2004 Buick Park Avenue

Head lights automatically shut off while driving at night: 1) The vehicle senses it is after dusk and automatically turns on headlights while starting the engine (Manual head light switch is in off position). 2) Driver therefore doesn't use manual switch to turn on head lights and proceeds to drive. 3) Approximately 10 minutes later, while driving in the dark, the vehicle automatically turns off the head lights resulting in a dangerous dark situation where driver can not see nor can the vehicle be seen by others. 4) The surprised driver must pull on the manual head light switch to regain head lights. 5) This may potentially happen any and every time the car is started after dusk, especially by a driver not familiar with the vehicle or issue.

NHTSA ID

11537840

Incident

Aug 11, 2004

DRIVER SIDE HEATED REAR VIEW MIRROR LOST CLARITY AND THE VIEW IS MINIMAL WITH NO VISION WHEN IT IS DARK. THIS IS FORTH BUICK PARK AVE TO DO THIS . 1997. 2000 2003 2004 DEALER WANTS $545.00 FOR THE GLASS ALONE.

NHTSA ID

10930323

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

125,300 mi

SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10636991

Incident

Sep 7, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT THEN THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND STEAM STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS THE HEATER HOSE FITTING THAT HAD FAILED. ACCORDING TO MOST DEALERSHIPS THIS IS BECOMING A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE COOLANT SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632680

Incident

Jan 14, 2014

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN FLUID LEAKING FROM THE WHEELS INTERMITTENTLY. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A TIRE SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10616021

Incident

May 20, 2011

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE AFTERNOON OF FEBRUARY 14 MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING FROM INDIANA ON I-70 EAST TOWARDS DAYTON, OHIO. AS WE WERE DRIVING WE NOTICED HOW THE SNOW STORM WE THOUGHT WE WERE LEAVING BEHIND IN INDIANA SEEMED TO BE EVER WITH US. ABOUT 3 P.M. IN THE AFTERNOON I, THE DRIVER, SMELLED A FAINT ELECTRICAL ODOR. HAVING HAD THAT EXPERIENCE BEFORE WITH NO CONSEQUENCE I THOUGHT I MIGHT JUST BE MISTAKEN OR SMELLED THE ODOR FROM ANOTHER CAR. ABOUT THE SAME TIME, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHETHER IT WAS JUST BEFORE OR JUST AFTER THIS, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH IT HAS DONE INTERMITTENTLY IN THE RECENT PAST WITH NO CONSEQUENCE. JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER, HOWEVER, THE RADIO CEASED TO OPERATE. SINCE OUR AM CAPABILITY HAD VANISHED ALMOST A YEAR AGO, WE BOTH TOOK NOTE OF THIS OBVIOUS INTERRUPTION. FOR THE NEXT FEW MOMENTS WE WERE DISTRACTED BY NOT HAVING RADIO, BUT FIDDLED WITH THE DIAL, AND SOON HAD A SIGNAL RETURN FOR JUST A BRIEF MOMENT THEN IT WENT SILENT AGAIN. AT ABOUT THAT SAME MOMENT I AGAIN DETECTED A WHIFF OF ELECTRICAL ODOR. EARLIER, SINCE THE REAR WINDOW WAS FREE OF SNOW, I HAD TURNED OFF THE DEFROSTER. BUT, SCANNING THE MIRRORS, I WAS SURPRISED TO DISCOVER A TINY FLAME IN THE REAR WINDOW. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR, AND IN THE UPPER CORNER OF THE REAR WINDOW, THERE WAS A CIGARETTE LIGHTER SIZE FLAME. OBVIOUSLY AMAZED AND SURPRISED, I TOLD MY WIFE WHAT I SAW AND QUICKLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE SO I COULD PULL OVER. AFTER STOPPING AND OPENING THE PASSENGER DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, I SWATTED INSTINCTIVELY AT THE FLAME WITH MY LEFT HAND, HOPING THAT SUCH A MOTION WOULD DOUSE THE FLAME. THAT ONLY SUCCEEDED IN INJURING MY HAND IN WHAT LATER TURNED OUT TO BE A 2ND DEGREE BURN. THE CAR WAS EVENTUALLY CONSUMED BY FIRE EXCEPT THE FRONT FENDERS & TIRES - TOTALLED BUICK DID NOT ATTEND TO MY CASE BECAUSE I NO LONGER OWNED THE CAR WHEN I CALLED THEM {CASE # 711288559106]. *JS

NHTSA ID

10608583

Incident

Feb 14, 2014

Mileage

219,000 mi

HAD THE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER ON WHILE DRIVING HOME AT 45 MPH WHICH IS JUST A 15 MINUTE RIDE AND WHEN I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY, SMOKE WAS FILING THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I POPPED THE HOOD AND LOOKED FOR DAMAGE AND DID NOT FIND ANY. CLOSED THE HOOD AND NOTICE THE REAR (DRIVER SIDE) PASSENGER SEAT ON FIRE. I RAN IN THE HOUSE AND GOT THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. UNFORTUNATELY THE INSURER DEEMED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10452907

Incident

Mar 10, 2012

Mileage

67,501 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFILLING THE FUEL TANK, HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD READ EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10429085

Incident

May 7, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.

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 about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.