NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
246 reports33,359 miles · Jan 16, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
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 THA…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10054323
60,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
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 WA…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10070944
71,930 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
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.
NHTSA ODI #10069509
77,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
3.8L ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED, CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO FOUL SPARK PLUGS DISABLING THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #10069305
93,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsUnknown Or Other
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 T…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10068946
48,500 miles · Jan 13, 2004
Steering
THERE IS A CHATTER, NOISE, VIBRATION WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT
NHTSA ODI #10053114
68,000 miles · Jan 7, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10052619
Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2003
Seat BeltsCrashInjury
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 BUR…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10052066
90,000 miles · Dec 4, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
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
NHTSA ODI #10049169
30,338 miles · Nov 28, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
DEFECTIVE BRAKES ON MY 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. INCORRECT INFORMATION FROM G.M. AND THE DEALER HAS CAUSED A DANGEROUS SITUATION!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10047713
NHTSA investigations
5RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
PE02050 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jun 13, 2002 · Closed Oct 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
EA00002 · Front Shoulder Belt Malfunction
Opened Jan 6, 2000 · Closed May 2, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE99056 · Front Shoulder Belt Malfunction
Opened Sep 2, 1999 · Closed Jan 6, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
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