1995 Buick Park Avenue Steering Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH NO WARNING. THE HORN WAS SOUNDING AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND BEFORE IT ARRIVED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND SEEMED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE POLICE WERE CALLED, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED REPORT #10-24586. THE TOW TRUCK TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A STORAGE LOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS POSSIBLY DESTROYED. GENERAL MOTORS WAS CALLED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10346320

Incident

Jul 29, 2010

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE CAR LOST POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY FOUND THAT THE THREE BOLTS HOLDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE OFF IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THEY REPLACED THE BOLTS AT A COST OF $275. I HAD JUST COMPLETED A 1200 MILE TRIP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10190200

Incident

Mar 9, 2007

Mileage

46,000 mi

AUG4,2004: :15AM ON MY WAY TO WORK FOR AN EARLY START I WAS 2 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE. I NOTICED A SLIGHT LOSS OF ASSIST FROM THE POWER STEERING. THE SYMTOMS WERE TYPICAL OF A SLIPPING BELT OR LOW POWER STEERING FLUID. FROM THE STOP AT THE CORNER OF HILLSIDE AND HWY60 I PROCEEDED TO TURN RIGHT, BUT AS I STRAIGHTENED THE WHEEL ENTERING THE RIGHT LANE THE STEERING WENT TIGHT WITH A CLUNK AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FREEWHEELING. BEFORE I COULD STOP I FOUND MYSELF IN THE LEFT LANE STARING DOWN A SEMI COMING DOWN THE HILL. FORTUNATELY HE WAS ALERT AND HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO STOP. I TALKED TO THE DRIVER AND SUGGESTED BACKING MY CAR UP TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT SIDE (NORTH) OF THE ROAD. THE ANGLE OF THE TIRES IF THEY HELD CURRENT POSITION WOULD PLACE ME ON THE SHOULDER JUST EAST OF HILLSIDE. THE SEMI BLOCKED ALL TRAFFIC FROM THE WEST AND WHEN THE EAST TRAFFIC CLEARED I PROCEEDED. I WENT ABOUT TEN FEET AND THEN THE TIRES TURNED AND I WAS SITTING 90DEGREE TO THE ROAD BLOCKING THE LEFT LANE. AT THIS POINT ALL I COULD DO WAS DIRECT TRAFFIC AROUND MY CAR. WITH THE HELP OF TWO GOOD GENTLEMEN WE DIRECTED TRAFFIC UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. IN THE PAST I HAVE HAD VEHICLES WITH WORN PARTS. TIE ROD ENDS, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, OR IDLER ARM. FAILURE IS INCREMENTAL OVER DAYS OR WEEKS. SYMPTOMS OF SHUTTERING OR PULLING INDICATE THE CAR NEEDS SERVICING SOON. NEVER HAS ANY COMPONENT JUST FAILED WITH A LOSS STEERING. THIS TIME WAS DIFFERENT; THE FAILURE WAS CATASTROPHIC. AN INSTANT LOSS OF STEERING AS THE WHOLE CRADLE DROPPED. FURTHERMORE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NEW OR UNHEARD OF. THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE INDICATES A RECALL TO CARS OF SIMILAR DESIGN AS FAR BACK AS 1988. C:\WINNT2\PROFILES\GFENSKE\DESKTOP\ITS NOT HOT IN DEATH VALLEY AND IT DOESNT SNOW HARD IN BUFFALO.HTM RECALL # 00V-189,NUMBER CARS RECALLED 713,435 FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH CORRODED RETAINERS & STEERING SHAFT SEPARATES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10086329

Incident

Aug 4, 2004

Mileage

152,000 mi

WITHOUT WARNING STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL, CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER HEARD A BANG SOUND, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL VIBRATED,THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING, THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT HAD COME ON. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP AND SKIDDING BEGUN. THE CONSUMER VIEWED THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BROKEN OFF AND WENT DOWN, BENT, AND WEDGED ITSELF IN THE AXLE. *SC

NHTSA ID

10053864

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE COMPLETELY OFF OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. *LA *JB

NHTSA ID

10059691

Incident

Dec 12, 2003

IN LATE 1999 I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT CONTINUALLY GOT WORSE UNTILL THE POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT COMPLETELY AT SPEEDS BELOW 20MPH. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM THREE TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH BUICK OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, AND THEY TRIED EVERYTHING THE BUICK TECHNICAL PEOPLE SUGGESTED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF OF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE. AT THIS POINT BOTH BUICK AND THE DEALERSHIP HAVE STATED THAT THE CAR IS NOT REPAIRABLE, AND THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. NO ONE FROM BUICK HAS EVER COME TO BECKLEY TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THEIR INPUT HAS BEEN OVER THE TELEPHONE. I AND THE DEALERSHIP BOTH FEEL THAT WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS, IT MOST LIKELY IS NOT CONFINED TO THIS ONE CAR. THE CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE ONE NEVER KNOWS WHEN THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT COMPLETELY.*AK

