NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Buick Park Avenue Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 Buick Park Avenue has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 246 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Buick dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Buick Park Avenue. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1998 Buick Park Avenue owner complaints

Owners have filed 246 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Buick Park Avenue, describing incidents dated November 1, 1997 to October 25, 2017.

Most-cited components

Engine 98 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 32 complaints
Seat Belts 30 complaints
Electrical System 25 complaints
Service Brakes 15 complaints
Steering 12 complaints

Of the 246 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 29 a fire; across all 246 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11039570 · Filed October 25, 2017
TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVED POST CARD FOR AIRBAG RECALL. I CALLED THE 888 NUMBER & WENT ON THE INTERNET AS DIRECTED. NO ONE CAN IDENTIFY MY VEHICLE. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. CALL DORIS AT 1-575-208-0154 WHERE DO I GO FOR THIS RECALL LIVE IN ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO I'M AFRAID SOMETHING TERRIBLE WILL HAPPEN.
ODI #10837084 · Filed February 19, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND BECAME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED…
ODI #10763105 · Filed September 11, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT PROPERLY RETRACTING AND DETRACTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN…

Read all 246 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1998 Buick Park Avenue in 5 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA02-030: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
Closed March 9, 2004
- Recall 04V-090
Recall Query RQ03-001: POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
Closed September 15, 2003
Preliminary Evaluation PE02-050: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
Closed October 22, 2002
Engineering Analysis EA00-002: FRONT SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTION
Closed May 2, 2000
- Recall 00V-117
Preliminary Evaluation PE99-056: FRONT SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTION
Closed January 6, 2000

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

GM/FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR

NHTSA #04V090000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery · NHTSA notice

Reported February 24, 2004 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 910,873 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 03054B · Owners notified June 30, 2004 · Vehicles built March 1, 1997 – August 31, 1998 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.

Safety consequence

THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Notes

GM RECALL NO. 03054B.SEE CAMPAIGN 03V-473 FOR ADDITIONAL UNITS.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

GM/SHOULDER BELTS

NHTSA #00V117000 · Seat Belts — Front — Webbing · NHTSA notice

Reported April 18, 2000 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 77,952 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 00039 · Owners notified August 31, 2000 · Vehicles built April 1, 1996 – October 31, 1997 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELTS THAT MAY TWIST, ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR.

Safety consequence

WHEN THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING BECOMES JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR, THE BELT MAY BE UNUSABLE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF UPDATED FRONT SHOULDER BELT BEZELS AND WHERE NECESSARY, INSTALL NEW FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELT OPENING BEZEL KITS.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 31, 2000.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Buick Park Avenue. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

246 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Buick Park Avenue.

Air Bags

ODI #11039570

Incident: October 25, 2017 · Filed: October 25, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVED POST CARD FOR AIRBAG RECALL. I CALLED THE 888 NUMBER & WENT ON THE INTERNET AS DIRECTED. NO ONE CAN IDENTIFY MY VEHICLE. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. CALL DORIS AT 1-575-208-0154 WHERE DO I GO FOR THIS RECALL LIVE IN ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO I'M AFRAID SOMETHING TERRIBLE WILL HAPPEN.

Seat Belts

ODI #10837084

Incident: June 24, 2015 · Filed: February 19, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND BECAME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V117000 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. ...UPDATED 09/14/16 *BF CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT SEAT BELT FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE IS ENTIRELY CONSISTENT WITH THE ATTACHED RECALL NOTICE YET GM ASSERTS THAT THIS RECALL DOESN'T APPLY TO VEHICLES VIN NUMBER. UPDATED 5/30/18*JB

Seat Belts

ODI #10763105

Incident: August 4, 2014 · Filed: September 11, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT PROPERLY RETRACTING AND DETRACTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V117000 (SEAT BELTS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Steering; Suspension; Wheels

