1991 BUICK PARK AVENUE

1 recalls, 134 complaints - 11 TSBs

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL

Defect Description

WHEN APPLIED, THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY MAY RELEASE ONE OR MORE TEETH, REDUCING THE CABLE LOAD TO THE REAR BRAKES.

Consequence

DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE LEVER RELEASE AND ROADLEVEL. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, ALLOWING IT TO ROLL, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 105.

Remedy

REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.

20,765 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Complaint Statistics

134 total complaints 16 crashes 6 fires 5 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	29
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	14
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER	12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC	4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	3
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR	3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR	3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM	3

Incident date: Sep 19, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE TOPPED OUT AT 40 MPH. THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED USING EXCESSIVE FORCE, WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN SLOWING THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION WAS SHUT OFF, AND THE VEHICLE WAS ... Read more

Incident date: Jan 3, 2005

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE TIRE LEANING ALMOST OFF THE AXLE AND FOUND LUG NUTS WERE MISSING. *TC THE CONSUMER HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

Incident date: Jan 3, 2005

Incident date: Jan 1, 1901

DESIGN FLAW WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER EQUIPMENT.*MR WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER THE VEHICLE'S WIPER DISCONNECTED FROM THE WIPER ARM. THE PLASTIC CLIP WHICH SECURED THE WIPER TO THE ARM RELEASED TOO EASILY. *NM

Incident date: Jul 15, 2003

THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR WENT OUT AROUND 2:00 THE OTHER NIGHT. WE WERE ON A DARK COUNTRY ROAD. TRYING TO DETERMINE IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG IN TILT STEERING TO CAUSE THIS. SEEMS AS IT IS WIRE BROKE OR SOMETHING CAME UNPLUGGED. HAVE ALREADY CHECKED FUSES.

Incident date: Sep 9, 2003

CONCERNED CITIZEN: NEW OWNER JUST PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE OWNER A 1991 BUICK PARK AVENUE, WITH 100,000 MILES, VIN [XXX], AND WAS DRIVING THE AUTO WHEN THE MOTOR AND CRADLE FELL TO THE ROAD. THIS IN TURN DETACHED THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE CONTROL OF AUTO WAS LOSS. SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2002

BRAKES GO COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO WARNING AND NO STOPPING. RAN INTO CURBING TO STOP AND AVOID CRASH. ABS SENSORS REPLACED, BRAKES, DRUMS, MASTER CYLINDERS, BRAKE LINES, ETC REPLACED. PEDAL STILL GOES TO FLOOR AND ABS GRABS AT END OF STOP. COMPUTER TURNS OFF ABS SYSTEM, BUT WON'T REPORT ERR... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2002

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. CONSUMER NOTED KEY HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER UNA... Read more

Incident date: Oct 20, 1997

WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, DEALER REPLACED IT, AT 99990 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. *SLC

Incident date: Dec 31, 2000

MOTOR CAM BEARING BROKE, DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR. *SLC

Incident date: Sep 15, 2000

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITH OCCUPANT LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE. CAR WAS BEING PARKED IN THE GARAGE AT HOME AFTER A TRIP TO THE STORE. FIRE CAUSED VEHICLES DOOR AND WINDOW OPENERS TO FAIL. SINCE THIS INCIDENT I HAVE HEARD OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN OTHER VEHICLES. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS HAPPENING... Read more

Fire 1 injured

SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN BELT IS LOCKED IN PLACE IT WILL RELEASE ON IT'S OWN WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

Incident date: Jul 28, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH DELAYED IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND BRAKES LOCKING UP INTERMITTENTLY; DEALER NOTIFED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:

Incident date: Feb 5, 2000

SMOKE CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED. *AK

Incident date: Sep 5, 1999

DRIVER HIT A DEER HEAD-ON. BOTH AIRBAG'S EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *AK *YC

Crash

THE VEHICLE HAS A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE THAT CAUSED CHAFING ON THE MOUNTING BRACKET. *AK

Incident date: May 7, 1999

MULTIPLE ABS FAILURES DURING OPERATION. ALL COMPONENTS (MASTER/WHEEL CYLINDERS, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS/SHOES) EXCEPT FOR THE PUMP AND ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO FOLLOW A PATTERN OF FAILURES FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ FOR THIS VEHICLE MODEL. THE BRA... Read more

