RoadVitals

1997 Buick Park Avenue Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints 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.
15
Latest Jul 8, 2005
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 219 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Buick Park Avenue submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Jul 8, 2005

DT: THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, AND WOULD NOT GO BACK DOWN. THE FUSE WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WILL CHARGE THE CONSUMER TO LOOK THE PROBLEM. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED SOMETIMES. THE DEFECT WAS THOUGHT TO BE IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD. *AK BUICK WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT A RECALL WAS SET FOR THE 2001 MAKE/MODEL. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10124881
Incident
Jun 3, 2005
Mileage
105,000 mi
ElectricalEngineVisibility
Filed Jan 15, 2004

MY NUMBER ONE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR IS THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE OIL WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE MAIN BEARINGS WERE DESTROYED AND I HAD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. (I HAVE THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD IN MY POSSESSION.) THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN NOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE EGR VALVE AND EVENTUALLY SUFFERS FROM THERMAL FATIGUE AT THE EGR AND STRESS RELAXATION AROUND THE FLANGE OF THE MANIFOLD. I NOTIFIED GM OF THE PROBLEM IN WRITING AND THEY OFFERED ME $800 COMPENSATION FOR MY $5,000.00 PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS PROBABLY ON ITS LAST LEGS. I TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN BABIED AND OFFERED UP RESULTS OF THE MANDATORY EMISSIONS TEST THAT THE CAR UNDERWENT NOT 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO FAILURE AS PROOF THAT THE CAR WAS IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER. (IN TORONTO, ALL VEHICLE OWNERS MUST SUBMIT THEIR CARS FOR EMISSIONS TESTING EVERY 2 YEARS. THE CAR IS MEASURED FOR HYDRO CARBON OUTPUT, NOX OUTPUT, CO, AND CO2. IF THE ENGINE HAD BEEN MALFUNCTIONING, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN QUALIFIED.) THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF GM DIDN'T SWITCH FROM ALUMINUM TO PLASTIC. OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR INCLUDE A REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE, - 3'RD ALTERNATOR, 2ND BATTERY , A SECURITY SYSTEM THAT SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, WATER IN THE TRUNK (SEVERAL ATTEMPT TO REPAIR, ENDED UP DRILLING A HOLE IN THE TRUNK), FAILED AC COMPRESSOR, FAILED HEATED SEAT, SEVERAL INSTRUMENT CONTROL LIGHT BULBS HAVE BURNED OUT AND CAN NOT BE REPLACED, YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT. THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS THAT WARP EVERY 35,000 KM. - FUEL GAUGE THAT DOESN'T WORK BELOW A QUARTER TANK. IF YOU WOULD LIKE COPIES OF CORRESPONDENCE SENT TO GM, LET ME KNOW. REGARDS DOUG WEBB 13 BRUMELL AVENUE TORONTO, ONTARIO M6S 4G3 [email protected] 905-238-0007 EX. 2624 (DAYTIME)

NHTSA ID
10071333
Incident
Feb 15, 2003
Mileage
84,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE HEATER IN THE SEAT QUIT WORKING. A NEW ONE WAS INSTALLED AND IT DOESN'T HEAT UP CORRECTLY. THE MOTOR IN THE WINDOW FAILED. THE ROTORS/BRAKES WERE WARPED. THE STEREO FAILED. THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP CORRECTLY DESPITE A NEW ONE BEING PUT IN. THE STARTER IS DRAGGING. SOME OF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER THE SMART CHOICE EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER SOME OF THE REPAIRS ARE STILL NEEDED AND I STILL HAVE TIME REMAINING ON MY SMART CHOICE WARRRANTY BUT THEY HAVE WENT BANKRUPT AND MY DEALER SAYS THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER VALID AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS DONE.

NHTSA ID
10070934
Incident
Oct 15, 2003
Mileage
72,000 mi
ElectricalEngineOther / unspecified+2 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THE A/C WILL TURN ON AGAIN AFTER I TURN IT OFF. THE RADIO WILL SHIFT TO CASSETTE AND BACK WHILE DISPLAYING E33. DRIVERS WINDOW WILL COME DOWN UNEVENLY AND GET WEDGED. THE ALTERNATER WENT OUT AND THE BOTTOM BOLT STRIPPED DURING REMOVAL. THERE IS A LURCH SOMETIMES DURING SHIFTING.

NHTSA ID
10069116
Incident
Nov 15, 2003
Visibility
Filed Aug 22, 2003

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED DRIVER VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10034308
Mileage
60,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 10, 2002

DEFROSTER VENTS FOR WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY, THIS CAUSES DRIVER TO HAVE POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING.*AK DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, CONSUMER STATES ON ONE OCCASION THE HEAT CONTROL FAILED COMPLETELY, AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING THE HEAT WORKED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
8007297
Visibility
Filed Jun 6, 2001

ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOX IN FRONT PASSENGER DOOR SHORTED OUT, CAUSING A FAILURE IN POWER WINDOWS/LOCKS/MIRRORS. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REPAIRED THIS DEFECT. *AK POWER DOOR LOCK CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT DOOR, EXPRESS MODULE, AND PIG TAIL WERE REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ID
889852
Incident
May 24, 2001
EnginePowertrain (other)Transmission+1 more
Filed Jan 21, 2000

ODOMETER FOUND TO BE BROKEN

NHTSA ID
9000209
Incident
Oct 12, 1998
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+6 more
Filed Dec 14, 1999

FRONT WHEELS OUT OF BALANCE. NLM

NHTSA ID
549949
Incident
Mar 20, 1998
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+5 more
Filed Dec 10, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
549915
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningElectrical+7 more
Filed Oct 22, 1999

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR MISADJUSTED. NLM

NHTSA ID
549153
BrakesSeat beltsVisibility
Filed May 28, 1999

SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE RETRACTING MECHANISM JAMMING. MJS

NHTSA ID
545920
BrakesHeating & air conditioningEngine+3 more
Filed Oct 9, 1997

BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.

NHTSA ID
523635
Fuel systemVisibility
Filed Oct 8, 1997

WHEN FILLING GAS TANK AND REACHES FULL CAPACITY, IT KICKS OFF THE AUTOMATIC NOZZLE AND GASOLINE WILL SPILL ONTO VEHICLE AND GROUND. IN ADDITION, WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A VISUAL DEFECT IN THE DRIVER'S AREA. THE REPLACEMENT WINDHSHIELD CAUSES A DOUBLE IMAGE AND IS VERY DISTRACTING. *AK

NHTSA ID
523853
Visibility
Filed Jan 21, 1997

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THERE IS A REFLECTION IN WINDSHIELD COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD THAT OBSTRUCTS VIEW. *AK

NHTSA ID
807939

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .