2001 Buick Park Avenue Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2001 Buick Park Avenue, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1318.8%
- Electrical1115.9%
- Steering913.0%
- Visibility710.1%
- Driver assistance68.7%
- Fuel system57.2%
- Transmission45.8%
- Airbags34.3%
- Exterior lighting34.3%
- Seat belts22.9%
- Body & structure22.9%
- Powertrain (other)11.4%
- Suspension11.4%
- Tires & wheels11.4%
- Other / unspecified11.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE EVERYTHING IN THE HOOD CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ORLANDO STREET FRESNO CA 93706.
UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD EXPLODED INTO AT LEAST 10 PIECES DURING START UP. STATIONARY . HAD NOT BEEN STARTED FOR TWO DAYS. IN DRIVEWAY.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE EVERYTHING IN THE HOOD CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ORLANDO STREET FRESNO CA 93706.
ANY TIME THE THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED THE GAS NEEDLE GOES ON THE WRONG SIDE AND WILL NOT COME BACK IN PLACE UNTIL THE DASH IS REMOVED AND THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED AT A DEALERSHIP AND THIS COST.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
2001 BUICK PARK AVENUE. CONSUMER REQUEST ANY RECALLS ON VEHICLE WITH STEERING PROBLEMS. *TGW
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH AND MAKING TURNS THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED IN MOTION AND SOUND. THERE WAS ALSO DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH DIRECTED THAT THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE AND A POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE TO BE REPLACE. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT THERE HAD BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSE BY WAY THE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURER WHICH ALLOWED FOR THE HOSES TO SOFTEN CREATING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WEAR AND TEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ALERTED THE CONTACT THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY REPAIR.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, AFTER ABOUT 4 YEARS THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ON THE VEHICLE BECOME FOGGED OVER SO BADLY THAT YOU CANNOT SEE THE ROAD VERY CLEARLY AT NIGHT. THIS IS DUE TO THE AUTO MAKERS USING PLASTIC FOR THE LENS COVER INSTEAD OF USING GLASS ON THE ASSEMBLIES, IF THEY USED GLASS THERE WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
A SHORT IN THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER CAUSED A FIRE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 70 MPH HE ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE IT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER 70 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLES HEAD LIGHTS, HIGH BEAMS AND THE FUEL GAUGE GAVE AN INCORRECT READING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF FUEL THE GAUGE DISPLAYED FULL AND WHEN THERE WAS NO FUEL IT ALSO DISPLAYED FULL. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86743 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,651. UPDATED 3/7/11 *CN UPDATED 04/29/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING TO 80 MPH AND ABOVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY FOR TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED ALSO INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED SOME RESISTANCE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,365.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2001 Buick Park Avenue. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the hood exploded and caught on fire. The fire was extinguished with 3 buckets of water. There was no property damage. It was unknown whether warning lights illuminated after the failure. There was no injury sustained; however, the contact stated that the incident was traumatic. The vehicle remained at the contact's residence, pending evaluation. No police report was filed. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
OUR 2001 BUICK HAS HAD A ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IT IS THE SAME CAUSE AS THIS RECALL- [XXX] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -CLOSE INVESTIGATION SUBJECT : ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES , 1 RECALL(S) DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: OCT 22, 2002 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED: MAR 09, 2004 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA02030 COMPONENT(S): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
MAJOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH ONLY 85,000 MILES. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILED IN CONSUMER'S 2001 BUICK PARK AVENUE. *KB *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY DAUGHTER HAD A HEAD ON ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN OUR 2001 BUICK PARK AVE. SHE DIED FROM HER INJURIES. SHE WAS 17 YEARS OLD. *TR
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE HIT A TRACTOR TRAILER. *AK *SC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, AFTER ABOUT 4 YEARS THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ON THE VEHICLE BECOME FOGGED OVER SO BADLY THAT YOU CANNOT SEE THE ROAD VERY CLEARLY AT NIGHT. THIS IS DUE TO THE AUTO MAKERS USING PLASTIC FOR THE LENS COVER INSTEAD OF USING GLASS ON THE ASSEMBLIES, IF THEY USED GLASS THERE WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 70 MPH HE ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE IT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER 70 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLES HEAD LIGHTS, HIGH BEAMS AND THE FUEL GAUGE GAVE AN INCORRECT READING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF FUEL THE GAUGE DISPLAYED FULL AND WHEN THERE WAS NO FUEL IT ALSO DISPLAYED FULL. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86743 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,651. UPDATED 3/7/11 *CN UPDATED 04/29/11
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE TO WHICH THIS REPORT REFERS IS A 2001 BUICK, PARK AVENUE ULTRA, 4 DOOR, SEDAN. THE VIN # IS [XXX], WITH 20,724 MILES. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED A SLIGHT SEPARATION IN THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH. SINCE IT DID NOT POSE AN IMMEDIATE DANGER I TOOK NO ACTION TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THIS MONTH THE BELT BECAME INOPERATIVE, CAME APART, AND I HAD IT REPLACED. THIS COULD POSE A REAL DANGER TO THE DRIVER IF THE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE FAILED PART IS AVAILABLE. UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LOCKED UP, CONSUMER COULD NOT TURN BODY, HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE EVERYTHING IN THE HOOD CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ORLANDO STREET FRESNO CA 93706.
1. WHEN CAR IS PARKED ON INCLINE, TRUNK LID FELL DOWN AND INJURED ME AND MY HUSBAND.2. THE HORN PLACENMENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL IS SUCH THAT THE BUTTON CANNOT BE FOUND WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED. PEVIOUSLY HAD A CHRYSLER WITH THE SAME DANGEROUS DESIGN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK IT ROLLED BACKWARDS.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
NUMEROUS SAFETY AND NON SAFETY PROBLEM'S WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT HAS BEEN NEW. GM REFUSED TO FURTHER WORK ON THIS VEHICLE SAYING (WITH A 7 YEAR, 100,000 MILE FULLY PAID HIGHEST LEVEL EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM THE SELLING DEALER) AT APPROXIMATELY 35,000 MILES THAT THERE WERE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD NO LONGER WORK ON THE VEHICLE, AND DID NOT. NEITHER THE DEALER OR GM RESPONDED AT ALL TO A BBB COMPLAINT. CONTACTS WITH GM ITSELF WERE TOTALLY FRUITLESS WITH A PERCEIVED ATTITUDE OF "WHO CARES" ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WE MANUFACTURED, SINCE YOU PAID FOR IT IN FULL. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUS OVER THE 7 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP WITH NO SATISFACTION FROM GM. THEREFORE, THIS REPORT IS NOT ON ONE SPECIFIC PROBLEM, BUT MANY, MANY PROBLEMS OVER A SEVEN YEAR TIMEFRAME, THE LEAST OF WHICH I BELIEVE ARE PLAIN OUTRIGHT FRAUD! *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
GOODYEAR, CONQUEST TIRES, P225/60R16, DOT UNKNOWN, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 2001, BUICK, PARK AVENUE WITH 150 MILES. ON WAY HOME AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE NOTICED IT SHAKING. DEALER SAID THIS WAS DUE TO 2 FRONT TIRES HAVING HARD SPOTS, AND THEY CAN'T BE BALANCED. REPLACEMENTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS, DEALER PUT THOSE 2 TIRES ON THE BACK OF VEHICLE.*AK DUE TO THE WAIT TIME FOR TIRES, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND, SERVICE MANAGER STATED THEY COULD NOT HELP WITH COST BECAUSE TIRES WERE NOT FROM GM. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
CHROME ON WHEELS DETERIORATES AND LETS AIR ESCAPE FROM TIRES CAUSING TIRES TO RUN HOT AND GO FLAT. CAUSED WHEEL TO BLOW OUT WHEN HIT POT HOLE AND WHEN TO SIDE OF ROAD. CHROME SEPARATIONS CANNOT BE SEALED BY TIRE DEALERSHIP. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .