1999 Buick Park Avenue Engine Problems

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

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

MY 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE WAS PARKED UNDER OUR POLE BARN IN FRONT OF OUR HOME. MY NEIGHBOR CAME OVER TO BORROW MY CAR WITH MY PERMISSION. IT WAS COLD THAT DAY. SHE TURNED THE KEY. THE CAR BACKFIRE & THE HOOD JUMPED. THE CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE & SMOKE STARTED ROLLING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. SHE POPPED THE HOOD & GOT OUT OF THE CAR. BY THE TIME SHE GOT IN FRONT OF THE CAR FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. SHE CALLED THE PERU FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO CAME OUT & PULLED MY CAR OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY SAVING OUR HOUSE FROM BURNING TO THE GROUND. THE GOT THE CAR PUT OUT EVENTUALLY BUT IT IS DESTROYED. ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS BURNED OUT. PARTS OF THE INSIDE ARE MELTED. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. WE CONTACTED BUICK. THEY OFFERED US $1000. FOR A CAR WE WERE OFFERED $3000.00 FOR THAT SUMMER. THEY THEN DECIDED THEY DID NOT OWE US ANYTHING AS THE CAR ITSELF WAS OVER 10 YEARS OF AGE. THEY WILL NOT ANSWER CALLS NOR WILL THEY PAY FOR THE DAMAGES. WE CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10692357

Incident

Nov 9, 2014

Mileage

155,000 mi

SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE. I OWN A 99 BUICK PARK AVENUE ULTRA THAT HAS ABOUT 65,000 MILES ON IT AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. THE CAR IS ONLY UTILIZED ABOUT 6 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR SINCE WE ARE SNOW BIRDS HAVING RETURNED FROM THE EAST 2 MONTHS AGO. LAST EVENING AS I DROVE NORTH AND UP ONE OF THE LONG HILLS ON THE TOLL RD 73 IN ORANGE COUNTY, CA I EXPERIENCED THE SUDDEN AND TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH. ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, HEADLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS ETC STAYED ON AND APPEARED NORMAL. FORTUNATELY THE TRAFFIC WAS SUCH THAT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, STOP AND TURN ON MY HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS. I SAT FOR A MOMENT AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE CRANKING APPEARED NORMAL AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STARTED AND THE ENGINE PARAMETERS, TEMPERATURE, VOLTS, ETC APPEARED NORMAL. I WAS SURPRISED TO SAY LEAST BUT WE DECIDED TO START MOVING AGAIN AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE PRETTY MUCH AT NORMAL SPEEDS WITHOUT A HICCUP THE 20 MILES LEFT TO GET HOME STAYING IN THE RH LANES FOR THE MOST PART. GETTING BACK INTO THE FAST MOVING STREAM OF TRAFFIC WAS SOMEWHAT HAZARDOUS IN AND OF ITSELF. PRIOR TO THIS SUDDEN FAILURE THERE WAS NO WARNING OR CHANGE IN PERFORMANCE. THE ONLY CAVEAT TO THAT IS THAT IT SEEMS LATELY THERE HAS BEEN A MINOR BUT NOTICEABLE SAG OR HESITATION WHEN STARTING TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN DRIVE AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668517

Incident

Dec 26, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, HE SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ONTO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,281.

NHTSA ID

10277018

Incident

Mar 21, 2002

1999 BUICK PARK AVE V6=3800 3 8L SHOT FIRE APX. 6 FEET PER FIREMEN ON DUTY THAT WITNESSED THIS. THE MOTOR SHOOK. UPPER INTAKE, INTAKE SET, VALVE COVER SET, PCV, OIL PRESSURE SWITCH, BOTH CONVERTERS AND STILL NOT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267590

Incident

Jan 9, 2009

Mileage

164,376 mi

MY 1999 PARK AVENUE SUDDENLY STARTED TO RUN RUFF, CAUSING ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, AS WELL AS TWO IGNITION COILS. HE STATED THAT THE PLUGS HAD INDICATION OF BURNS THAT ARE ATTRIBUTED TO ANTI FREEZE COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE PLUGS. DURING THE REPAIR HE ALSO INDICATED THAT HE NOTICED ANTI FREEZE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE IN THE AREA OF THE PLENUM. THE REPAIRMAN STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3800 MOTOR, THAT THE PLENUM LEAKS CAUSING ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS DUE TO THE ANTI FREEZE COMING IN CONTACT WITH ENGINE COMPONENTS. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE IF NOT CORRECTED BY REPLACEMENT OF THE PLENUM AND THE INTAKE GASKET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258452

Incident

Feb 8, 2009

Mileage

101,500 mi

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE OCCURRED ON 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE WITH APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND RESULTED IN A MISFIRE CODE IN MULTIPLE CYLINDERS. SYMPTOMS EXPERIENCED BY THE DRIVER WERE A ROUGH IDLE AT START FOR 30 SECONDS, AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WOULD COME ON, SOMETIMES STAYING ON AND SOMETIMES EXTINGUISHING AFTER 15 SECONDS. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY DRIVEN FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER INITIALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A COMBINATION OF DIRTY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM (CLEANED REGULARLY, BUT STILL NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AGAIN TO CONVINCE DEALER TO RULE OUT THIS PROBLEM). WHEN PROBLEM PERSISTED IN CYLINDER #6, THE PROBLEM WAS THEN DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR WHICH WAS REPLACED. WHEN THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, IT WAS NOTICED THAT COOLANT HAD GOTTEN INTO CYLINDER #6 IN SMALL AMOUNTS AND CAUSE A MISFIRE. DEALER THEN DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. WEB SEARCHING REVEALS THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM AS THE DESIGN WAS CHANGED FROM METAL TO PLASTIC. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO CURRENT RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. COST TO REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $1,700. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246657

