2003 Buick Park Avenue Engine Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10919094

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

FRONT CENTER MOTOR MOUNT FAILED @ 66KMILES.

NHTSA ID

10894689

Incident

Aug 9, 2016

Mileage

66,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10786831

Incident

Apr 16, 2013

Mileage

45,940 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10569212

Incident

Feb 10, 2014

Mileage

137,326 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10374915

Incident

Oct 15, 2010

Mileage

108,600 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10367835

Incident

May 6, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10348800

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

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.

NHTSA ID

10318690

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

35,331 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10314329

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

Mileage

35,331 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10219456

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

I RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM STATING THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH COOLANT LEAKS AROUND GASKETS AT THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD OR AT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH MIGHT "CAUSE HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES". THE LETTER SAYS IT IS A "VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM". THE SUGGESTED FIX IS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND HAVE THEM CHANGE SOME OF THE FASTENERS AND THEN "ADD COOLING SYSTEM SEALANT" TO THE RADIATOR. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT PUTTING COOLING SYSTEM SEALANT IN A BRAND NEW CAR (AND THUS REDUCING THE LIFE OF THE RADIATOR) IS AN UNACCEPTABLE FIX FOR A POSSIBLE GASKET PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK THAT THE COMPANY NEEDS TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS INSTEAD, IF THEY ARE THE FAULTY PART. HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED THE NUMBER THAT GM SUPPLIED THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE GASKET AND THAT IF WE DID NOT HAVE THE REPAIR DONE AS STATED IN THEIR LETTER AND THE GASKET SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD WAS OVER, WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE FULL COST OF THE REPAIRS. IT APPEARS THAT THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT NHTSA NEEDS TO CHECK INTO AS A POTENTIAL RECALL FOR ALL OF THE CARS WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE SOLD THROUGH GM AND PROVIDE THE CUSTOMER WITH AN ACCEPTABLE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM WITHOUT GUMMING UP THE RADIATOR ON A CAR WITH LESS THAN 7,000 MILES ON IT. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF MY OPTIONS WITH THE ABOVE PROBLEM. I MADE MY BEST EFFORT TO SOLVE IT WITH THE COMPANY AND GOT A POOR OPTION AS A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE TO TALK WITH. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR LOOKING INTO THIS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

10031089

Incident

Aug 7, 2003