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Buick Park Avenue seat belt problems

43 of the 1,297 owner complaints about the Buick Park Avenue describe seat belt won't latch or retract, most of them for the 1997 model year.

owner complaints
43
worst model year
1997
typical mileage
71,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

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 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 Dec 16, 2011 · Seat belts · 130,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 buick park avenue. While parked, the contact attempted to extend the front driver side seat belt to but it would not extend. The front passenger side seat belt also would not extend. The failure recurred intermittently but with time, became progressively worse. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician stated that the front driver and passenger side seat belts would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. Updated 1/20/12 *cn updated 02/01/12

Filed Aug 20, 2007 · Seat belts · 90,000 miles · GA

Several years ago the front passenger seat belt ceased working on my 1997 buick park avenue. Since the car was no longer under warranty, I paid for a new seatbelt assembly and installation. Then, on august 6th (two weeks ago) 2007, the driver side seatbelt became inoperable(the seatbelt will not retract), therefore making it useless. I have been driving another vehicle until I can get this repair done.

Filed Mar 14, 2007 · Seat belts · 72,000 miles · NY

Tl* - the contact owns the 2000 buick park avenue. The contact stated that the safety belt on the front passenger's side was stuck and it will not work . The buckle of the seat belt was stuck and cannot be moved. The contact stated that the dealer from whom he purchased the vehicle went out of business. The contact stated this problem started on 03/11/2007, and continued since that date. The current and failure mileage were both 72000.*ak update 4/9

Filed Jan 26, 2006 · Seat belts · IL

1999 buick park ave front passenger seat belt became stuck in the lower retraction system. *ts a recall was issued, however the consumer's model year was not included.

Filed Jan 18, 2006 · Seat belts · IL

On 12/28/2005, the front passenger seat belt became stuck in the lower retraction system on our 1999 buick park avenue. I assume the belt became twisted as it was retracting, but I am unsure. The failure & possible consequences for this seat belt failure would be the injury and/or death of a passenger in the front left passenger seat. I called our local dealer (giuffre buick) & they said it would not be covered by the factory warranty since it is over 3 years old. To verify this statement, I contacted buick corporate directly via email & they said the same thing. I did some further research via this site & found the following info under the odi defect investigation search: the federal safety agency recall campaign number 00v117000. Although the recall is for 1997 & 1998 it did mention the same type of seat belt failures on 784 out of 55,960 vehicles on model year 1999 vehicles. I forwarded the document to michael reetz, customer relationship manager, buick customer assistance center, to which he replied - quote "thank you for contacting the buick customer assistance center. We appreciate you taking the time to write us in regards to your further research into the concern with your seat belts. Information on third party websites in not always accurate. There is no recall for the 1999 buick park avenue for your seat belt concern." I agree, there is not currently a recall for my 99' park avenue, but I feel there should be.

Filed Jan 13, 2006 · Seat belts · 44,000 miles · MN

Dt: the consumer stated there was a recall 00v117000 concerning the seat belts. The recall was completed by the dealer in 2002. But the dealer only corrected one of the front seat belts. The dealer failed to inform the consumer that only one of seat belts was repaired. In october 2005 both front seat belts failed. The driver seat belt began to retract intermittently and the passenger seat belt will not retract at all. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who refused to make any additional repairs under the recall. *jb updated

Filed Sep 19, 2005 · Seat belts · 43,000 miles · MA

Dt: the consumer noted that the seat belt jammed in the retractor while the seat belt was in use, and there was a need for movement, the seat belt simply jammed. This happened to the webbing portion of the belt. The federal safety agency recall 00v117000 was issued concerning the seat belt. This happened to the front driver's side seat belt only. The consumer purchased the vehicle used, and took it to a local buick dealer. Their records indicated that this vehicle was repaired under the recall. However, the recall repairs did not correct the problem. The consumer felt the recall repair work was never performed. The buick manufacturer was contacted. They said there was nothing they could do because the records indicated the work had been done. However, the seat belt was still a problem. The consumer purchased the used vehicle in september 2000, but consumer's notification began on august 31, 2000.

Filed Aug 22, 2005 · Seat belts · NM

Vehicle to which this report refers is a 2001 buick, park avenue ultra, 4 door, sedan. The VIN # is [xxx], with 20,724 miles. Shortly after purchase I noticed a slight separation in the drivers side seat belt latch. Since it did not pose an immediate danger I took no action to have it replaced. This month the belt became inoperative, came apart, and I had it replaced. This could pose a real danger to the driver if the there was an accident and the seat belt failed. The failed part is available. Updated 07/19/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Related recalls

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

Seat belts: front: buckle assemblyReported March 5, 1996 · 15,122 vehicles affected
What is wrong
These vehicles were assembled with one or more incorrect safety belt and/or safety belt buckle ends. This does not conform with the requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Risk
Consequence of non-compliance: if an incorrect part is used, the belt may not latch properly, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant should a vehicle crash occur.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect all front and rear safety belt latch ends and safety belt buckles for correct parts and replace any incorrect parts.

Recall number 96V044000 · Recall details

Seat belts: front: webbingReported June 6, 1990 · 51,834 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Owners manuals did not fully explain how front shoulder belt comfort feature works.
Risk
Cars would not comply with fmvss 208, and incorrect use of safety restraints could lead to personal injury to occupants if an accidentshould occur.
Remedy
Insert sticker that provides missing information in owners manuals.

Recall number 90V112000 · Recall details

Questions about the Buick Park Avenue seat belt

Which Buick Park Avenue years have seat belt won't latch or retract problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1997 (17 complaints), 1998 (7 complaints) and 1999 (7 complaints).

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