Incident

Oct 24, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED FOR THE ANTIFREEZE. WHEN HE CHECKED THE LEVEL IN THE PROPER RECEPTACLE, IT WAS EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE ANTIFREEZE IS STILL LEAKING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10197227

Incident

Jul 14, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED FLOODING ENGINE INTERIOR WITH COOLANT. ENGINE LOCKED UP. VEHICLE OPERATOR WAS ACCELERATING FROM IDLE TO ENTER TRAFFIC WHEN ENGINE LOCK UP OCCURRED, BUT LUCKILY HAD NOT YET ENTERED TRAFFIC. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR BUICK PARK AVENUES WITH MILEAGE ABOVE 90,000 MILES. REPAIRS EXCEEDED $1,100. *NM

NHTSA ID

10175006

Incident

Nov 27, 2006

Mileage

103,134 mi

DT: THE 1999 BUICK PARK AVENUE HAS A PLASTIC PLENUM THAT FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION UNANNOUNCED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, LOCKING THE ENGINE UP. CONSEQUENTLY, THERE IS A TOTAL POWER FAILURE. POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES DO NOT WORK, AND THE CAR HAS NO POWER. CAN'T COAST OR ANYTHING ELSE. CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH BUICK, BUT, THERE WAS NO RECALL. CONSUMER CONSIDERED THIS VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE. CAR JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS INSTANTANEOUS, AND WITH NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO HIS MECHANIC, AND THEY REPLACED THE PLENUM FROM GM PRODUCTS. *AK *TT *NM

NHTSA ID

10123939

Incident

May 25, 2005

Mileage

56,400 mi

THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN ROUGH, OVER HEAT AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE 3.8L ENGINE HAS BLOWN A HEAD GASKET. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIR. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10105516

Incident

Nov 30, 2004

Mileage

93,000 mi

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD COVER IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, AND HAS BECOME DEFECTIVE FOR A SECOND TIME. THE ANTIFREEZE IS GOING INTO THE ENGINE.*AK..........*AK

NHTSA ID

10103611

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

Mileage

58,500 mi

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING . THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MANIFOLD WITH A REDESIGNED ONE.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10092906

Incident

Jun 24, 2002

Mileage

47,000 mi

CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT AUTO SAFETY DATA WON'T BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC. *NM THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE PUBLIC HAD THE RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT DEFECTS REGARDING ALL VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A VEHICLE WHICH HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, SUCH AS A MOLDING REAR DOOR, A BROKEN DOOR HANDLE AND A NEW ENGINE AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS NEEDED. AFTER THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HE SOLD THE VEHICLE AND ANOTHER COUPLE ENDURED PROBLEMS SUCH AS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY DYING. THE OTHER COUPLE WAS TOLD IN JAN 2004 THE REGULATOR HAD BEEN RECALLED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10092717

Incident

Jul 27, 1999

Mileage

581 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10081389

Incident

Jun 14, 2004

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SHAKING AND SMOKING DUE TO ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE.*MR (NAR) THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $1177.52 FOR REPAIRS MADE ON DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *CB

NHTSA ID

10048463

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

Mileage

39,246 mi

CONSUMER WENT TO START VEHICLE AND THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD. THE MOTOR AND ALL CONNECTING PARTS CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10048339

Mileage

35,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED ENGINE WOULD STALL. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10040377

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE COOLING LEAK AT UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2000-2003 VEHICLES, BUT CONSUMER OWNED A 1999, BUICK, PARK AVENUE. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE FIXED AND ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT, HE WAS DENIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10040290

CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE MANIFOLD AS WELL AS IN THE UPPER INTAKE PLENUM.*MR *TS

NHTSA ID

10040133

Mileage

51,025 mi

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE A LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED. THE EXPLOSION DESTROYED THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM, FUEL RAIL AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THE CONSUMER PAID TO REPAIR THE ENGINE AND OTHER DAMAGED PARTS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID

10026405

Incident

Jun 6, 2003

Mileage

35,535 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT EH DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH CAUSED PREMATURE GASKET FAILURE. THAT FAILURE CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD AND BURN IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLES A/C COMPRESSOR ALSO FAILED. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID

10024940

Incident

Jun 19, 2003

Mileage

42,000 mi

THE ENGINE EXPLODED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD (PLENUM), FUEL INJECTOR RAILS, AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. ALL COMPONETS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, PLUS A SEAL AND VALVE KIT. BOTH GM AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR THE COST OF THE EXPLOSION AND SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE/REPAIR. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10029540

Incident

Jun 6, 2003

Mileage

33,535 mi