1997 Buick Park Avenue problems
Owners have filed 355 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Buick Park Avenue. Seat belts is the most reported problem area, at 16% of complaints. After that come engine (16%) and brakes (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 355 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Seat belts 16% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 5 and 40
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 90,000 miles 74 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 4 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 8 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 14 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 21 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 12 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 9 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 74 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 90,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 5 complaints mention a crash; 40 complaints mention a fire; 11 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 13 model years of the Buick Park Avenue with enough data (191 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owned a 1997 buick park avenue. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle began accelerating without driver intent. He then attempted to depress the brakes and there was a slight decrease in speed; however, the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact also heard an unusually loud popping sound and the vehicle began to accelerate at a higher rate of speed.
While driving 45 MPH the consumer hit a deer. The dual air bag deployed upon impact, however the driver side caught fire. No injuries reported. As a result the vehicle was totaled. Please provide additional information. Fire seemed to be coming from in the steering column. When the fire truck did arrive flames had burnt the leather seat, melted the steering column and burnt the windshield visor.
Unspecified: road debris hits airbag sensor, causing false deployment of air bags, resulting in leg injuries/hearing loss.
Front sub frame of 1997 buick park avenue rotted and collapsed. Fortunately it happened when backing out of a parking space. Axel assembly pulled out of socket. Pictures were taken at the seen and pictures and video at the dealer next day. Rear sub frame appears to be fine. This is a safety issue. The main frame of a $40,000 plus vehicle should not fail in less than 10 years? 100,000 miles. Pictures show much detail of rot. GM 's best offer was to replace subframe part only.
In 10 degree weather in the midwest, started the 1997 park avenue ultra to warm up. Put the rear defrost on, on my way to work about 20 minutes after he initial start of the vehicle, I began to smell something relating to burning electrical or electrical components. Upon further investigation, I found the module in the drivers side "c" pillar next to the rear window appeared to be melting/burning.