Buick Park Avenue engine failure problems

Filed Dec 27, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 65,000 miles · CA

Sudden engine failure. I own a 99 buick park avenue ultra that has about 65,000 miles on it and is well maintained. The car is only utilized about 6 months out of the year since we are snow birds having returned from the east 2 months ago. Last evening as I drove north and up one of the long hills on the toll rd 73 in orange county, ca I experienced the sudden and total loss of engine power while traveling between 65 and 70 MPH. All electrical systems, headlights, dash lights etc stayed on and appeared normal. Fortunately the traffic was such that I was able to pull over to the side of the road, stop and turn on my hazard warning lights. I sat for a moment and then tried to restart the engine. The cranking appeared normal and the engine immediately started and the engine parameters, temperature, volts, etc appeared normal. I was surprised to say least but we decided to start moving again and proceeded to drive pretty much at normal speeds without a hiccup the 20 miles left to get home staying in the rh lanes for the most part. Getting back into the fast moving stream of traffic was somewhat hazardous in and of itself. Prior to this sudden failure there was no warning or change in performance. The only caveat to that is that it seems lately there has been a minor but noticeable sag or hesitation when starting to accelerate while in drive and at highway speeds.

Filed Feb 12, 2009 · Engine · 101,500 miles · NY

My 1999 park avenue suddenly started to run ruff, causing me to take the vehicle to a gm dealer who replaced the spark plugs and wires, as well as two ignition coils. He stated that the plugs had indication of burns that are attributed to anti freeze coming in contact with the plugs. During the repair he also indicated that he noticed anti freeze on the outside of the engine in the area of the plenum. The repairman stated that this is a common problem with the 3800 motor, that the plenum leaks causing associated problems due to the anti freeze coming in contact with engine components. He also stated that this problem can lead to engine failure if not corrected by replacement of the plenum and the intake gasket.

Filed Sep 2, 2008 · Body, Engine · 140,000 miles · MI

My vehicle is a 1997 buick park ave with 140,000 miles. I'm the second owner. My in-laws were the original owners. I got the vehicle from them in 1999 with approximately 9000 miles on the vehicle. Therefore, I know the complete car care history of this vehicle. Yesterday, september 1, 2008 my granddaughter was driving this car and she lost control of the vehicle due to lost of steering capabilities. No one was injured nor body damage due to her low speed when this incident occurred. The tow truck operator indicated that the engine cradle split into pieces due to rust and this caused the steering to fail since the steering rack is mounted to this engine cradle. The rust through of this the engine cradle (or engine frame) was confirmed by the repair shop today, september 2, 2008. The repair shop indicated that the 1997 buick park ave's had a steel engine cradle and that the moisture and salt gets caught within this box frame due to it's position directly behind the wheel wells. The repair shop indicated that 1998 park ave's( and after) have aluminum engine cradles but that the 1998 part will not fit the 1997 buick park ave. The only repair is to find another used engine cradle from a 1997 buick park ave which costs approximately $400 to $500 just for the used part. The other alternative is to buy a new engine cradle from a gm dealership for approximately $1200 to $1400. It seems to me that this engine cradle is a very critical part of the frame of the car and should not rust through within 10 years. All of the steering controls are mounted to this part and when this engine cradle fails all steering capabilities are lost. Please review this web site for the same part failure by other 1997 buick park ave owners (http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/1997_buick_park_avenue_comments_and_complaints_c42-256-1997-312-1.html.

Filed Aug 31, 2007 · Engine · TN

Greetings, I procured a car from the twin city buick dealership on 3046 airport highway [alcoa tn 37701] to purchase a nice used car for my son. The salesman, was nice enough to show me / steer me in the direction of a 1998 buick park ave with 30k original miles. We ran a background check on the miles and car history report and with a handshake called the deal done. My son used the car for one year and put about 10k miles on the vehicle he noticed that the temperature gauge was getting a little warmer than normal. The car was checked out at clifton buick dealership in rockwood tennessee my son was at summer camp in rockwood tennessee as a boy scout leader for the last two summers and it was discovered that the plenum gasket device was defective. In addition, anti-freeze was discovered leaking into the engine as well. The bill to get ben's car back on the road was in $568.06 about two weeks later the engine light came back on and I had to go back to the dealership. It was a faulty sensor discovered and most likely attributed to the anti-freeze leaking through the tailpipe as was suggested by the dealer. This cost was $315.66. Finally, about a week goes by and now the oil light came on. Again we are at the dealer and discovered it was not the anti-freeze but damage to the engine from the plenum issue. The cost to trouble-shoot the car was $82.60. Additional detail provided by the dealer is $3,360.00 to replace the engine with a used engine that has 68k miles and 1 year warranty or $4,453.00 to replace the engine with a rebuilt one that has a 3 year 100k mile warranty. The dealership recommended the rebuilt one. *jb updated 12/12/07