Incident date: May 7, 1999

Incident date: Mar 24, 1999

VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A BUICK DEALER. SEVERAL DAYS LATER , WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE, TOTALLING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML

Fire

Incident date: May 26, 1998

TURNING VEHICLE OFF, CANNOT RESTART RIGHT AWAY. HAPPENING SINCE NEW. PROBLEM CONTINUOUS. POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY (UP/DOWN). TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC SAID SHORT IN ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS. *AK

Incident date: May 26, 1998

Incident date: Mar 22, 1999

THE REASON I AM SENDING THIS TO YOU IS BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THE FUSE IN MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BLOWN INSTEAD OF THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN SMOKING AS IT DID,I AM WORRIED ABOUT A FIRE HAZARD

Incident date: Jul 30, 1998

FUEL LINE SEPARATED FRON THE GAS TANK, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Incident date: Aug 1, 1994

WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL RECURRENT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, YET NONE OF THE RECURRENT PROBLEMS HAS BEEN COVERED BY ANY MANUFACTURERS RECALLS. WE HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY REPEATEDLY AND HAVE HAD CONTINUAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. WE HAVE HAD CONSTANT AND RECURRING PROBLEMS WI... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 1994

BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 60,000 MILES. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

Incident date: Nov 12, 1998

BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.

2 injured

Incident date: Nov 24, 1997

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH T ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT OPERATE AS WELL AS REAR BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

BRAKES FAILED TWICE.

Incident date: Sep 11, 1996

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION.

ANTI LOCK BRAKES CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

Incident date: Mar 14, 1998

PARKED VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT. WENT INSIDE RESTAURANT. SOMEONE NOTICED VEHICLE BURNING & NOTIFIED THE RESTAURANT. FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR & AROUND THE ENGINE AREA. *AK

Fire

Incident date: Mar 18, 1998

WHEN COMING OUT OF A RAMP IN THE WAY DOWN, TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES AND STOP VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND, REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

Crash 1 injured

ENGINE FIRE, CAUSED BY OIL LEAKING.

Fire 1 injured

Incident date: Feb 11, 1998

ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Oct 28, 1997

BRAKES: BACKING CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND APPLIED FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, WENT COMPLETEY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES DID NOT HOLD. TOOK TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS GONE. *AK

Incident date: Oct 28, 1997

BRAKES: BACKING CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND APPLIED FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, WENT COMPLETEY TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKES DID NOT HOLD. TOOK TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS GONE. *AK

Incident date: Oct 16, 1997

ABS BRAKES ARE SUBJECTED TO AN INTERMITTENT BRAKE PEDAL FAILURE WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A MUCH LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE THEN IT SHOULD. *AK

THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY STALLS WHILE DRIVING, NUMEROUS REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, HOWEVER STALLING CONTINUES.

PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGES ITSELF.

Incident date: Aug 27, 1997

BRAKE FAILURE.

Crash

AIR CONDITIONING AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT WORKS NORMALLY UNTIL THE DESIRED TEMPERATURE IS REACHED. THEN THE COLD AIR STOPS COMING OUT OF THE DASH VENTS AND IS DIVERTED TO THE FLOOR AND WINDSHIELD WHICH IMMEDIATELY FROSTS THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSE POOR VISABILITY.

Incident date: Jul 24, 1994

BRAKE FAILURE.

Showing 50 of 134 complaints.

EPA Fuel Economy, 1991 BUICK PARK AVENUE

Trim / Engine	City MPG	Highway MPG	Combined MPG	Fuel Type	Annual Fuel Cost
3.8L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	16.0	24.0	19.0	Regular	$3,250

CO2 Emissions: -1.0 g/mile (Large Cars)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

Technical Service Bulletins, 1991 BUICK PARK AVENUE

11 manufacturer communications from 10 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	2
072200 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS	1
138000 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM	1
105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT	1
135100 VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR	1
162300 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR	1
106000 POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY	1
020000 SUSPENSION	1

061600 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

162000 STRUCTURE:BODY

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THERE IS CORROSION ( RUST ) APPEARING ON THE LEFT AND /OR RIGHT ROCKER PANEL(S). *YC

020000 SUSPENSION

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE VEHICLE

106000 POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

INFORMATION ON GROWLING NOISE IN TRANSAXLE DURING FIRST FOUR MINUTES AFTER START UP. *YC

162300 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

COMMENTS ON INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS (FRONT AND/OR REAR DOORS).

