OFF PLASTIC, AND OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THE PLASTIC MELTS AND MAKES A HOLE, AND SUCKS THE COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE, WHICH FLOODS THE ENGINE. AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT. TS

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING A STRONG VIBRATION STEERING WHEEL AND ABOVE 50 MPH.DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. NLM

ENGINE COOLANT DEX COOL LEAKED INTO ENGINE THROUGH DEFECT IN UPPER MANIFOLD, DESTROYING ENTIRE ENGINE, REQUIRING COMPLETE NEW ENGINE. *AK

VEHICLE HAS STALLED 9 TIMES WITHIN LAST TWO MONTHS. CAR CHECKED BY FIRST DEALER WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM ORIGIN. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE CHECKED BY 2ND DEALER WHO REPLACED COMPUTER AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF VEHICLE ON ROAD WITH STALLING PROBLEMS. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MACK BROWN (BUICK DEALER), BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTING WRONG. THE VEHICLE HAD STOPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN 150 MILES AND IT STOPPED AGAIN, AND AT 200 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO TOM BROOKS (DEALER). THE PROBLEM STILL MAY NOT BE SOLVED. *SCC

UPON START-UP ATTEMPT - LOUD CLICKING NOISES, ALL INSTRUMENT GAUGES PEG , DIC RESETS ALL COUNTERS TO ZERO, DIC DISPLAYS "DRIVER UNKNOWN" WARNING - CAR STARTS. THIS CAN NOT BE A GOOD THING!*AK

CONSUMER STATES IN COLD WEATHER, WHEN TURING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CHATTERING NOISE AND THE WHEEL SKAKES, THE PRESSURE HOSE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*JB

ENGINE WOULD NOT START. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. R&R UPPER INTAKE, CLEAN WATER OF OF INTAKE, REPLACE PLUGS, MANIFOLD, COOLANT. OWNER NOTICED A DECREASE IN POWER WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH. EXITED INTERSTATE AND DROVE HOME (APROX. 1/4 MILE OR LESS). VEHICLE PARKED IN OWNER'S GARAGE. OWNER TRIED TO RESTART CAR AND ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER.*AK

WHILE REVERSING POWER STEERING UNIT SHEDDED BOLTS, AND THE BOLTS FELL OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 AT 65 MPH STEERING RACK BROKE AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERIG OF THE CAR UNLESS I SLOWED DOWN AND CONTINUED TO CORRECT THE RANDOM DIRECTION CAR WAS TAKING.*AK

WITH BRAKES APPLIED, VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, JUMPED THE CURB, INJURING THREE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN A RESTAURANT BOOTH. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE ENTIRE TIME. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED, AND VEHICLE DIED OUT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TT

FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBELT IS TWISTED AND JAMMED. CONSUMER FEELS UNSAFE RIDING WITHOUT SEATBELTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

IN DECEMBER OF 2001, THE UP AND DOWN FUNCTION OF DRIVER'S SEAT STOPPED WORKING. CURRENTLY, FORWARD AND BACK FUNCTIONS ARE INOPERATIVE.*AK *TT

RETRACTOR IS NOT WORKING. UNABLE TO PULL SEAT BELT ALL THE WAY OUT TO HOOK IT.*AK

CRACK IN PLASTIC COVER OF THE MANIFOLD/EMISSION SYSTEM. THERE WAS A POP AND THE PARKING AREA FILLED WITH BLACK/BLUE SMOKE. CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER THE INCIDENT. TSB SENT OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, VEHICLE 36TH MONTH OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD. REFERENCED IN EA02-030

TIRE HAS TREAD SEPARATION. GOODYEAR, EAGLE, LS #P22560R16. *AK

MOTOR COOLANT IS LEAKING WATER INTO THE ENGINE.*AK

WHILE TURNING ON VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION THAT CAME FROM ENGINE, CAUSING CABINET DOOR TO BLOW OPEN. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK THE FUEL REGULATOR WAS FAULTY, TOO MUCH PRESS. *JG

CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME SEAT BELT PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 00-V-117-000. *AK

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS THAT REAR BRAKES WERE WORKED ON. THIS TIME THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE CALIPERS HAD TO BE "UNFROZEN". THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND THIS WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED TWO TIMES. *AK

I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS/REAR ROTORS, AND REAR CALIPERS REPLACED ON A CAR THAT WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/102 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****760647