Filed Mar 14, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · FL

1997 park avenue has difficulties with the electrical system. Vehicle's engine blew up at 89,000 miles because the intake manifold leaked engine coolant into the engine and caused it to seize. *ts in seven years the consumer had to replace the vehicle's battery five times. ***nar***

Filed Mar 2, 2006 · Engine · 71,967 miles · NC

Dt*: the contact stated in may 2003 the vehicle was hard to start at times. The dealership determined the plenum on the upper intake manifold was cracked. The dealership replaced the upper intake manifold. Two weeks ago on 2-4-06 the vehicle shut down while driving 65-70 MPH. The vehicle was restarted and driven home. The contact took the vehicle to the dealership on 2-6-06 where the dealership determined the plenum on the intake manifold was cracked again. Coolant had seeped into the engine resulting in engine failure. The engine was replaced.

Filed Oct 4, 2004 · Engine · 79,850 miles · AR

No engine failure yet....I am consuming almost as much antifreeze as I am gasoline. Just kidding, but in less than 1000 miles I have used 11/2 gallons of dexcool antifreeze. I can find no leakage on my garage floor, but it sure is going somewhere. Am I in eminent danger of engine failure?????

Filed Sep 13, 2004 · Body, Electrical · 581 miles · TX

Consumer concerned that auto safety data won't be released to the public. *nm the consumer believed that the public had the right to know about defects regarding all vehicles. The consumer purchased a vehicle which had numerous problems, such as a molding rear door, a broken door handle and a new engine and fuel pressure regulator was needed. After the consumer was told the fuel pressure regulator needed to be replaced, he sold the vehicle and another couple endured problems such as an ongoing problem with the battery dying. The other couple was told in jan 2004 the regulator had been recalled.

Filed Feb 24, 2004 · Engine · 64,244 miles · WV

While enroute home from vacation low coolant warning light came on. Within a few miles the engine temperature gauge went to hot. I was able to limp back a mile or so to a chevrolet dealer I had passed. The intake manifold gasket had failed, costing $593 to replace along with the spark plugs, oil and filter. However, upon returning home, I opened the oil filler cap to find a glob of water contaminated oil inside. Now even short trips result in water droplets on the underside of the oil filler cap. Also, the engine idle is down about 100 RPM, it doesn't sound or run as smoothly as beore and there's a slightly detectable metallic knock from the engine. I believe the plastic intake manifold has also failed and should have been replaced. As a result of the defective manifold and gasket design, a $34,000 vehicle has a sick engine at only 64,000 miles. The mechanic that replaced the gasket said he had only worked at the dealership for three weeks, but replacing these intake manifold gaskets had been a continuous job. The service manager said I was lucky, because another customer had seized the starter and broken the flywheel trying to jump start her car full of coolant from a failed intake gasket.*ak this problem with the intake manifold and gasket design is a manufacturer's defect that should be corrected by gm and not borne by the customer. I've also experienced most of the other characteristic failures with this car such as, warped brake rotors, failed ignition control module, failed shoulder belt retractor, broken ash tray door latch, shudder in steering wheel while turning at low speed, suspension vibration due to defective bushings, etc. After 26 years of gm ownership loyalty, I'm calling it quits.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Transmission · 30,000 miles · AZ

Transmission started to jump into od. Vibration at different speeds. Replaced tranny with gm rebuilt.after 700 miles problem came back (vibration only) same problem but now has metal to metal grinding when making left turn and accelerating. Replaced engine mounts. They were cracked. Prior to this dealer said it was the solinoid, repalced. They only made this tranny in 1997