Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Buick Park Avenue owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
While I was driving I heard a pop & the service engine light came on I went another block and the car lost power & white smoke came out of exhaust. I turned engine off & tried to restart which was unsuccessful. I contacted Buick dealer because after talking to a few people I was told that this was a common problem with GM autos. Customer representative told me to go to dealer & they would work with me on the cost of the repair. After a week of wasted time I went to a local mechanic who repaired the auto at a cost of $1,049. The mechanic informed me that this was a very common problem with this engine because of the type of parts the manufacturer uses durin g production. I am relieved that nobody was injured during this incident but if this had occured on a highway and I was not able to get off to a shoulder the situation might have had a different outcome. …
I am submitting this for my father-in-law who is 85 years old. There is a defect in GM 3800 engines (VIN k-rpo l36) at least from 1995 to 2003. GM is aware of the problem and refuses to do anything about this defect which May have the potential for causing catastrophic accidents. My father-in-law was passing another car at about 70 MPH on a two lane country road when the engine in his 1998 Buick Park Avenue locked-up. The damage to the engine was severe enough to require that the engine be replaced. The local Buick dealer stated that GM is aware of the problem with these engines (in fact, it's rather well known among auto mechanics), but has a policy of not assisting with repairs and has not recalled the engines. Fortunately there was no accident in this case, however, there is the potential for an accident to occur anytime an engine locks up at speed. …
On May 6, 2006 we were coming back to spartanburg, sc from the beach. We were about 7 miles from kingsree, sc. After leaving a service station, we started getting "check engine" messages. We went back to the service station to see what was wrong. We had no coolant. I put a gallon of coolant in and decided to go into kingstree, sc in case there was more trouble. Just as we got to kingstree, sc we stopped at another station after getting more "check engine" messages. Again, we were out of coolant and now the car would not start. A wrecker towed it to a garage. The mechanic said he was fairly certain of what the problem was because Buick had been having lots of trouble with a particular part. He then confirmed that it was the upper intake. He replaced the upper intake part with a revised part from Buick and assured us we would not have any more trouble with the coolant. …
Engine stalls and water in cylinders. Water in cylinders was corrected with a new pletium. The engine stall problem was a known problem when the vehicle was purchased. I was assured that the problem would be corrected. To date it has not been corrected.I gave up on wilkens Buick (on the 2nd return of vehicle) when they told me that I would not be given a rental but would have to pay for it myself. Agian this was a known problem to them, they are the one's that made me aware of it. Car stalls eveytime that you are coming to a stop and on occasion going down a hill and just letting up on gas pedal. This is a very heavy vehicle and at this point extremely dangerous to be on the highway, due to inability to properly control the steering when the engine dies.I currently have had the vehicle at 3 different repair facilities since 12/13/2002, and again to date the problem still presist.
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.
Dt*: the contact stated there were two problems with the vehicle. The first problem involved coolant leaking from the engine. The next morning, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop, the mechanic was able to get the vehicle started. Upon inspection the intake manifold was filled with water and the manifold was replaced. The second problem occurred when driving across a patch of ice at approximately 40 MPH the traction stability and ABS failed. The v traction control and ABS lights illuminated. The front end started to slide. The contact pulled the vehicle to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. Once the vehicle was restarted,the traction control and ABS reset themselves and were working properly. Updated 3/3/2006 -
Initiation of problem started 19 sept 2003 while on a roundtrip, tx to ca. After approximately $3,200 in repairs, ca & tx, the culprit is identified and the problem is currently fixed (30 oct 2003). The culprit is a warped upper intake manifold, which allowed coolant to leak into the cylinders (finally hydro-locking the engine). This hard-plastic, domed original GM part has about a 1-mm warp on the end nearest cylinders #1 & #2. I consider this to be a manufacturer's flaw, although the vehicle has more than 75,000 miles. The tx dealer has seen other problems like this. A GM/Buick representative does not want to consider sharing some of the repair costs. I have a thorough file on this problem. I note other complaints for this integral part of the engine. -- jack sanders, dallas.
The consumer stated that intake manifold failed, allowing coolant to get inside the engine. This cost $1200.00 to repair. The consumer called the manufacturer and spoke with a representative, who basically told him that they could not help. The consumer called the Buick dealer and was told that this was a common problem and Buick will not do anything about it. Buick service department told consumer they kept a number of them because of this problem. When the consumer attempted to start the engine, the starter housing broke. The mechanic found the engine full of coolant and traced the problem to an upper intake failure due to heat from the EGR passage eroding away the plastic manifold causing coolant to leak into the engine. The consumer requested reimbursement.
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fires
Engine complaints in other Park Avenue years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1998 Buick Park Avenue?
NHTSA has 98 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1998 Buick Park Avenue, 40% of the model year's 246 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (41 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Buick Park Avenue engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1998 Buick Park Avenue, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Buick Park Avenue engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 21 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.