1988 Buick Park Avenue Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Buick Park Avenue, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Steering631.6%
- Brakes421.1%
- Body & structure210.5%
- Interior & seats15.3%
- Exterior lighting15.3%
- Other / unspecified15.3%
- Transmission15.3%
- Visibility15.3%
- Driver assistance15.3%
- Engine15.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN STARTING CAR AND BACKING UP WHILE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, STEERING LOCKS UP.*AK
FAILURE ON THE RACK AND PINION STEERING, WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE SHOE TO THE BACKING PLATE FELL OFF, CAUSING THE BRAKE DRUM TO BE DESTROYED. THE BRAKE DRUM WAS REPLACED ON 11/12/97 AND SHOES WERE REPLACED ON 6/2/29, 5/24/95 AND 10/8//97. ON 10/15/97 MASTER CYLINDER SPRING POPPED LOOSE, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. NO PROLBEM WITH BRAKES AT THIS TIME. *AK
ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
EXTERIOR PAINT ON THE TOP AND ON TRUNK OXIDIZED AND CAME OFF. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE FRONT STRUCTURE HOOD CAME OFF AND HIT ANOTHER CAR THERE WAS NO DAMAGE . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
UPON IMPACT FROM A COLLISION, DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
*OHIO TRAFFIC SAFETY REPORT* THE LUG NUTS ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO DETACH FROM THE UNIT. *JG *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO BACKWARDS. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS TRANSMISSION.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DESIGN OF THE POWER WINDOWS IN THE REAR ARE MADE SO THAT CHILDREN COULD ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN AND FALL THROUGH; HAS NOT SEEN DEALER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
OWNER STATES THAT WHILE SITTING IN PARKING LOT AND PUTTING CAR IN GEAR THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF, OWNER ALSO NOTES THAT HER FOOT WAS ON BRAKES THE WHOLE TIME AND SHE COULD NOT SLOW DOWN VEHICLE AND HIT A BUILDING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .