2003 BUICK Park Avenue Problems & Complaints

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

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

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

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.

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

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. 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

WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. *AK

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

LAST YEAR AFTER REFUELING THE 03 BUICK RENDEZVOUS IT WOULD NOT CRANK. SINCE THEN, OCCASIONALLY IT HAS DONE THE SAME. RECENTLY, IT WON'T START AT ALL WITHOUT TAKING 30 + MINUTES OF RETRYING AND RETRYING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL LINES ,AND SAID THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE PROBLEM. AFTER SPENDING $400 FOR THAT THE CAR IS STILL NOT CRANKING.*AK

SINCE PURCHASED THE HORN DOES NOT BLOW WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE DESIGNATED SPOT ON THE STEERING WHEEL. YOU MUST 'SEARCH' FOR A SPOT TO PUSH THAT THE HORN WILL THEN BLOW. THIS IS 'HIT OR MISS'. IT MAY BLOW AND IT MAY NOT. THE DEALER HAS DONE ALL THAT HE CAN DO TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHICH IS TO PUSH ON VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SAY YOU SHOULD PUSH THERE. THE BEST HE CAN DO. I HAVE LODGED STRENUOUS COMPLAINTS WITH BUICK AND THEY ASSIGNED IT "REQUEST NUMBER 1-200878647 AND IT HAS BEEN HANDLED GENERALLY BY A MR. SEAN ARMSTRONG. MY LAST CORRESPONDENCE WITH THEM THEY SAID THEY HAD DONE ALL THEY COULD DO, WHICH SO FAR HAS BEEN NOTHING, AND FOR ME TO TAKE OTHER STEPS. I ASSUME THEY MEAN TO GO TO COURT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS 'UNDEPENDABLE' HORN FUNCTION COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY DEATH TO SOMEONE. IT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RESORT TO THE LEGAL PROCESS TO GET IT TO WORK AS IT SHOULD. BUICK HAS MANH COMPLAINTS ON THIS FUNCTION I HAVE LEARNED. YOUR EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE SHOULD PROVE MOST HELPFUL IN MY MAKING A DECISION AS TO WHAT TO DO. IF YOU CALL PERRY BUICK SERVICE MANAGER (MR. TIMOTHY PERRY) HE CAN EXPLAIN. PERRY BUICK IS OUTSTANDING AND I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR SERVICE. THEY DO NOT DESIGN THE AUTO. THIS BUICK PARK AVENUE ULTRA HAS EVERYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLY WANT IN A TODAY CAR EXCEPT A HORN THAT WILL BLOW WHEN ASKED TO BLOW. YOUR KNOWLEDGE WILL BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. KIND REGARDS, JOHN MESICK. *JB

THE HORN IS EXTREMELY HARD TO OPERATE; HAS BEEN FROM DAY ONE! I MUST TAKE EYES OFF ROAD FOR TOO LONG WHEN TRYING TO FIND RIGHT SPOT TO MAKE HORN BLOW. IT DOES NOT OPERATE AT HORN DECAL ON AIR BAG COVER, NOR AT CENTER OF COVER AS MANUAL SUGGESTS. HORN BLOWS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN DECAL AND CENTER, SOME OF THE TIME. AND WHEN I FIND THE SPOT I HAVE TO PUSH TO HARD TO MAKE IT BLOW. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF BUICK IS BOUGHT AND DRIVEN MOSTLY BY RETIRES. A LOT OF WHOM HAVE ARTHRITIC HANDS. THE HORN IS A SAFETY FEATURE AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE THIS DIFFICULT TO USE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND EACH TIME THE MAN BLOWS THE HORN AND SAYS THE AIR BAG IS THE REASON FOR THE HARD TO BLOW HORN. HE SAYS NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX PROBLEM. I BELIEVE A NEW REDESIGNED AIR BAG ASSEMBLY CAN FIX THIS SAFTEY DEFECT. BEFORE BUYING A NEW CAR AGAIN, I WILL BE SURE TO CHECK FOR EASE OF OPERATION OF HORN ASSEMBLY FIRST!!! MY 1996 OLDS 98 DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE BASICALLY THE SAME CAR.*AK

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

FRONT CENTER MOTOR MOUNT FAILED @ 66KMILES.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

MY 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE WITH LESS THAN 6000 MILES ON IT HAS HAD BRAKE FAILURE TWICE. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURED AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 10 MPH. BOTH INCIDENTS INVOLVED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITH THE PEDAL GOING CLEAR TO THE FLOOR AND NO STOPPING ACTION AT ALL. THE FIRST INCIDENT IN AUGUST 2003 RESULTED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THERE WAS NO FIRE AND NO INJURIES. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT REPORTED TODAY DID NOT RESULT IN A CRASH BUT COULD HAVE EASILY HAD I NOT THROWN THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. DEALER REPORTS HE "CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM", AND DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO FIX. ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE BETWEEN ME AND THE DEALER AS I FEEL THE CAR IS DEFINITELY UNSAFE AS IS, AND IF THERE IS "NOTHING TO FIX", THEN OBVIOUSLY THE CAR WILL REMAIN UNSAFE AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR FATALITIES NOT ONLY TO MYSELF BUT TO OTHERS. I STRONGLY URGE NHTSA GET INVOLVED BEFORE ANY LIVES OR LOST OR SERIOUS INJURIES OCCUR.

MY 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE (ULTRA) HAS LESS THAN 19,000 MILES AND TWICE HAS HAD THE BRAKES FAIL ON IT. TODAY, I AM HEARING THE FAMILIAR BRAKE FAILURE SQUEAL AND KNOW THAT MY BRAKES WILL BE FAILING AGAIN. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS CAR AND HAS GREAT DIFFICULTY STOPPING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND SHIMMIES AT LOWER SPEEDS WHEN STOPPING. *LA

AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. THE VIBRATION FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE OR BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE PROBLEM SIX TIMES. *AK DEALER STATED VEHICLE COULDN'T BE REPAIRED AND AGREED TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM THE CONSUMER. *PH *JB

TOOK CAR IN FOR ALLIGNMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT FRONT OUTER TIE ROD ENDS WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LIFETIME LUBRICATED HAD FAILED. HAD NOTICED SOME SMALL PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WHICH IS WHY I TOOK IT TO DEALER. LEARNED THAT THEY HAVE HAD OTHER CARS WITH SAME PROBLEM. A STEERING DEFECT IS SERIOUS TO ME AND I BELIEVE SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK IN TO THIS AND SEE HOW MANY CARS LIKE MINE MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT UNLESS YOU TAKE IT IN FOR AN ALLIGNMENT.