1998 Buick Park Avenue Seat Belt Problems

Which parts fail

• Front › Webbing
  8
• Front › Retractor
  7
• Front › Anchorage
  4
• Front › Buckle assembly
  2
• Rear/other
  1
• Front
  1

Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  111%
• 25k–50k
  111%
• 50k–75k
  444%
• 75k–100k
  111%
• 100k–150k
  111%
• 150k+
  111%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Buick Park Avenue owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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.

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. NHTSA 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.

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.

After buying my '98 Park Avenue, I noticed that after washing it on a couple of occasions that the paint had began to chip. I took it to a couple of paint shops and everyone said that this car should not have paint peeling and it was a defect because they could see the factory primer. My engine died without any warning. The teperature gauge didn't show that it was overheated and no smoke or steam came from under the hood. Right before the car stopped the dic showed : check coolant levels and even then it didn't beep as it should have. I have had a problem with my seat belts since purchasing this vehicle. They are continuously tangled and twisted when they cross the body. Moreover, my owner's manual has an illustration that states that my seatbelt usage is incorrect.

I brought the recall print out from the NHTSA # 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: [phone]. 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!

Consumer stated that on 11/06/03 vehicle was involved in a head on collision in which he sustained injuries. When consumer's vehicle was hit head on consumer hit the post of the windshield, bounced back and was thrown forward. He hit head on the windshield. The seat belt never held him. Consumer sustained seat belt burns across the collar bone. About 2 years ago shoulder belts were repaired due to a recall.

Dt: consumer states: passenger seat belt won't work, the seat belt will not pull out from the retractor. Had trouble with it normally, can pull on it and it will come out, but now it's stuck. Consumer adds seat belt was hard to retract and now has failed completely. There is a recall but vehicle did not qualify.

Tl contact owns a 1998 Buick Park Avenue. The passenger side seat lap belt is locked in a position and cannot be pulled out to wrap across the passenger. NHTSA campaign id number 00V117000 (seat belts:front:webbing) was referenced. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The failure mileage was 105,000.

Driver's side seat belt, shoulder harness would not extend. Several days later the passenger's side harness would not extend either. There was a recall on seat belt, but consumer's vehicle was not included.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Seat Belt complaints in other Park Avenue years