135100 VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR

EXCESSIVE VIBRATION OF ELECTROCHROMIC INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR. *TW

105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

COLD START RATTLE NOISE (DIAGNOSIS/SERVICE PROCEDURE). *TW

103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

COLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW

103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

COLD START RATTLE NOISE. *TW

072200 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FAINT BUZZING NOISE FROM FRONT OF DASH AREA. *TW

138000 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

LITTLE TO NO AIR FLOW FROM SIDE WINDOW DEFROSTER DUCTS. *TW

NHTSA Safety Investigations, BUICK PARK AVENUE

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1999

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

BY LETTER DATED MARCH 12, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-118) TO ADDRESS A DEFECT IN APPROXIMATELY 207,542 MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL GS AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH T... HE L67 SUPERCHARGED VERSION OF GM'S 3800 SERIES II V6 ENGINE.THE RECALLED REGAL GS VEHICLES WERE BUILT FROM AUGUST 1996 TO JUNE 2003 AND THE GRAND PRIX GTP FROM MARCH 1996 THROUGH JANUARY 2003.ACCORDING TO GM, OIL MAY ESCAPE PAST THE VALVE COVER GASKET ON THE FRONT CYLINDER BANK (CYLINDERS 1-3-5) AND DEPOSIT ONTO HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THIS OIL TO IGNITE A SMALL PILOT FLAME, WHICH MAY SPREAD TO THE ADJACENT PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL, THE SPARK PLUG WIRES THEMSELVES, THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER, AND OTHER UNDER HOOD COMPONENTS.REPORTS INDICATE THIS MOST OFTEN OCCURS ON HIGHER-MILEAGE VEHICLES SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND THEN PARKED.TYPICALLY, THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED WITHIN 5 TO 15 MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.DURING THIS TIME WINDOW, UNDER HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY BECOME ELEVATED.SUCH ELEVATED TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH A LACK OF AIRFLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY PERMIT A SMALL PILOT FLAME TO PROPAGATE AND IGNITE OTHER FUEL SOURCES.TO CORRECT THE SAFETY DEFECT, GM WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED DESIGN FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET AND SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINER.THIS REMEDY WILL BE SUPPLIEDFREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL RECALLED VEHICLES.UNTIL SUFFICIENT PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO REPAIR ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, GM STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT OWNERS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS: (1) THEY STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT OWNERS DO NOT PARK THEIR VEHICLE IN A GARAGE, CARPORT, OR OTHER STRUCTURE; (2) IF OWNERS NOTICE A BURNING ODOR, THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE - THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE; AND (3) USE PREMIUM FUEL (91 OCTANE OR HIGHER) IN THE VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE VEHICLE'S OWNER MANUAL.THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE SUBJECT FIRE INCIDENT RATE ON THE C-, G-, AND H-PLATFORM SUBJECT VEHICLES IS LOW.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1997

FRONT SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTION

There is no summary currently available

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1997

FRONT SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTION

There is no summary currently available

BUICK PARK AVENUE - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the BUICK PARK AVENUE across all model years (1990, 2003).

23 Total Recalls

1,886 Total Complaints

3 Investigations

96 Reported Crashes

173 Reported Fires

4 Reported Deaths

BUICK PARK AVENUE - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2005	0	10	View
2004	0	17	View
2003	1	38	View
2002	1	41	View
2001	2	71	View
2000	3	104	View
1999	3	174	View
1998	2	327	View
1997	3	355	View
1996	3	68	View
1995	1	164	View
1994	0	63	View
1993	1	102	View
1992	1	104	View
1991 (current)	1	134
1990	1	12	View
1989	0	28	View
1988	0	21	View
1987	0	14	View
1986	0	16	View
1985	0	15	View
1984	0	2	View

Other BUICK Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
REGAL	207	4,454	View
CENTURY	103	2,397	View
ENCLAVE	86	3,218	View
SKYLARK	71	755	View
LACROSSE	64	2,885	View
LESABRE	64	4,872	View
RIVIERA	46	439	View
ENCORE	41	854	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

1991 BUICK PARK AVENUE

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

EPA Fuel Economy, 1991 BUICK PARK AVENUE

Technical Service Bulletins, 1991 BUICK PARK AVENUE

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, BUICK PARK AVENUE

BUICK PARK AVENUE - All Years Overview

BUICK PARK AVENUE - Year by Year

Other BUICK Models