1999 Buick Park Avenue complaints

BATTERY LEAKED, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START. *AK THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL #03V473000 AND BELIEVED THE RECALL WAS THE REASON WHY THE BATTERY LEAKED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT , HOWEVER THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT ONE OF THE FUEL INJECTOR FAILED. THAT DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE ETHANOL GAS WAS THE PROBLEM. *NM *NM

WHEN TURNING LEFT POWER STEERING FAILED. *AK *MR

FROM TIME TO TIME THE FRONT SET PASSENGER SHOULDER SEAT BELT BECOMES STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR. IT USUALLY TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES OF PLAYING WITH IT TO GET IT UNSTUCK SO THAT THE SEAT BELT CAN BE USED AS DESIGNED.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT STUCK IN THE RELEASE POSITION. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TIGHTEN THE BELT. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.*AK

THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 13TH, 2003, MY FATHER (JAMES) STARTED HIS 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE IN THE GARAGE. UPON TURNING THE KEY, HE HEARD AN EXPLOSION. HE OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENGULFED IN FLAMES. HE THEN PUSHED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND CALLED 911. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. ONE OF THE FIREMEN, WHO WORKS ON CARS, TOLD US THAT HE HAD WORKED ON 2 OTHER CARS THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. COLIN HAMES. *AK

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT, AND SEAT BELT INTERLOCK WILL NOT LOCK. *AK NINETY PERCENT OF THE TIME THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NOT UNLATCH. YOU HAVE TO PULL AND PULL INCH BY INCH UNTIL IT RELEASES. IT IS VERY SLOW IN RETRACTING AND SOMETIMES WON'T RETRACT AT ALL. *PH

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SHAKING AND SMOKING DUE TO ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE.*MR (NAR) THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $1177.52 FOR REPAIRS MADE ON DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *CB

CONSUMER WENT TO START VEHICLE AND THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD. THE MOTOR AND ALL CONNECTING PARTS CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

I STARTED NOTICING THAT I WAS HEARING POWER STEERING 'WHINING', WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL AT TIMES. THIS GRADUALLY DEVELOPED INTO THE RECENT SITUATION WHERE IT APPEARED THAT I WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING CAPABILITY WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN. THIS TURN COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS MAKING A RIGHT/LEFT TURN DIRECTLY INTO A DRIVEWAY, WHILE TRAVELING SLOWLY. THIS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN MAKING A U-TURN, AFTER TURNING THE WHEEL ALL THE WAY LEFT/RIGHT. BACKING UP, TURNING HARD LEFT/RIGHT, ALSO PRODUCED THE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE READY TODAY. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD INITIALLY STATED THAT TWO HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I CALLED LATE THIS AFTERNOON, THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE HOSES HAD NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT GM'S INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS WERE TO REPLACE THE HOSES. AT THE END OF THE DAY THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO REPACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK AND PINION COMPONENT. I HAVE SEEN THE COMMENTARIES CONCERNING THE STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES. WHY WAS THERE NOT A SAFETY RECALL ON THEM. HOW DO I TRUST THIS NEW STEERING SYSTEM TO NOT FAIL AT SOME FUTURE POINT? AS THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD STATED INITIALLY, I COULD HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE IF I HAD NEEDED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANE CHANGE, AT SLOW SPEED, AND THE STEERING HAD SURPRISED ME BY BECOMING HARD TO STEER. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MY LIFE AND THAT OF OTHER'S COULD BE AT RISK BY THIS TYPE OF SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT EFFORTS ARE BEING T

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED ENGINE WOULD STALL. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE COOLING LEAK AT UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2000-2003 VEHICLES, BUT CONSUMER OWNED A 1999, BUICK, PARK AVENUE. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE FIXED AND ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT, HE WAS DENIED. *AK

CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE MANIFOLD AS WELL AS IN THE UPPER INTAKE PLENUM.*MR *TS

CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY TERMINAL LEAKED ACID ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO A LEAK. *PH THIS HAPPENED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE BATTERY WAS BY DELCO FOR GM WHICH HAD SIDE TERMINALS WHICH SUDDENLY LEAKED. (THIS ACID CORRODED THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT AND LEAKED ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR EATING THE CONCRETE. PRIOR ODI# 8002108 *SCC *JB

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT CANNOT BE OR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PULL FROM THE FULLY RETRACTED POSITION. *AK

THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION OR AXLE SEEMS TO STUDDER AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-55, USUALLY AFTER SLOWING DOWN AND THEN TRYING TO REGAIN SPEED.*AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE A LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED. THE EXPLOSION DESTROYED THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM, FUEL RAIL AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THE CONSUMER PAID TO REPAIR THE ENGINE AND OTHER DAMAGED PARTS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE. *AK *CB *NLM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT EH DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH CAUSED PREMATURE GASKET FAILURE. THAT FAILURE CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD AND BURN IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLES A/C COMPRESSOR ALSO FAILED. *AK *CB *NLM

THE ENGINE EXPLODED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD (PLENUM), FUEL INJECTOR RAILS, AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. ALL COMPONETS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, PLUS A SEAL AND VALVE KIT. BOTH GM AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR THE COST OF THE EXPLOSION AND SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE/REPAIR. *PH *JB

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL FULLY RETRACT AFTER USE AND THEN FOR NO REASON SEAT BELT WILL NOT RELEASE. THE SEAT BELT IS UNAVAILABLE FOR USE FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THUS CAUSING US TO USE THE VEHICLE WITH OUT THE USE OF A SAFETY FEATURE THAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE BUCKLED WHEN AUTOMOBILE IS IN USE. HAD DEALER LOOK AT CAR AND WAS INFORMED THAT SEAT BELT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $600.00. I SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING YET NO SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN ISSUED OR A RECALL FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY DEVISE. *NLM