NHTSA ID

748322

Incident

Oct 1, 1999

POWER STEERING SYSTEM BECOMES INOPERABLE AT SPEEDS BELOW APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THIS HAPPENS WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS IN TRAFFIC ,PARKING ETC. THE CAR CAN NOT BE STEERED. IT IS AS THOUGH THE ENGINE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT TURN, RESULTING IN IT GOING INTO THE OTHER TRAFFIC LANE. MOUNTAINEER AUTO MALL HAS REPLACED EVERYTHING IN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM TWO TIMES. TWO WEEKS AGO THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD CONTACTED BUICK & WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. FURTHER, THEY EXPLAINED THE CAR WAS NOT REPAIRABLE, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, NOT ONLY TO OURSELVES BUT OTHER DRIVERS AS WELL. WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO PROCEED WITH BUICK. *AK

NHTSA ID

742284

Incident

Oct 1, 1999

POWER STEERING FAILURE DUE TO THE 2 BOLTS HOLDING POWER STEERING UNIT BROKE, BELT WRAPPED AROUND PARTS AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

555539

Incident

Jul 31, 2000

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

853418

POWER STEERING PUMP BOLTS BROKE OFF THE ENGINE BLOCK AND FELL ON THE AXLE SHAFT CAUSEING LOOSE OF POWER ABD THE BELTON RIGHT SIDE OF CAR . ALSO DAMAGE TO THE AXLE SHAFT . SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED IN 2 WEEKS. NOT HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS OF THE PROBLEM. NOBODY SEEM TO KNOW ABOUT THE THIS PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT BUICK. SERVICE PEOPLE AT BUICK SAID THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

714139

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF PARKING LOT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. OPENED UP HOOD AND POWER STEERING UNIT WAS NOT IN ORIGINAL POSITION. TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND SAID THAT THE POWER STEERING BOLTS WERE BROKEN. RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ID

849163

Incident

Sep 7, 1999

THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMPTO THE MOTOR BROKE OFF. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

848048

Incident

Sep 5, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH A 2 QUARTER INCH BOLT THAT HOLDS POWER STEERING UNIT SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE UNIT TO FALL, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID

845390

POWER STEERING PUMP MOUNT BROKE OFF THE ENGINE TWICE WHILE DRIVING. DELAR HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

834580

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT , AND THE POWER ASSIST BELT BROKE, CAUSING POOR STEERING. ALSO, THE BATTERY FAILED, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED. *AK

NHTSA ID

833959

Incident

Jan 6, 1999

BOLTS CONNECTING POWER STEERING UNIT TO ENGINE BLOCK BROKE OFF INSIDE ENGINE BLOCK, CAUSING PS UNIT TO DETACH AND SEPARATE FROM ENGINE, SUBSEQUENTLY DAMAGING OTHER ENGINE PARTS AND DRIVE AXLE. THIS HAPPENNED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY (25-30 MPH) IN SNOW AND ICE CONDITIONS. THIS MADE STEERING VERY DIFFICULT, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. THE UNPROVOKED UNWARRANTED FAILURE OF THE PS UNIT MOUNTING BOLTS BREAKING OFF WITH NO WARNING MAKES THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO OTHER MOTORIST, PEDESTRIANS, PASSENGERS, AND MYSELF. UNSUSPECTING FAILURE OF THESE MOUNTING BOLTS REFLECTS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING, AND ASSEMBLY OF THESE PARTS. REPAIRING THE DAMAGE AND REPLACING THE BROKEN BOLTS APPEARS VERY LABOR INTENSIVE AND COSTLY. THIS CONDITION WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE RECALL TO REPLACE EXISTING BOLTS ON OTHER POWER STEERING UNITS. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

702003

Incident

Jan 4, 1999

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING, THEIR POWER STEERING BOLT BROKE, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING BELTS TO COME UNLOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE 2 BOLTS HOLING THE UNIT SHEARED OFF, DUE TO ONE BOLT NOT BEING FULLY SEATED, THIS CAUSED THE UNIT TO VIBRATE AND FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

831448

Incident

Nov 27, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 40-50 MPH, THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE POWER STEERING UNIT TO THE STEERING PUMP BROKE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD SAFELY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

823333

Incident

May 13, 1998

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA ID

526647

Incident

Oct 28, 1997

STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY FAILURE; WHEN TURNING LEFT/RIGHT THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE. ENTIRE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY BOX WAS REPLACED. ALSO ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE ON ITS OWN WITHOUT TOUCHING ACCELERATOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

809583

Incident

Feb 26, 1996

PULL OUT OF SERVICE STATION, POWER STEERING BOLTS BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. TT

NHTSA ID

977404

Incident

Dec 8, 1995

A/C AND HEATER PROGRAM CHIP FAILED. *TT

NHTSA ID

601323

Incident

Feb 22, 1995