Buick / Park Avenue / 1997
1997 Buick Park Avenue problems
Owners have filed 355 complaints about the 1997 Buick Park Avenue with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling accounts for 16.6% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of seat belts at 16.3%.
Complaints355
Crashes5
Fires40
Injuries11
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Engine and engine cooling 16.6% · 59
Seat belts 16.3% · 58
Service brakes, hydraulic 12.1% · 43
Electrical system 10.1% · 36
Power train 7.6% · 27
Steering 6.8% · 24
Fuel system, gasoline 5.1% · 18
Structure 5.1% · 18
Severity
Of those complaints, 5 describe a crash, 40 describe a fire and 11 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 8 model years of the Buick Park Avenue in this data, 1997 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 4 in the last three years against 9 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 89,747 miles.
In owners' own words
1997 Buick Park Avenue with a defective engine. Dealer informed the consumer of a manufacturer defect which is anti freeze leaking onto the oil chamber causing the engine to overheat and cause a fire. *Kb the consumer also stated the water pump leaked, which had to be replaced because it leaked onto the fan belt which caused it to break. (Consumer wrote in on behalf of his aunt; owner of the vehicle) Engine and engine cooling
The dealer replaced the plastic intake manifold, water pump, gaskets and serpentine belt. The vehicle only had 47000 miles on it. *Nlm the vehicle had required many repairs while under warranty. The coolant tank kept going low and the upper and lower gasket along with all components. The water pump was replaced. *Scc Engine and engine cooling · reported at 47,300 miles
At 70 mph vehicle began to slow down a lot, then stalled. Towed to dealer, antifreeze flooded engine, causing the engine to seize.*Ak. Consumer was forced off the road by an 18 wheeler because vehicle had started slowing and consumer could not get vehicle to respond. Loss of steering accompanied the sudden decelleration. Engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Buick Park Avenue years
1992 104 complaints · 26.9% service brakes, hydraulic 1993 102 complaints · 23.5% service brakes, hydraulic 1995 164 complaints · 13.4% steering 1998 327 complaints · 35.2% engine and engine cooling 1999 174 complaints · 24.7% engine and engine cooling 2000 104 complaints · 13.5% engine and engine cooling