ODI #10748582

Incident: July 9, 2015 · Filed: August 13, 2015

DRIVING DOWN THE HIWAY, HAD JUST PASSED A SEMI; THANK GOODNESS IT WAS AFTER THAT THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW MAKING THE CAR QUITE DIFFICULT TO STEER. TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE; HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT TIRES REPLACED AND INSTRUCTED TO BRING IT BACK THE WEEK AFTER FOR AN ALIGNMENT. AT THAT TIME I DISCOVERED THAT BOTH NEW FRONT TIRES WERE ALREADY RUINED DUE TO THE CRADLE/FRAME ASSEMBLY WHICH WAS RUSTED OUT. THIS COST ME $863. YESTERDAY - 08/12/2015 THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WENT OUT. UPON MY INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE. I WAS TOLD IT HAD BEEN FIXED.. ALTHO THERE WASN'T ANY CONCRETE PROOF GIVEN TO ME THAT IT HAD AS THE DEALERSHIP I CALLED WAS NOT THE DEALERSHIP THAT SAID THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE JUST WEEKS AFTER SPENDING $863 TO HAVE ONE ISSUE RESOLVED. I FIND IT PARTICULARLY APPALLING THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO HELP RESOLVE ANY OF THESE ISSUES.

Seat Belts

ODI #10610816

Incident: September 1, 1999 · Filed: July 15, 2014

I BROUGHT THE RECALL PRINT OUT FROM THE NHTSA # 00V117000 AND THE DEALER SAID GM DOESN'T LIST MY VEHICLE, BUT WHEN YOU RUN THE VIN MY VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I'VE HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FOR YEARS AND IT NEED TO BE FIXED. THE LOCAL GM DEALER IN THE HOUGHTON LAKE, MICHIGAN AREA IS: NESTER CHEVROLET. NESTER CHEVROLET PHONE NUMBER IS: 989-422-5126. MY PASSENGERS CAN'T GET THE SEAT BELT TO FASTEN BECAUSE THE RETRACTOR WON'T EXTEND FAR ENOUGH TO BUCKLE THE BELT. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE SEAT BELT LAW IN MICHIGAN NOT TO WEAR A SEAT BELT. I NEED YOUR HELP! *TR

Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10508673

Incident: January 9, 2013 · Filed: April 18, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10488706

Fire

Incident: December 11, 2012 · Filed: December 13, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE HEATER AND REAR DEFROSTER WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT THEN SMELLED A BURNING ODOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMALL FLAMES EMITTING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW PANEL. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND DISCONNECTED THE DEFROSTER WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE AND WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Structure

ODI #10462609

Incident: October 18, 2011 · Filed: June 21, 2012

SO THERE HAS BEEN MANY TIME WERE M CAR DOORS HAVE WENT OUT AND WHEN I SAY OUT I MEAN TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN ONLY OPEN FROM THE INSIDE NOW I HAVE GONE OUT AND PAID TO HAVE THEM FIXED NOW I AT THE POINT WHERE I FEEL SOMETHING ELSE IS UP. I AM DOWN TO ONE DOOR AND THAT IS A BACK ONE SO YOU SEE THE PROBLEM. *TT

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10448378

Incident: November 1, 2011 · Filed: February 17, 2012

FUEL PRESSURE IS INCORRECT, STALLING, HIGH AND LOW RPMS, AT STOP SIGN, INCLUDING AND NOT LIMITED TO START, DRIVING, ETC. PLEASE HELP!. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling; Power Train

ODI #10434115

Incident: October 26, 2011 · Filed: November 3, 2011

LOSS OF COOLANT INTERNALLY TO COMBUSTION/COMPRESSION CHAMBERS, HYDRO LOCKED ENGINE, THICK SMOKE FROM ENGINE EXHAUST, COOLANT MIXING INTO OIL, UNSTABLE TEMPERATURE REQUIRING VEHICLE STOPPAGE TO AVOID OVERHEATING/FIRE, CAR WILL NOT RUN. INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE AND HEAD GASKET DAMAGE. *TR

Other Buick Park Avenue model years

Check your 1998 Buick Park Avenue VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Buick Park Avenue at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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