NAR 06/19/2003. *MR THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM IT'S RECEPTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE SHOP AND THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED PLASTIC PARTS IN THE SEAT BELT RECEPTABLE HAD BEEN GROUNDED UP. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT BELTS IF OTHER BUICK OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *CB *JB

WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED, A SMALL EXPLOSION WAS AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *MR *PH *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACK IN THE FUEL LINE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THAT FIRE STARTED AS A RESULT OF CRACKED FUEL LINE. GM HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *TT

THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO THE ON POSITION, AND BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THERE WAS A NOISE AND THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MR SCC *JB

1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE (3800 ENGINE) EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE UPON STARTUP. *NLM

FRONT BRAKE ASSEMBLY FAILURE AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS.

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED, AND CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *JB SCC

THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB REFERENCED IN EA02-030

COLD ENGINE. HIT STARTER AND HEARD AN EXPLOSION. SOON AFTER SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. ENGINE FIRE. CALLED 911 AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT FIRE BEFORE ARIVAL OF FD. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. SUSPECTED DEFECTIVE FUEL REGULATOER THAT ALLOWED GAS FUMES TO ACCUMULATE IN AIR PLENUM. USED LOW MILEAGE ENGINE AS REPLACEMENT. COST FOR REPLACEMENT AND RELATED COMPONENTS $5300.

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE BLEW. THE NOISE SOUNDED AS IF A BOMB WENT OFF. THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER ALSO REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRE DUE TO VIBRATION. SCC

CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE WORE ONLY THE INNER PAD, WHICH CAUSED A LOUD SQUEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 35MPH THE E RIGHT FRONT PAD DAMAGE THE ROTOR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPLACE THE PAD AND ROTOR. TODAY 12/27/02 AGAIN HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER IS NORMAL THIS KIND OF PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

ALL FOUR GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES THAT CAME INSTALLED ON MY BUICK PARK AVE HAVE TREAD SEPARATIONS. THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES HAVE OPEN SEPARATIONS. EXPECT THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. TREAD SEPARATIONS DEVELOPED OVER SOME TIME.

MY 1999 BUICK PARK AVE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED SIX AND A HALF HOURS AND THEN DRIVEN FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AT LOW CITY SPEEDS.

I WENT TO HAVE BRAKES SERVICED AND DISCOVERED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE VISABLE TREAD SEPARATIONS THAT COULD RESULT IN IMMEDIATE BLOWOUT ON ANY ONE OR ALL TIRES. I BELIEVE THIS MUST BE THE RESULT OF MANUFACTURERING DEFECT(S) FOR ALL TIRES TO HAVE SAME TREAD SEPARATIONS. HAS THIS PROBLEM WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES BEEN REPORTED IN OTHER INSTANCES? DT

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD. ALSO STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHICH ALLOWED ANTIFREEZE TO GO INTO THE ENGINE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT DID THAT AND OFFER 25% OFF THE REPAIRS AND CONSUMER REFUSED MANUFACTURE ALSO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURE ALSO STATED THAT THEY WILL ALSO PAY ANOTHER 25%. TS

THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. MY WIFE WENT TO START THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT BLEW ABOUT A THREE INCH HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE MOTOR. THE EXPLOSION SOUNDED AS IF A BOMB HAD EXPLODED. THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD FOR BLOCKS. THE EXPLOSION SCARED MY WIFE . THE DEALER OR BUICK REFUSED OR DID NOT KNOW THE CAUSE AND WERE NOT WILLING TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE. DT

CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING AT 65/70MPH WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE THERE IS PULSATION AND CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. HAVE NOT FOUND A PERMANENT FIX TO PROBLEM.*JB

THE DRIVER?S SEAT CONTROL BEZEL WAS DETACHED AND WAS REPLACED, BUT FAILED AGAIN DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLING. THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CONTROL BEZEL HAD ALSO REPLACED PREVIOUSLY. *YH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DIED OUT. RUBBER SEALANT BROKE, AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE, CAUSING ENGINE TO GO OUT. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. MAUFACTURER AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS HAPPENED DUE TO THE CHANGE IN DESIGN OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, IT USED TO BE METAL AND IS NOW PLASTIC. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, CONSUMER NOTICED VIBRATION AND WOBBLE. WHILE ATTEMPT TO STOP VEHICLE, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF, ROLLING DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. CONSUMER WAS IN TOTAL CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER FOUND WHEEL HAD SHEARED OFF LUG BOTLS AT WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACE. ALL FIVE LUG NUTS WERE STILL ON BOTLS AND IN POSITION. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR REPAIR COST. *TT

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF.*AK

CONSUMER TURNED KEY TO START VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD POP, VEHICLE DID NOT START. SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THEN FLAMES. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN.*AK

WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON BRAKES FRONT END ROTORS STARTED TO WOBBLE.*AK

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THERE WAS ALOUD BANG, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THEN FLAMES. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED COMPUTER WAS THE CAUSE. VEHICLE HAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING AT 25MPH BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

INSURED STARTED VEHICLE. VEHICLE LET OUT A LOUD POP AND STARTED TO SHOOT OUT FLAMES RESULTING IN UNDER HOOD FIRE, CLAIM 13-7487-456. *JG

VEHICLE WAS IN SHOP FOR REPAIRS FOR NOT STARTING WHEN KEY WAS TURNED. REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE EXPLODED, CLAIM 40-2451-477. *JG