1997 Buick Park Avenue: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Oct 16, 2019 · Electrical · 92,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. While driving, the contact noticed an odor of burning plastic. The contact noticed a little smoke coming from the rear driver's side panel. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road, turned off the rear defroster, disconnected the plug, removed the rear panel, and noticed that the electrical feed and module were melted. The vehicle was taken to bay ridge chevrolet (1575 86th st, brooklyn, ny 11228, (833) 452-1829) where it was diagnosed that part number: 25623688 (red radio antenna module), the AC (delco pt1183), and the rear window all needed to be replaced due to the connection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and provided case number: 9-5585220430. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

Filed Jun 5, 2013 · Engine · 150,000 miles · FL · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. The contact stated that the vehicle began to smoke when starting the vehicle. The engine then caught on fire. The fire department was called and came to extinguish the blaze. The fire department stated that the fire was caused by an engine compartment failure. The contact did not call the manufacturer. The vehicle was neither repaired nor diagnosed. The failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Jun 13, 2011 · Fuel system · 118,402 miles · CO · 1 injury

Started to have strong odor of gasoline inside of car when engine was running. I checked to see if there was gasoline leaking from motor when I had the engine turned off without any luck. Had to keep windows rolled down because odor was so strong from the gasoline fumes. This all happened one week before I was admitted to the hospital for respiratory issues. On june 4th was admitted to hospital with respiratory problems for three days in the telemetry unit for respiratory distress. On june 10, 2011, I took the car to my mechanic and he discovered a pin hole leak in the plastic fuel rail on this car. My mechanic said this is a high pressure fuel rail and gm made this out of plastic that failed. He said the car is can not be driven that way it is and that the part need to fix the problem is not available per the gm dealers. He also told me this part may be under a recall notice and that I should check it out. He said it was a wonder the car had not caught on fire since the entire engine was covered in gasoline from the leak from the fuel rail. I contacted a buick dealership called grand auto, inc. In thornton, co and talked with the parts department and the service department. I talked with the service department manager named brian vaughn and he and the parts department said there was not a problem with this part and they refused to even listen to me concerning the issue. I looked on the federal safety agency web site and found many other people having the same problem with this same part that I have. There have been other recalls on this year and model car but gm never notified the owners about the recalls until they had class action law suits against them. I now respiratory problems issues because of this defective part.

Filed Dec 16, 2010 · Body · 129,000 miles · MA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle she heard a loud popping noise, then she noticed smoke underneath the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The dealer nor the manufacturer were informed. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were approximately 129,000.

Filed Sep 26, 2007 · Engine · 111,998 miles · OH · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue ultra. While driving 25 MPH, the vehicle began smoking under the hood and caught fire. The fire department extinguished the blaze and provided a fire report. The police arrived, however, the contact did not know if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they were unable to determine the cause of failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The powertrain was unknown. The current mileage was 125,998 and failure mileage was 111,998.

Filed Feb 10, 2006 · Engine · 160,862 miles · AR · fire

On starting engine, intake manifold exploded violently and engine caught fire.

Filed Mar 28, 2005 · Airbags · 76,000 miles · GA · crash · fire

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. *jb 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. *bf

Filed Jan 21, 2005 · Engine · 140,000 miles · IA · fire

After starting the vehicle, the vehicle back fire and then caught fire in the engine compartment. The local fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Filed Aug 4, 2004 · Engine · 94,000 miles · AR · fire

While driving 30 MPH consumer noticed white smoke coming from the vehicle. It was towed to the repair shop and then to the dealer for repairs. Consumer was concerned that the intake manifold gasket was made of plastic.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Visibility · 84,000 miles · UN

My number one problem with this car is the plastic intake manifold failed under normal use. This allowed coolant to mix with the oil while I was driving on the highway in heavy traffic. The result was that the main bearings were destroyed and I had to buy a new engine. (I have the original plastic intake manifold in my possession.) the problem is that the plastic intake manifold can not withstand the heat generated by the egr valve and eventually suffers from thermal fatigue at the egr and stress relaxation around the flange of the manifold. I notified gm of the problem in writing and they offered me $800 compensation for my $5,000.00 problem. They told me that my engine was probably on its last legs. I told them that the car has been babied and offered up results of the mandatory emissions test that the car underwent not 3 weeks prior to failure as proof that the car was in good running order. (in toronto, all vehicle owners must submit their cars for emissions testing every 2 years. The car is measured for hydro carbon output, nox output, co, and co2. If the engine had been malfunctioning, it would have been qualified.) this problem would not have occurred if gm didn't switch from aluminum to plastic. Other problems with the car include a rear window defogger that caught on fire, - 3'rd alternator, 2nd battery , a security system that sounds while driving down the street, water in the trunk (several attempt to repair, ended up drilling a hole in the trunk), failed AC compressor, failed heated seat, several instrument control light bulbs have burned out and can not be replaced, you have to replace the entire instrument. The rear brake rotors that warp every 35,000 km. - fuel gauge that doesn't work below a quarter tank. If you would like copies of correspondence sent to gm, let me know. Regards doug webb 13 brumell avenue toronto, ontario m6s 4g3 [email protected] 905‑238‑0007 ex. 2624 (daytime)

Filed Jan 17, 2002 · Fuel system · MS · fire

Insured tried to crank the vehicle when immediately it popped and caught on fire. Insured had noticed the smell of gas, but repair shop could not locate cause. Check for possible loss with the fuel injections, claim 24-5198-330.

Filed Jan 17, 2002 · Engine · TX · fire

When vehicle was started, there was an explosion and vehicle was on fire, claim 53-c849-836.