Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 33 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Buick Park Avenue. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 33 · page 1 of 2
New tires installed on vehicle 12/10/24. Passenger rear tire blew out at 65mph on interstate on 12/16/24. Car was able to be controlled, some damage to vehicle. Could have resulted in severe injury and/or death.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED OIL DRIPPING DOWN ON THE SPARK PLUGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 06/02/17*LJ UPDATED 06/27/18*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.
ABNORMAL WEAR PATTERN, LOW MILEAGE, NEW TIRE < 8 MONTHS SERVICE, ALIGNMENT CHECK / GOOD, TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS, SHOCKS LIKE NEW. TIRE CORD/ BELTS BARE EXPOSED ON OUTSIDE EDGE OF TIRE 1/3 OF CIRCUMFERENCE. WORN SMOOTH, NO CUPPING. POSSIBLE RUBBER COMPOUND ISSUE. ONLY ABNORMAL WEAR FOUND ON 1/3 OF TIRE ROTATION. TIRE MANUFACTURE PIRELLI, NEAR ZERO M/S P235/55ZR 17, DOT NS EK F661 5014 ESTIMATED <10,000 MILES PICTURES AVAILABLE
FRONT CENTER MOTOR MOUNT FAILED @ 66KMILES.
IN SAN DIEGO UNION PAPER DATED 10/28/2015, THERE IS A RECALL ON GM CARS HAVING THE 3.8 LITER ENGINE. IT INVOLVES VEHICLES HAVING THIS ENGINE. THE PROBLEM IS INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING OIL. THIS WAS FOUND BY THE SMOG STATION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. SUDDENLY LIGHTS STARTED GOING OFF ON MY DASHBOARD INDICATING THAT MY ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND SATIABILITY CONTROL WERE OUT. NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP ON THE HIGHWAY OR CONTACT SOMEONE TO GIVE ME A LIFT HOME I PROCEEDED TO THE NEAREST BUICK DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. DURING THE JOURNEY THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF, BUT THINKING IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I STILL HEADED TOWARDS THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT BY A SERVICE TECH. I WAS TOLD MY BRAKE MODULE COMPUTOR WAS OUT AND I NEEDED A REPLACEMENT. THE COST WAS ROUGHLY $1200, KNOWING I COULDN'T AFFORD IT, I ASKED IF THEIR WAS A SAFELY RECALL. THEIR WAS NOT. I ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE HOME, THE MAN SAID HE DIDN'T SEE WHY NOT. THINKING THIS MEANT MY BRAKES WERE FINE AND NOTING THAT THE LIGHTS WERE NOW OFF, I LEFT AND DROVE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR LESS TOWARDS HOME, I WAS ROUGHLY 9 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME WHEN I REALIZED I WAS VEERING INTO THE OTHER LANE INTO ANOTHER CAR ON MY RIGHT. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPTED TO STEER MY CAR OUT OF THE WAY, BUT BOTH OF OUR MIRRORS HIT, MY CAR THEN PROCEEDED TO SPIN OUT ON CONTROL COUNTERCLOCKWISE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AND NO REPORTABLE DAMAGE WAS DONE. BUT IT WAS STILL VERY UNPLEASANT AND COULD'VE BEEN A LOT WORSE. I KNEW I COULDN'T DRIVE IT BACK 65 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP SO I HAD IT SERVICED AT A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP IN MY HOME TOWN. I ASKED HIM WHY I SPUN OUT WHEN DOING THE EMERGENCY MANEUVER. HE TOLD ME AS WELL AS THE COMPUTER POWERING THE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, AND STABILITY CONTROL, IT WAS NEEDED TO OPERATE THE POWER DISK BRAKES. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS COULD'VE BEEN VERY MUCH PREVENTABLE IF THE DEALERSHIP HAD INSTRUCTED ME NOT TO DRIVE HOME.
MY SISTER WAS THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DOWN A CITY STREET. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL OVER OR THE MIRACULOUSLY THE VEHICLE RE-STARTED QUICKLY. THESE SYMPTOMS ARE IDENTICAL TO THE SYMPTOMS OF THE OTHER GM RECALLED VEHICLES. *TR
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A SET OF UNIROYAL TIRES THAT I PURCHASED 2 YEARS AGO, WITHIN 11,000 MILES THE FIRST SEPARATED, AT 22,763 THE SECOND TIRE SEPARATED, AT 30,875 THE THIRD TIRED SEPARATED. THESE TIRES SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, WHO KNOWS HOW MANY MORE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE THAT ARE BEING USED BY UNKNOWING DRIVERS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE ULTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK FROM THE ENGINE INTAKE WHICH WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER HAD GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,200.
