Check a VIN

1998 Buick Park Avenue problems

The most common problem on the 1998 Buick Park Avenue is engine and cooling, typically around 77,327 miles. It has 7.7 times the complaints of a typical Park Avenue model year.

Typical year7.7x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
246
Recalls
2
Service bulletins
86
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
19-20mpg

The worst 1998 Buick Park Avenue problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Buick Park Avenue

Fire or smoke 23Stalling 17Engine failure 13Overheating 11Won't start 10Check engine light 9Seat belt 7Door locks 5Power steering loss 5

Recalls 2

Fuel system, gasoline: deliveryReported February 24, 2004 · 910,873 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.
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.

Recall number 04V090000 · Recall details

Seat belts: front: webbingReported April 18, 2000 · 77,952 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
When the shoulder belt webbing becomes jammed in the retractor, the belt may be unusable.
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.

Recall number 00V117000 · Recall details

See all 2 recalls for the 1998 Buick Park Avenue

Defect investigations

Power rack and pinion steering failureOpened January 2, 2003, closed September 15, 2003

Gm conducted a safety recall (the federal safety agency # 02v286) to address a steering defect pertaining to a lower pinion bearing (lpb) within the rack and pinion steering gear (r&p). The recall covered 1,159,156 model year 1997-1998 pontiac grand prix vehicles built between march 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, 1996-1998 pontiac trans sport, chevrolet lumina apv, chevrolet venture, oldsmobile silhouette minivans, and chevrolet cavalier and pontiac sunfire sedans built between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997.odi opened this rq after receiving reports that other vehicles were exhibiting the same symptoms as the recalled vehicles.based on odi's review of technical and complaint data collected during the rq, the w-cars are associated with either a higher steering complaint rate or a higher lpb failure rate than the other vehicles investigated under the rq and are above or near the rates for the recalled vehicles.thus, odi will further examine the w-cars (1996-1997 oldsmobile cutlass supreme, 1996-1998 buick regal, chevrolet lumina, chevrolet monte carlo, 1997-1998 buick century, and 1998 oldsmobile intrigue) under a new investigation, engineering analysis (ea)03-019.

RQ03001

Engine compartment firesOpened October 22, 2002, closed March 9, 2004

Ea02-030 is closed with gmea02-030 is closed with gm?s actions in 03v‑473 and 04v‑090 recalling approximately 529,000 my 1998-99 c- and h-body vehicles equipped with defective fuel pressure regulators.these vehicles were equipped with plastic intake manifolds that are unable to contain pressures that occur in some backfire events and defective fuel pressure regulators with leaking diaphragms that can provide a source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm?s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other my 1995-2002 gm passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.

EA02030

Engine compartment firesOpened June 13, 2002, closed October 22, 2002

PE02050

Front shoulder belt malfunctionOpened January 6, 2000, closed May 2, 2000

There is no summary currently available

EA00002

Front shoulder belt malfunctionOpened September 2, 1999, closed January 6, 2000

There is no summary currently available

PE99056

Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Buick Park Avenue 86

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 86 bulletins for the 1998 Buick Park Avenue

1998 Buick Park Avenue fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.8L 6‑cylFWD16-1725-2619-20

What 1998 Buick Park Avenue owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 25, 2017 · Airbags · 137,000 miles · NM

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.

Filed Feb 19, 2016 · Seat belts · 72,000 miles · CT

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 the federal safety agency 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

Filed Sep 11, 2015 · Seat belts · 160,000 miles · NE

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 the federal safety agency campaign number: 00v117000 (seat belts). The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

Filed Aug 13, 2015 · Steering, Suspension · 143,960 miles · IA

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.

Filed Jul 15, 2014 · Seat belts · 20,000 miles · MI

I brought the recall print out from the federal safety agency # 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!

Filed Apr 18, 2013 · Engine, Fuel system · 125,000 miles · GA

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.

Filed Dec 13, 2012 · Electrical · 140,000 miles · OH · fire

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.

Filed Jun 21, 2012 · Body · WI

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.

Filed Feb 17, 2012 · Fuel system · WI

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).

Filed Nov 3, 2011 · Engine, Transmission · 65,000 miles · DC

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.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 1998 Buick Park Avenue before you buy

Compare the 1998 Buick Park Avenue

Other model years

1990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005

Questions about the 1998 Buick Park Avenue

Is the 1998 Buick Park Avenue reliable?

Owners have filed 246 complaints about the 1998 Buick Park Avenue, 7.7 times a typical Park Avenue model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1998 Buick Park Avenue?

Engine and cooling, with 98 complaints, typically around 77,327 miles. Next is fuel system (34).

How many recalls does the 1998 Buick Park Avenue have?

2 recalls, covering fuel system, gasoline and seat belts.

What year does the Buick Park Avenue have bad engine?

The Buick Park Avenue model years with the most engine complaints are 1998 (98 complaints), 1997 (47 complaints) and 1999 (43 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1998 Buick Park Avenue get?

Official estimates for the 1998 Buick Park Avenue range from 19 to 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.8L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 16-17 city and 25-26 highway.

Share your experience with the 1998 Buick Park Avenue

Tell other buyers what went wrong and what it cost. We review every report before it appears, and we never publish names, emails or VINs.

No names, contact details or links. Reports about a dealer or a person are not published.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 1998 Buick Park Avenue?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history
Is this car on a recall?Check VIN