NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Buick Park Avenue Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2002 Buick Park Avenue has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 32 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 2002 Buick Park Avenue, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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

2002 Buick Park Avenue owner complaints

Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Buick Park Avenue, describing incidents dated December 3, 2001 to January 2, 2024.

Most-cited components

Engine 10 complaints
Electrical System 7 complaints
Air Bags 2 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints
Seats 2 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints

Of the 32 complaints on file, 3 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 32 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11591425 · Filed May 29, 2024
Rust got to the back end of this car it is completely detached this car is not safe in any shale or form. The backend could fall apart at any moment and completely make the tires and everything else fall right off. It has only been inspected by me and I am 100%sure it is rusted through and through…
ODI #11404896 · Filed March 25, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ODI #11044137 · Filed November 7, 2017
MY CAR STARTED SMOKING BY THE MANIFOLD GASKETS UPON ME STARTING IT..I LEFT IT PARKED IN DRIVEWAY APPOX 2 -3 WEEKS , WHILE I DROVE MY 2ND VEHICLE...THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAD THIS PROBLEM WHENEVER MY VEHICLE SITS 2- 4 WEEKS ...THIS DO NOT MAKE SENSE TO MY CUS IT HAD NO PROBLEMS BEFORE I PARKED…

Read all 32 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 Buick Park Avenue in 2 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 EA07-008: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
Closed May 1, 2008
- Recall 08V-118
- Recall 09V-116
Engineering Analysis EA02-030: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
Closed March 9, 2004
- Recall 04V-090

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

GM/EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE

NHTSA #02V328000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages — Trunk Lid — Lock · NHTSA notice

Reported December 9, 2002 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 43,980 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 02060 · Owners notified December 19, 2002 · Vehicles built February 1, 2002 – June 28, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE MAY BE INSTALLED OR FORCED OUT OF THE PROPER POSITION.

Safety consequence

IF THE CABLE IS OUT OF THE PROPER POSITION, IT COULD INCREASE THE FORCE REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE AND A PERSON TRAPPED IN THE TRUNK MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE TRUNK LATCH USING THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL SECURE THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE CABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE OPERATES PROPERLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 19, 2002. 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.

Notes

RECALL NO. 02060.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

2002 Buick Park Avenue 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

2 investigations

32 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Buick Park Avenue.

Electrical System; Structure; Forward Collision Avoidance

ODI #11591425

Incident: January 2, 2024 · Filed: May 29, 2024

Rust got to the back end of this car it is completely detached this car is not safe in any shale or form. The backend could fall apart at any moment and completely make the tires and everything else fall right off. It has only been inspected by me and I am 100%sure it is rusted through and through. Just don't wanna see someone get hurt. The car vibrates on the highway.

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #11404896

Incident: March 22, 2021 · Filed: March 25, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Engine

ODI #11044137

Incident: October 22, 2017 · Filed: November 7, 2017

MY CAR STARTED SMOKING BY THE MANIFOLD GASKETS UPON ME STARTING IT..I LEFT IT PARKED IN DRIVEWAY APPOX 2 -3 WEEKS , WHILE I DROVE MY 2ND VEHICLE...THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAD THIS PROBLEM WHENEVER MY VEHICLE SITS 2- 4 WEEKS ...THIS DO NOT MAKE SENSE TO MY CUS IT HAD NO PROBLEMS BEFORE I PARKED IT..ITS OBVIOUS I CAN'T DRIVE 2 VEHICLES AT THE SAME TIME HOWEVER EVERYTIME IT ITS FOR 2-4 WEEKS I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD GASKET EITHER..THIIS HAVE HAPPEN TO ME AND A FEW OF MY NEIGHBORS AS WELL..

Electrical System

ODI #10995122

Fire

Incident: June 13, 2017 · Filed: June 14, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CHIME TWICE AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (RICHIE'S AUTO REPAIR IN CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE AND A COIL WERE DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY CHRISTI ANSON CHEVROLET (9700 INDIANAPOLIS BOULEVARD HIGHLAND, INDIANA) FOR THE SAME FAILURE BACK ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 AND DECEMBER 15, 2012. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

Steering; Air Bags

ODI #10764694

Crash 1 injury

Incident: July 16, 2015 · Filed: September 17, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MOVE INDEPENDENTLY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND BRUISES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Engine

ODI #10679507

Incident: January 28, 2015 · Filed: January 28, 2015

I HAVE BEEN SMELLING OIL BURNING SMELL WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR FOR A WHILE. TODAY I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME IT'S "UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD/COOLANT LEAK. HE FOUND RECALLS ON PREVIOUS YEARS. HE ADVISED ME TO TALK TO GM. GM DIDN'T FIND ANY RECALL ON MY VIN AND TOLD ME I CAN'T BE COVERED. HOWEVER I FOUND MANY COMPLAINS BY OWNERS OF OTHER MODELS AND YEARS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT 2002 MODELS WERE NOT REPORTED TO BE COVERED BY A RECALL. GM CONNECTED ME TO A BUICK DEALER IN MY AREA. THE PERSON WHO I SPOKE WITH WAS VERY RUDE AND UNCOOPERATIVE. *TR

Air Bags

ODI #10661979

Crash 1 injury

Incident: May 4, 2005 · Filed: December 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SWERVED AND CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POST. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CUT ON THE EYEBROW, LIP AND SEVERAL BROKEN TEETH DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE AIR BAG WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,127.

Power Train; Engine

ODI #10593446

Incident: September 15, 2012 · Filed: May 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. DR

Engine

ODI #10584313

Incident: March 9, 2011 · Filed: April 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY REGAINED POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Engine

ODI #10516264

Incident: June 10, 2013 · Filed: June 11, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER FOUND A LEAK IN THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET. THE UPPER INTAKE WAS FOUND TO BE DEFORMED AND CAUSED A COOLING FLUID LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Other Buick Park Avenue model years

Check your 2002 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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