2003 PARK AVE ULTRA 3.8L SERIES II ENGINE OIL LEAK, SMELL OF BURNT OIL CONCERNED ABOUT ENGINE FIRE. LEAKS ABOUT 1 QUART OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. *TR
2003 PARK AVENUE S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER FROM REGARDING BUICK PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW MUFFLER AT A COST OF $500.00. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. ALSO, THE VIEW SCREEN FOR THE TEMPERATURE/AIR DIRECTION WAS BARELY READABLE. *JB UPDATED 10/22/10*JB
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE PROBLEMS WITH 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE POSSIBLE SAFETY RECALL ISSUE FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM A GM EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT RESPONDING TO A LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO THEM. SHE DISMISSED THE CONSUMERS CONCERN BECAUSE HE DIDN'T TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE REPAIR WHEN THE PARTS FAILED A SECOND TIME. HOWEVER, BOTH TECHNICIANS WHO REPAIRED THE MANIFOLD AND GASKET WITHIN A TWO- YEAR PERIOD TOLD THE CONSUMER THE OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE SUBSTANDARD. THE PARTS WERE MADE OF PLASTIC AND HAD DEGRADED.
2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. CONSUMER STATES POSSIBLE SAFETY DEFECT WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKET. *TGW THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM A GMC EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS CONCERN WAS DISMISSED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE REPAIR WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED A SECOND TIME AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, BOTH TECHNICIANS WHO REPAIRED THE MANIFOLD AND GASKET WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD STATED THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE SUBSTANDARD DUE TO THEM BEING MADE OF PLASTIC AND HAD DEGRADED. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CHROME ON THE RIMS IS PEELING OFF ALL FOUR TIRES WHICH HAS ALSO CAUSED THE TIRES TO LOSE AIR CONTINUOUSLY. THE TIRES AND RIMS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
HORN ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A "HIT OR MISS" SITUATION. I BROUGHT IT TO THE MECHANIC AND IT WORKED FOR HIM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING FAILURE WITH THE RETRACTOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT LAP BELTS. THE SEAT BELT MUST BE ISOLATED IN ORDER TO BE RELEASED. THE RETRACTOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY IN AUGUST OF 2006, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS MECHANICAL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT COULD BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE $296. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE WITH LEAKING INTAKE GASKET. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER TOLD HIM THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE GENERAL MOTORS TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AT NO COST TO HIM. *KB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE POWER LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR MALFUNCTIONS. THE LOCK IS MOUNTED IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND HAS BECOME LOOSE, WHICH CAUSES THE SWITCH TO FLOAT AROUND IN THE DOOR. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH OR REPAIR IT FOR FREE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,864. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR CONQUEST RADIAL TUBELESS, SIZE P205/75R14 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. HE STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD A RAISED RIB ON THE OUTER SIDE AND SEPARATION IN THE INTERIOR OF THE TIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES ON THE TIRES AND VEHICLES WERE 53,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS A WIND-LIKE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED, THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THERE WAS ALSO A TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING TO EITHER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE HUB ASSEMBLY WAS OUT OF BALANCE. BOTH HUB ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.
MY 2003 PARK AVENUE ULTRA HAS A VIBRATION AT 65 - 70 MPH THAT SEEMS TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DIAGNOSIS AND FIX; BUICK DEALER CAN NOT FIX. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER DOES NOT ALWAYS DEFROST THE ENTIRE WINDOW. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE REAR WINDOW AND DEFROSTER UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE STABILITY SYSTEM LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY KELLY'S WIFE ALICE JOHNSON. *AK
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.*MR DURING A NORMAL 15000 MILE SERVICE A CHEMICAL WAS INTRODUCED IN THE A/C SYSTEM. THE OWNER IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED ALLERGIC REACTIONS THAT IMPAIRED HER DRIVING. THE REACTION HAD CONTINUED AND IS AN ON-GOING DANGER. AFTER FURTHER INFORMATION WAS OBTAIN FROM THE DEALER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE A/C FOGGER HAD A SLIGHT HEALTH RISK LISTED ON THE MSDS SHEET WHICH INDICATED "...HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. MAY IRRITATE EYES, SKIN AND RESPIRATORY TRACT......". THE GARAGE MANAGER STATED THAT THE CHEMICAL WAS USED TO ELIMINATE A MOLD AND MILDEW PROBLEM. NO ODOR OR MILDEW PROBLEM HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED BY THE OWNER, SO THE CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOWN WHY THE CHEMICAL WAS USED AND WHY WASN'T THE CONSUMER INFORMED OF IT'S USE. *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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