1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE Complaints

I HAVE A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE WITH 103,000 MILES. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN APRIL OF 1997. AFTER 10 MONTHS AND 16,000 MILES I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSIMISSION SHIFTING HARD AFTER THE CAR GOT WARMED UP. IF I WOULD STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR 15 SECONDS AND RESTART IT SHIFT SMOOTH FOR SEVERAL STOPS AND THEN START SHIFTING HARD AGAIN. I TOOK IT INTO A BUICK GARAGE AND THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 10 DAYS AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. FINALLY THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. AT 90,000 MILES THE SAME PROBLEM REOCCURED. IT DIDN'T DO IT THAT OFTEN TO BEGIN WITH BUT NOW ONE YEAR LATER IT DOES IT ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AFTER IT GET COMPLETELY WARMED UP. GIVEN IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO MY CAR IT WOULD APPEAR THERE IS A DEFECT HERE THAT BUICK SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I HAVE LOOKED OVER YOU SIGHT AND FOUND NO RECALLS FOR THE TYPE OF PROBLEM. ARE THERE ANY OUT THERE THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF? WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? MEL RUTLIN

THE VEHICLES' PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT FROM SHOULDER RETRACTOR. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

WHILE DRIVNG AT LOW SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL BINDS MAKING WHEEL HARD TO TURN. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

PROBLEMS WITH STARTING UP VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION. MR CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER GETTING GAS AT A FULL SERVICE GAS STATION. WHEN SHE TRIED THE IGNITION THE AIR BAG EXPLODED. SHE SUBSTAINED SWELLING TO BOTH ARMS AND HER RIGHT HAND. EVEN TODAY SHE'S TAKING PHYSICAL THERAPY AND HAS NERVE DAMAGE TO RIGHT ARM AND SHOULDER PAIN. PH 09-DEC-2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE PARKED WITH THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY JUMPED INTO REVERESE RESULTING IN A COLLISION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS CRACKED, CAUSING ENGINE TO FALL ON ONE SIDE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *YH

VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

AT 70 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN A LOT, THEN STALLED. TOWED TO DEALER, ANTIFREEZE FLOODED ENGINE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE.*AK. CONSUMER WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD BY AN 18 WHEELER BECAUSE VEHICLE HAD STARTED SLOWING AND CONSUMER COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO RESPOND. LOSS OF STEERING ACCOMPANIED THE SUDDEN DECELLERATION. *JG

DEFROSTER VENTS FOR WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY, THIS CAUSES DRIVER TO HAVE POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING.*AK DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, CONSUMER STATES ON ONE OCCASION THE HEAT CONTROL FAILED COMPLETELY, AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTING THE HEAT WORKED. *SLC

CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TRYIED TO STOP VEHICLE QUICKLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED AND THEN THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHEN APPLIED, OWNER CHECKED BRAKE PADS, AND FOUND THEM IN GOOD CONDITION, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAKES LOCK-UP ON ICE AND THE CAR IS SLIDING. *JG *AK