SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
1997 Buick Park Avenue
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 219 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Buick Park Avenue, most frequently naming the seat belts, engine and brakes categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 5 NHTSA investigations name it; and 76 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 137 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 138 |
| Jun 2002 | 1 | 139 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 140 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 141 |
| Oct 2002 | 1 | 142 |
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 143 |
| Dec 2002 | 1 | 144 |
| Jan 2003 | 3 | 147 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 148 |
| May 2003 | 2 | 150 |
| Jul 2003 | 1 | 151 |
| Aug 2003 | 2 | 153 |
| Sep 2003 | 2 | 155 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 156 |
| Jan 2004 | 7 | 163 |
| Feb 2004 | 2 | 165 |
| Mar 2004 | 2 | 167 |
| Jun 2004 | 2 | 169 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 170 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 171 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 172 |
| Jan 2005 | 2 | 174 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 175 |
| Mar 2005 | 2 | 177 |
| May 2005 | 2 | 179 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 180 |
| Aug 2005 | 2 | 182 |
| Oct 2005 | 2 | 184 |
| Nov 2005 | 1 | 185 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 186 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 187 |
| Mar 2006 | 1 | 188 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 189 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 190 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 191 |
| Jan 2007 | 1 | 192 |
| Feb 2007 | 1 | 193 |
| Jun 2007 | 1 | 194 |
| Aug 2007 | 1 | 195 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 196 |
| Dec 2007 | 1 | 197 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 198 |
| Sep 2008 | 3 | 201 |
| Dec 2008 | 1 | 202 |
| Jun 2009 | 1 | 203 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 204 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 205 |
| Sep 2010 | 1 | 206 |
| Dec 2010 | 1 | 207 |
| Jan 2011 | 1 | 208 |
| Jun 2011 | 2 | 210 |
| Feb 2012 | 2 | 212 |
| Nov 2012 | 1 | 213 |
| Jun 2013 | 1 | 214 |
| Feb 2014 | 1 | 215 |
| Mar 2014 | 1 | 216 |
| Jun 2015 | 1 | 217 |
| Feb 2016 | 1 | 218 |
| Oct 2019 | 1 | 219 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Seat belts5418.5%
- Engine4716.1%
- Brakes3913.4%
- Electrical237.9%
- Steering206.8%
- Transmission186.2%
- Fuel system175.8%
- Visibility155.1%
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
3 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
FRONT SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTION
There is no summary currently available
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LITTLE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE REAR DEFROSTER, DISCONNECTED THE PLUG, REMOVED THE REAR PANEL, AND NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRICAL FEED AND MODULE WERE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BAY RIDGE CHEVROLET (1575 86TH ST, BROOKLYN, NY 11228, (833) 452-1829) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT PART NUMBER: 25623688 (RED RADIO ANTENNA MODULE), THE AC (DELCO PT1183), AND THE REAR WINDOW ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5585220430. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11268973
- Incident
- Oct 11, 2019
- Mileage
- 92,000 mi
WHY WAS THIS CAR NOT RECALLED WITH OTHER GM PRODUCTS WITH THE 3800 V6 ENGINES FOR THE OIL LEAKS? THESE CARS HAVE THE SAME 3800 V6 AS ALL OF THE RECALLED CARS!
- NHTSA ID
- 10824718
- Incident
- Feb 7, 2016
MY PROBLEM IS, THE LEFT BLINKER OF THE FRONT, BACK AND HEADBOARD IS NOT WORKING. BUT IF I PUT ON MY FLASHERS, ALL MY LIGHTS ARE WORKING, INCLUDING THE LEFT BLINKER. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT ITS NOT THE LIGHT BULB, AND ITS NOT THE FUSES FROM BOTH THE FRONT AND THE HEADBOARD FUSES BOXES, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD BY RESEARCH AND THE MECHANIC THAT THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM AND ITS BEEN AN OCCURRING ISSUE FOR THE 1997-2005 BUICK PARK AVENUE. . .UPDATED 07/20/15 *BF
- NHTSA ID
- 10725985
- Incident
- May 12, 2015
- Mileage
- 89,494 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10575200
- Incident
- Oct 9, 2013
- Mileage
- 110,000 mi
I HAVE A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE, WHEN I TURN TO THE RIGHT ONLY EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BIT I HEAR A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION AREA. I HAD THE WHEEL BEARINGS CHECKED AND REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE BEARING AND STILL HAD THE SAME NOISE. I DO NOT KNOW IF ITS PART OF THE STEERING OR MAYBE THE PILOT BEARING IF IT HAS ONE ON THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. MAYBE THE RACK PINION SYSTEM. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FIX IT. PLEASE HELP...? *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10564545
- Incident
- Feb 10, 2010
- Mileage
- 80,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND CAME TO EXTINGUISH THE BLAZE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER REPAIRED NOR DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10515236
- Incident
- May 31, 2013
- Mileage
- 150,000 mi
PASSENGER SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10483292
- Incident
- Oct 27, 2012
- Mileage
- 116,993 mi
I OWN A 1997 PARK AVE ULTRA WITH SEVERAL RECALL REPAIR ISSUES THE FOLLOWING WERE ADDRESSED BY GM BUT NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED: (FAULTY) ABS SYSTEM (WITH CAMPAIGN CODE STICKER) REPLACED ABS SYSTEM CUTS OUT RANDOMLY CAUSING CHANGES IN STOPPING DISTANCE (IN SEVERE BRAKING SITUATIONS THE ABS SYSTEM HAS CUT OUT ON ME GETTING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES JUST TO COME TO A NORMAL STOP) FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT REPLACEMENT(NO CAMPAIGN STICKER) MIDDLE REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR WAS NEVER FIXED OR TORQUED TO PROPER SPECIFIED STANDARDS WHILE IN FOR REPAIRS LET ALONE ADDRESSED AT ALL RACK AND PINION HAS MULTIPLE ISSUES SOME DUE TO AGE AND MILES BUT REGARDLESS THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY IS LOOSE AND BEARINGS ARE SHOT THE FAULTY RECALL REPAIRS ON MY VEHICLE DON'T INSTILL TRUST IN GM'S ABILITY TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE A SECOND TIME. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10449285
- Incident
- Mar 1, 2001
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco Radio with Theftlock.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details.
EQUIPMENT
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
EQUIPMENT
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 37.7 |
| 2003 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 34.3 |
| 2002 | 32 | 1 | 2 | 52.3 |
| 2001 | 57 | 2 | 2 | 61.2 |
| 2000 | 81 | 3 | 3 | 59.4 |
| 1999 | 140 | 3 | 4 | 62.8 |
| 1998 | 246 | 2 | 5 | 62.0 |
| 1997Viewing | 219 | 3 | 5 | 62.5 |
| 1996 | 59 | 3 | 3 | 61.1 |
| 1995 | 117 | 1 | 0 | 41.7 |
| 1994 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 39.9 |
| 1993 | 64 | 1 | 0 | 49.3 |
| 1992 | 77 | 1 | 1 | 50.8 |
| 1991 | 92 | 1 | 2 | 58.0 |
| 1990 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 37.4 |
| 1989 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 41.1 |
| 1988 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 42.4 |
| 1987 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 40.0 |
| 1986 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 29.1 |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.