1999 Buick Park Avenue

BY LETTER DATED MARCH 12, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-118) TO ADDRESS A DEFECT IN APPROXIMATELY 207,542 MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL GS AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GTP VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE L67 SUPERCHARGED VERSION OF GM'S 3800 SERIES II V6 ENGINE.THE RECALLED REGAL GS VEHICLES WERE BUILT FROM AUGUST 1996 TO JUNE 2003 AND THE GRAND PRIX GTP FROM MARCH 1996 THROUGH JANUARY 2003.ACCORDING TO GM, OIL MAY ESCAPE PAST THE VALVE COVER GASKET ON THE FRONT CYLINDER BANK (CYLINDERS 1-3-5) AND DEPOSIT ONTO HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM COMPONENTS.UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THIS OIL TO IGNITE A SMALL PILOT FLAME, WHICH MAY SPREAD TO THE ADJACENT PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL, THE SPARK PLUG WIRES THEMSELVES, THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER, AND OTHER UNDER HOOD COMPONENTS.REPORTS INDICATE THIS MOST OFTEN OCCURS ON HIGHER-MILEAGE VEHICLES SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND THEN PARKED.TYPICALLY, THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED WITHIN 5 TO 15 MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.DURING THIS TIME WINDOW, UNDER HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY BECOME ELEVATED.SUCH ELEVATED TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH A LACK OF AIRFLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY PERMIT A SMALL PILOT FLAME TO PROPAGATE AND IGNITE OTHER FUEL SOURCES.TO CORRECT THE SAFETY DEFECT, GM WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED DESIGN FRONT VALVE COVER GASKET AND SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINER.THIS REMEDY WILL BE SUPPLIEDFREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL RECALLED VEHICLES.UNTIL SUFFICIENT PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO REPAIR ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, GM STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT OWNERS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS: (1) THEY STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT OWNERS DO NOT PARK THEIR VEHICLE IN A GARAGE, CARPORT, OR OTHER STRUCTURE; (2) IF OWNERS NOTICE A BURNING ODOR, THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE - THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE; AND (3) USE PREMIUM FUEL (91 OCTANE OR HIGHER) IN THE VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE VEHICLE'S OWNER MANUAL.THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE SUBJECT FIRE INCIDENT RATE ON THE C-, G-, AND H-PLATFORM SUBJECT VEHICLES IS LOW.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.

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.

There is no summary currently available

STALL WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11291838

Incident

Dec 25, 2019

Mileage

176,000 mi

PASSENGER FRONT SEATBELT WON'T CLICK SHUT. DEALER CAN'T FIND ONE.

NHTSA ID

11189885

Incident

Mar 19, 2017

Mileage

184,630 mi

THE PASSENGER CAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. LOCKING MECHANISM DOES NOT ENGAGE AND DOOR REMAINS STUCK CLOSED. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE PASSENGER OF THE CAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR REPAIR MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS FOR A PERMANENT FIX.

NHTSA ID

11165401

Incident

Apr 10, 2018

Mileage

93,584 mi

TL THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND FAILED TO BRAKE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD AND A TELEPHONE GUIDE WIRE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CALLED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED AND DIAGNOSED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ID

11154905

Incident

Nov 29, 2018

Mileage

152,000 mi

PASSENGER SEAT BELT NOT CLICKING.

NHTSA ID

11099287

Incident

Apr 10, 2018

Mileage

190,000 mi

PERIODICALLY THE ENGINE WILL STOP. THIS WILL GENERALLY OCCUR WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THIS WOULD CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER. WHEN IT OCCURS IN TRAFFIC OR ON A CURVE THIS IS EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS. IT WILL RESTART BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNING THE IGNITION. IT WILL OCCUR ANYWHERE, WHILE TURNING OR DRIVING STRAIGHT. THIS HAS CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

NHTSA ID

10905742

Incident

Sep 4, 2016

Mileage

62,000 mi

1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC MANIFOLDS AND REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR TWO ENGINE REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON JULY 28, 2003, THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING AND AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 13, 2014. THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH TIMES, THE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 09/09/15*LJ UPDATED 03/7/16.*JB UPDATED 11/01/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10731086

Incident

Jul 28, 2003

Mileage

31,766 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT STARTED TO MISFIRE. I PUT IT ON THE MACHINE AND GOT A FEW DIFFERENT CODES P1406 AND P0300 GOT THOSE FIXED IT WORKED FINE. A WEEK LATER THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. IT SAT UP FOR A FEW WEEKS AND WHEN I WOULD DRIVE IT I SMELLED GAS FUMES. NOW IT WON'T TURN AND THERE'S STILL A SMELL OF FUEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705194

Incident

Feb 20, 2015

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

HIGH SPEED SHAKE OR VIBRATION. *EH

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.

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.

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.

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.