1997 Buick Park Avenue Steering Problems

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

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

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING PROBLEM WHICH WAS BEING RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT BECAUSE OF THE VIN CONSUMER WAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED. THERE WAS A STIFFENS WHEN TURNING LEFT AND SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT 50 MPH OR MORE, GETTING OFF AT AN OFF RAMP, THE STEERING WOULD LOOSEN THEN GO BACK TO NORMAL. *SC

NHTSA ID

10081403

Incident

Jul 6, 2004

Mileage

69,973 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND WITH OUT ANY WARNING STEERING WHEEL FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC INDICATED THE BELT BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10061026

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

HARD STEERING TURNING RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. ITEM REPAIRED 1/14/2004 AT DEALER AT A COST TO ME OF $1351.18. REPAIR INVOICE STATES " INTERNAL FAILURE OF STEERING GEAR DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED STEERING GEAR." AUTO IS 1997 BUICK PARK AVE ULTRA WITH 32000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10053203

Incident

Jan 12, 2004

STEERING GEAR BRACKET BROKE ON 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS GIVEN COPIES OF THE REPAIR BILL AND THE STATEMENT FROM ENTERPRISE FOR THE THREE DAYS IT TOOK TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR CONSIDERING A REIMBURSEMENT. *CB

NHTSA ID

10044167

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

Mileage

57,491 mi

1-23-3 ID LIKE TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH A GENERAL MOTORS ENGINE, MORE SPECIFICALLY THE BOLTS THEY'RE USING ON THE 3800 SERIES 2 V-6 (PROBABLY A CHEAP PRICED CHINESE PRODUCT). I ASKED AT MY BUICK DEALERSHIP IF THEY SEND INFORMATION TO GM ABOUT A PROBLEM A VEHICLE IS HAVING IF THEY SEE IT AS DANGEROUS OR SEE IT MORE THAN ONCE AND THE GUY LAUGHED... HA HA REAL FUNNY. MEANWHILE PEOPLE LIKE ME FIX A PROBLEM THAT MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A RECALL, OR AT MINIMUM GM COULD QUIT BUYING DEFECTIVE BOLTS TO USE ON THE 3800 SERIES 2 ENGINE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED WHEN SUDDENLY THEY CAN'T CONTROL A 3000 POUND VEHICLE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE (97,000 MILES). I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY POWER STEERING PUMP JUST FALLS OFF OF THE CAR, YES IT LITERALLY FELL OFF. I SENT IT TOO MY LOCAL BUICK DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY ARE FOR SOME REASON OUT OF THE BOLT THAT HE SAID SHEARED ITSELF OFF. THE NEXT DAY I CALL THE BUICK REPAIR SHOP TO ASK ABOUT IT SINCE THEY HAVE TO WAIT ON THE PART, AND HE CALLS ME MR. GRAY. I TELL HIM MY ACTUAL NAME AND HE APOLOGIZES AND INFORMS ME THAT THERE'S ANOTHER GUY'S CAR IN THERE AT THE MOMENT WHO HAD THAT EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIS CAR,... HIS POWER STEERING PUMP FELL OFF TOO. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE CAR ALL OF THE SUDDEN STEERS LIKE A TRACTOR WITH FLAT TIRES, FORTUNATELY I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED TO ME. A SMALLER MAN OR WOMAN COULD NOT LIKELY HANDLE CONTROLLING IT, AND GOD HELP THEM IF THEY'RE ON THE INTERSTATE DOING 70. AND YET THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE A WAY OR SYSTEM SET UP WITH GENERAL MOTORS TO REPORT STUFF LIKE THIS. HOW IS GM SUPPOSED TO KNOW? HOPE YOU CAN HELP SAVE PEOPLE BEFORE WE HEAR ABOUT THIS ON THE NEWS AS A TRAGEDY. THANKS... KEN MCCLELLAND

NHTSA ID

10003251

Incident

Jan 22, 2003

Mileage

97,500 mi

WHILE DRIVNG AT LOW SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL BINDS MAKING WHEEL HARD TO TURN. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID

8023125

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. *JG

NHTSA ID

8009368

Incident

May 1, 2002

THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRING OF STEERING COLUMN WHICH CAUSES BRAKES TO VIBRATE AND MAKE A RUMBLING NOISE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN MAKING A STOP AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THIS DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

887483

Incident

Apr 28, 2001

ITEM 1. RETURNING HOME, PLAY DEVELOPED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WITH THE CAR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, DURING INVESTIGATION , THE STEERING WHEEL TOTALLY DISCONNECTED FROM THE STEERING RACK, SO THE CAR WAS NO LONGER STEERABLE. DEALER SAID THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE RACK INPUT, BUT COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN. RACK ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN REPLACED 03/28/97, 2101 MILES BEAUSE OF OIL LEAKS. ITEM 2. TAKING CAR HOME FROM DEALER AFTER ENGINE OIL LEAK REPAIR, THERE WAS MUCH PLAY, 1/3 TURN, IN STEERING WHEEL. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS BROKEN MOUNTING EAR ON STEERING RACK AND PINION, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF RACK ASSEMBLY. RACK ASSEMBLE HAD BEEN REPLACED 03/28/97, 2101 MILES DUE TO OIL LEAKS.*AK

NHTSA ID

743835

Incident

Dec 13, 2000

RACK AND PINION STEERING IS BINDING DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

873047

Incident

Oct 11, 2000

FACTORY REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SEPT 1998 SAME AS BEFORE. THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM PERSISTS; SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT BUICK COULD DO NOTHING. PASSENGER CAN EXTEND SEAT BELT, BUT IT OFTEN FOLDS & JAMS, LEAVING 1-2 FT OF LOOSE BELT WHICH VOIDS THE SAFETY OF SEAT BELT. WARPED BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PROBLEM IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO BUICK WHO HAS LAST WEEK SUGGESTED A TRIAL OF CHANGING HOSES.

NHTSA ID

717287

Incident

Nov 10, 1999

FRONT WHEELS OUT OF BALANCE. NLM

NHTSA ID

549949

Incident

Mar 20, 1998

BRAKES MAKE VIBRATION AND SHUDDER, REPAIRED ROTORS HOWEVER CONTINUES. MJS

NHTSA ID

549915

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR MISADJUSTED. NLM

NHTSA ID

549153

POWER STEERING BOLTS BROKE AT PUMP, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL. ON 5/28/98 OWNER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS REPIRED VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

839829

Incident

Jun 11, 1999

STEERING WHEEL LOOSE CAUSING POWER STEERING TO BE INAFFECTIVE AND VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

541395

Incident

Jul 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE VIBRATES. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

536830

Incident

Oct 17, 1997

STEERING WHEEL BROKE FREE FROM STEERING SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

531799

Incident

Feb 14, 1998