RoadVitals

1985 Buick Park Avenue

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Dec 5, 2005
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Buick Park Avenue, most frequently naming the engine, fuel system and steering categories.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine321.4%
  • Fuel system321.4%
  • Steering214.3%
  • Seat belts17.1%
  • Tires & wheels17.1%
  • Body & structure17.1%
  • Visibility17.1%
  • Driver assistance17.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 10
Engine
Filed Dec 5, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A TINY NYLON CLIP THAT HOLDS THE TIMING BELT ON. THE CONTACT HAD THE HOSES AND BELTS REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH THE CAR STALLED. THE CLIP WAS CRACKED AND THE TIMING BELT LOOSENED AND WENT OUT OF TIME AND BLEW THE ROD IN THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE BECAUSE HE HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPLAINT BEING FILED WAS TO KEEP SOMEONE FROM GETTING HURT OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY NHTSA. *AK

NHTSA ID
10144520
Incident
Nov 4, 2005
Steering
Filed Mar 4, 2004

PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM, WILL NOT TURN WHEN COLD/OR ON INITIAL STARTUP, STIFFNESS IN STEERING LED TO LOOSENESS IN STEERING WHEEL, DUE TO LONG TIME PROBLEM OF TURNING THE WHEEL,THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY, MY FATHER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, SPECIAL ORDER, TWO DOOR PARK AVE.1985. *AK

NHTSA ID
10060414
Incident
May 8, 2003
Mileage
118,000 mi
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

NEW AIR-CONDITIONING INSTALLED IN 1990. CAR NOT DRIVEN OFTEN. AGAING AC NOT WORKING FOR PAST 3 YEARS. CAR GARAGED AND WELL CARED FOR..SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. ONE PERSON DRIVER..MIDDLE AGE LADY.. PAINT IS PEELING OFF ..GM WILL NOT PAY FOR IT. TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT SO SOON.. AND MANY OTHER PROBLEMS..FILE IS 3 INCHES THICK OF MONEY SPENT ON REPAIRS..

NHTSA ID
10069340
Incident
Nov 15, 2002
EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 24, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
763415
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 17, 1999

RIGHT FRONT TIRE MOUNTS BROKE CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF RESULTING IN DAMAGE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) MJS.

NHTSA ID
546235
Incident
May 19, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 3, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE THROTTLE STICKS, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
831707
Body & structure
Filed Jun 24, 1997

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH OUT OF PARKING LOT; HEARD A LOUD OR BIG BOOM SOUND & VEHICLE WENT INTO NEXT LANE; THOUGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD HIT IT; PULLED TO THE SIDE & PARKED; GOT OUT & LOOKED; NOTICED THAT ENGINE & TRANSMISSION ON THE GROUND; HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC & TOW DRIVER SAID IT WAS CROSSMEMBER & THE RACK & PINION. *AK

NHTSA ID
813480
Incident
Jun 17, 1997
Fuel system
Filed Jan 28, 1997

FUEL HOSE FAILED, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND EXHAUST PIPES.

NHTSA ID
514203
Incident
Dec 24, 1996

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buick Park Avenue by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005800—
2004120037.7
2003331034.3
2002321252.3
2001572261.2
2000813359.4
19991403462.8
19982462562.0
19972193562.5
1996593361.1
19951171041.7
1994480039.9
1993641049.3
1992771150.8
1991921258.0
1990121137.4
1989210041.1
1988190042.4
1987130040.0
1986600—
1985Viewing100029.1
1984200—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.