Illustration2003 PARK AVE ULTRA 3.8L SERIES II ENGINE OIL LEAK, SMELL OF BURNT OIL CONCERNED ABOUT ENGINE FIRE. LEAKS ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. *TR
2003 Buick Park Avenue
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Buick Park Avenue do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 40.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Park Avenue years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
525–50K
550–75K
375–100K
3100–150K
1150K+
22 reports with mileage · 11 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
33 reports2003 PARK AVENUE S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER FROM REGARDING BUICK PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW MUFFLER AT A COST OF $500.00. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. ALSO, THE VIEW SCREEN FOR THE TEMPERATURE/AIR DIRECTION WAS BARELY READABLE. *JB UPDATED 10/22/10*JB
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE PROBLEMS WITH 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE POSSIBLE SAFETY RECALL ISSUE FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM A GM EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT RESPONDING TO A LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO THEM. SHE DISMISSED THE CONSUMERS CONCERN BECAUSE HE DIDN'T TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHOR…
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S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE PROBLEMS WITH 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE POSSIBLE SAFETY RECALL ISSUE FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM A GM EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT RESPONDING TO A LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO THEM. SHE DISMISSED THE CONSUMERS CONCERN BECAUSE HE DIDN'T TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE REPAIR WHEN THE PARTS FAILED A SECOND TIME. HOWEVER, BOTH TECHNICIANS WHO REPAIRED THE MANIFOLD AND GASKET WITHIN A TWO- YEAR PERIOD TOLD THE CONSUMER THE OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE SUBSTANDARD. THE PARTS WERE MADE OF PLASTIC AND HAD DEGRADED.
2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. CONSUMER STATES POSSIBLE SAFETY DEFECT WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET. *TGW THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM A GMC EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS CONCERN WAS DISMISSED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE REPAIR WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED A SECOND TIME AND…
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2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. CONSUMER STATES POSSIBLE SAFETY DEFECT WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET. *TGW THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM A GMC EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS CONCERN WAS DISMISSED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE REPAIR WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED A SECOND TIME AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, BOTH TECHNICIANS WHO REPAIRED THE MANIFOLD AND GASKET WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD STATED THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE SUBSTANDARD DUE TO THEM BEING MADE OF PLASTIC AND HAD DEGRADED. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CHROME ON THE RIMS IS PEELING OFF ALL FOUR TIRES WHICH HAS ALSO CAUSED THE TIRES TO LOSE AIR CONTINUOUSLY. THE TIRES AND RIMS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
HORN ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A "HIT OR MISS" SITUATION. I BROUGHT IT TO THE MECHANIC AND IT WORKED FOR HIM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING FAILURE WITH THE RETRACTOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LAP BELTS. THE SEAT BELT MUST BE ISOLATED IN ORDER TO BE RELEASED. THE RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN AUGUST OF 2006, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING FAILURE WITH THE RETRACTOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LAP BELTS. THE SEAT BELT MUST BE ISOLATED IN ORDER TO BE RELEASED. THE RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN AUGUST OF 2006, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS MECHANICAL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT COULD BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE $296. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE WITH LEAKING INTAKE GASKET. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER TOLD HIM THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE GENERAL MOTORS TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AT NO COST TO HIM. *KB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE POWER LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR MALFUNCTIONS. THE LOCK IS MOUNTED IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND HAS BECOME LOOSE, WHICH CAUSES THE SWITCH TO FLOAT AROUND IN THE DOOR. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH OR REPAIR IT FO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE POWER LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR MALFUNCTIONS. THE LOCK IS MOUNTED IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND HAS BECOME LOOSE, WHICH CAUSES THE SWITCH TO FLOAT AROUND IN THE DOOR. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH OR REPAIR IT FOR FREE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,864. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR CONQUEST RADIAL TUBELESS, SIZE P205/75R14 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. HE STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD A RAISED RIB ON THE OUTER SIDE AND SEPARATI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR CONQUEST RADIAL TUBELESS, SIZE P205/75R14 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. HE STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD A RAISED RIB ON THE OUTER SIDE AND SEPARATION IN THE INTERIOR OF THE TIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES ON THE TIRES AND VEHICLES WERE 53,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Official recalls
102V328000 · Latches/locks/linkages:trunk Lid:lock
Dec 9, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE MAY BE INSTALLED OR FORCED OUT OF THE PROPER POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE CABLE IS OUT OF THE PROPER POSITION, IT COULD INCREASE THE FORCE REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE AND A PERSON TRAPPED IN THE TRUNK MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE TRUNK LATCH USING THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL SECURE THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE CABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE OPERATES PROPERLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 19, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.