Most common 1998 Buick Park Avenue problems
Share of the 246 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Park Avenue complaints by model year
Best Park Avenue years: 2004, 2005, 2002. Years to avoid: 1998, 1997, 1999, 1995, 2000. Compare all years →
1998 Buick Park Avenue recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
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.
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.
Seat belts › Front › Webbing
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 1998 Buick Park Avenue:
Power rack and pinion steering failure
GM conducted a safety recall (NHTSA # 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…
Front shoulder belt malfunction
There is no summary currently available
Engine compartment fires
Engine compartment fires
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…
Front shoulder belt malfunction
There is no summary currently available
What 1998 Buick Park Avenue owners say
Engine & cooling all 98 →
Tl contact owns a 1998 Buick Park Avenue. Whenever the contact would start the vehicle, hhe noticed that it would turn on for several seconds and then immediately shut off. When he attempted to restart the vehicle, he heard a loud pop coming from the engine. The dealer stated that the intake manifolds needed to be replaced. On September 22, 2008, while driving 45 MPH , the vehicle would not gain speed. The contact noticed sparks coming from the rear of the vehicle and pulled to the side of the road. Flames began to appear underneath the hood. The fire department was called to the scene. The current mileage was 130,000 and failure mileage was 120,000. Updated 10/30/2008.
Turned on igniion key of 1998 Buick Park Avenue to start and heard loud bang and then noticed grey smoke at rear of hood area. Turned off key, got out and closed door, proceeded to house to call 911 and got kitchen fire extinguisher. I went back to burning car, opened hood, observed fire at side of engine next to firewall. I used fire extinguisher to get most of fire out. There was some fire under engine on ground which the extinguisher did not get out. The extinguisher was now empty so I went back to house and got baking soda from kitchen and threw it under engine to extenguish the fire under the engine. Fire department came but I had fire out by then.
Fuel & propulsion system all 34 →
I purchased 1998 Buick Park Avenue, from sanderson Lincoln-Mercury dealership, glendale, az 85301, on February 24, 2005. Subsequently, I experienced a mechanical break-down on April 30, 2005. Hence, I have discerned that there were two recalls issued on February 24, 2004, campaign number 04v0900000 and campaign number 00v17000 on April 18, 2000. I am writing because I have experienced both defects. The former campaign caused me to expend $900. For repairs for a cracked manifold and the latter was recently experience when the front seat passenger could not attach the safety seat belt because it had jammed. Please advise as to what my recourses should be? Power Buick, scottsdale, az, never advise me of a recall that is consistent with the auto's breakdown...but did charge me $887.44 for the repair costs.
Fuel pressure regulator: the fuel pressure regulator went out on my 1998 Buick Park Avenue 3800 v6 and I had it replaced on 8-19-03 at a cost of $142.79. It has come to my attention that Buick has now issued a recall on the Buick Park Avenue (NHTSA campaign #03V473000) for fuel pressure regulators and Buick has informed me that my Park Avenue is not part of this recall. I believe that my car is involved with this problem since I have had the exact problem that Buick is now involved in. I believe that if my car is involved that Buick should be held responsible for my repair and the cost that I have incurred. I have documents to support the fact that the part was replaced and I paid for the repair.
Seat belts all 32 →
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 NHTSA campaign number: 00V117000 (seat belts); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 72,000. ...updated 09/14/16 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
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 NHTSA campaign number: 00V117000 (seat belts). The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
1998 Buick Park Avenue engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl turbo supercharged | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Buick Park Avenue a good car?
Based on 246 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Park Avenue rates avoid: 5.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Park Avenue at the same age. It is one of the Park Avenue years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Buick Park Avenue?
The engine & cooling — 98 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (34) and seat belts (32).
How many recalls does the 1998 Buick Park Avenue have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1998 Buick Park Avenue, the most recent from February 24, 2004 (delivery). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Park Avenue?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2005 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998, 1997, 1999, 1995 and 2000. See the full Buick Park Avenue years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Buick Park Avenue problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 72,000 miles; 24% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.