RoadVitals

1998 Buick Park Avenue Steering Problems

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

Data refreshed

Steering 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.
12
Latest Aug 13, 2015
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.
5%
of 246 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 the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Buick Park Avenue submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 steering

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

Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 13, 2015

DRIVING DOWN THE HIWAY, HAD JUST PASSED A SEMI; THANK GOODNESS IT WAS AFTER THAT THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW MAKING THE CAR QUITE DIFFICULT TO STEER. TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE; HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT TIRES REPLACED AND INSTRUCTED TO BRING IT BACK THE WEEK AFTER FOR AN ALIGNMENT. AT THAT TIME I DISCOVERED THAT BOTH NEW FRONT TIRES WERE ALREADY RUINED DUE TO THE CRADLE/FRAME ASSEMBLY WHICH WAS RUSTED OUT. THIS COST ME $863. YESTERDAY - 08/12/2015 THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WENT OUT. UPON MY INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE. I WAS TOLD IT HAD BEEN FIXED.. ALTHO THERE WASN'T ANY CONCRETE PROOF GIVEN TO ME THAT IT HAD AS THE DEALERSHIP I CALLED WAS NOT THE DEALERSHIP THAT SAID THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE JUST WEEKS AFTER SPENDING $863 TO HAVE ONE ISSUE RESOLVED. I FIND IT PARTICULARLY APPALLING THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO HELP RESOLVE ANY OF THESE ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
10748582
Incident
Jul 9, 2015
Mileage
143,960 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 19, 2004

WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE HOSES IN THE POWER STEERING. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVE OVER BUMPS, THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AREA. THE ASH TRAY LID WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10053980
Incident
Jan 1, 2003
Mileage
47,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 13, 2004

THERE IS A CHATTER, NOISE, VIBRATION WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT

NHTSA ID
10053114
Incident
Jan 13, 1998
Mileage
48,500 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 17, 2003

POWER STEERING GEAR BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BIND WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE OF THE PART BREAKING WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK THERE WAS NOT A LOSS OF FLUID. THE FAILURE WAS AN INTERNAL PART OF THE STEERING GEAR. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10040427
Incident
Sep 16, 2002
Mileage
24,959 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 11, 2003

WHILE DRIVING LOST COMPLETE POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10027037
Incident
Jul 9, 2003
Mileage
101,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 30, 2002

CONSUMER STATES IN COLD WEATHER, WHEN TURING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CHATTERING NOISE AND THE WHEEL SKAKES, THE PRESSURE HOSE WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*JB

NHTSA ID
567298
Steering
Filed Aug 15, 2002

WHILE REVERSING POWER STEERING UNIT SHEDDED BOLTS, AND THE BOLTS FELL OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016395
Incident
Dec 10, 2001
Steering
Filed Aug 10, 2002

WHILE DRIVING ON I-95 AT 65 MPH STEERING RACK BROKE AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERIG OF THE CAR UNLESS I SLOWED DOWN AND CONTINUED TO CORRECT THE RANDOM DIRECTION CAR WAS TAKING.*AK

NHTSA ID
765475
Incident
May 3, 2002
Steering
Filed Sep 7, 2001

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AT 60MPH. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN, AND STEERED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF ROAD. MECHANIC FLUSHED POWER STEERING PUMP TWICE. HOWEVER PROBLEM WASN'T CORRECTED. DEALER WILL REPLACE STEERING UNIT.*AK

NHTSA ID
895963
Incident
Jul 23, 2001
Steering
Filed Jun 19, 2000

WIFE HAS COMPLAINED THE STEERING AT TIMES WOULD HAVE NO POWER STEERING. EVERY TIME I WOULD GO OUT AND CHECK THE STEERING IT WAS FINE. THIS WAS GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THIS CAR IS MY WIFES AND I RARELY DRIVE THIS CAR. ON JUNE 10, 2000, I DROVE THE CAR ON A 100 MILE ROUND TRIP WITH MY FAMILY(WIFE, TWO BOYS AGE 12 AND MYSELF). 2 MILES FROM THE END OF THIS TRIP WHILE ON A STEP GRADE AT A RATE OF SPEED OF 30 MPH A VECHICLE AHEAD IN SAME LANE AS ME WAS TURNIG RIGHT INTO A DRIVEWAY. THE ROAD ALLOWED PASSING (DOTTED LINE). ANTICIPATING TO STEER AROUND THE VEHICLE. WHEN TRYING TO STEER LEFT THE STEERING BECAME MANUAL, NO POWER ASSISTANCE. ALL MOST IN PANIC, TURNED THE WHEEL HARD (FORCEFULL) AND ALL OF A SUDDEN POWER ASSISTANCE RETURNED. NOW COMPENSATING FOR OVER STEERING TO THE LEFT TRIED TO STEER RIGHT ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME SITUATION OCCUR, NO POWER ASSISTANCE TO THE RIGHT. TURNED HARD TO THE RIGHT ONLY TO HAVE THE POWER ASSIST RESUME. ASKED MY WIFE IF THIS IS WHAT SHE HAD EXPERIENCED. SHE SAID NOT TO THIS EXTENT. IDROVE THE CAR THE REST OF THE WAY HOME (2 MILES) WITHOUT ANY OTHER PROBLEMS UNTILL I TRIED TO TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY. AGAIN NO POWER STEERING. CALLED THE DEALER MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR AS SOON AS I COULD GET IN. DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN UNTILL I BROUGHT TO DEALER. (JUNE 14,2000). DEALER FOUND AN INTERNAL FAILURE IN THE STEERING RACK. I ASKED IF BUICK HAD A RECALL ON THIS FAILED COMPONENT. DEALER SAID NOT TO HIS KNOWLEDGE. CALL THE BUICK HOT LINE FOR COSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AND THEY WOULD NOT ATHORIZE THE REPAIR UNDER BUICK AN DHTAT IS WAS RESPONIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. I EXPLAINED TO THE REPRESENTITIVE FROM BUICK THAT I FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE SAFETY FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE HAD FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. I ASKED IF THEY FELT THE STEERIG OF A VEHICLE OR LACK OF THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THEY WOULD NOT COMMENT, AND WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. RAN OUT OF SPACE. *AK

NHTSA ID
724190
Incident
Jun 10, 2000
Steering
Filed Jan 22, 2000

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING STEERING DIFFICULTY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS NO SOLUTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
854407
Incident
Dec 24, 1999
Steering
Filed Apr 22, 1998

WHILE MAKING LEFT TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL PULSATES FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED STEERING RACK. PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
822704

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .