Body complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Buick Park Avenue. The contact stated that the seat control button plastic piece prematurely fractured. The contact had to reconnect the piece with tape upon sitting in the seat due to the failure. The contact also stated that the electronic control function for locking and unlocking the doors failed to work. The door handle on the front passenger side failed to work. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000. Updated 02/23/16
Intermittently while driving all gauges go haywire. Warning lights are flashing. Also speedometer will read 18-22 MPH less than driven. Consumer used OnStar, was told problem was a blown module under dash, driver information control. Vehicle was taken to dealer 4 times, finally a wire was replaced with a heavier one. Did not correct the problem. The plastic engine balled up under the vehicle from wind resistance and failure to attach properly. Three of the doors needed adjusting due to poor quality control. The left windshield wiper makes a slap/rap noise. The driver information center (dic) malfunctions which affects all of the dash lights and gauges. Without warning all lights will flash, the tachometer/spedometer erratically bounces up and down, and the temperature and fuel gauge drops to zero. Several attempts were made to repair but with no resolution. …
My 1999 Buick Park Avenue was parked under our pole barn in front of our home. My neighbor came over to borrow my car with my permission. It was cold that day. She turned the key. The car backfire & the hood jumped. The car made a loud noise & smoke started rolling out from under the hood of my car. She popped the hood & got out of the car. By the time she got in front of the car flames were shooting out of the front of the car. She called the peru fire department who came out & pulled my car out to the driveway saving our house from burning to the ground. The got the car put out eventually but it is destroyed. Entire engine compartment is burned out. Parts of the inside are melted. The car is a total loss. We contacted Buick. They offered us $1000. For a car we were offered $3000.00 for that summer. …
The passenger car door will not open from inside or outside. Locking mechanism does not engage and door remains stuck closed. This presents a safety issue for the passenger of the car. Vehicle has been brought in for repair multiple times without any success for a permanent fix.
Two days before the incident I started having an alignment problem with the car. I had the car over a relatives house a half mile from my home, and decided to drive the car home and have it towed to the dealer from their. On the drive home, the right front control arm separated from the subframe (engine frame or cradle) at the after bracket which resulted in the right half shaft failing. This happened as I was turning into my development. The subframe was seriously corroded. I had the car towed to the dealer and the subframe and half shaft replaced with new parts. I contacted Buick customer service to complain about a major structural failure on the car. They declined to offer any reimbursement for the repair, due to the vehicles age (nine years) and mileage (134,500). …
I was driving home from town. I moved over on the street near my home to let another car pass and I felt a large bump and the front passenger side of the car dropped down. I got out thinking I had a flat tire but that was not the case. The tire was in the wheel well at a very crooked angle and sit some what on the tires edge. I was able to straighten out the wheel and limped home. The mechanic on Monday said the cradle in the front of the car rusted out and had broken. When the cradle broke so did the right axle. He has had a hard time finding a good used cradle as GM does not make new ones anymore.
Front sub frame of 1997 Buick Park Avenue rotted and collapsed. Fortunately it happened when backing out of a parking space. Axel assembly pulled out of socket. Pictures were taken at the seen and pictures and video at the dealer next day. Rear sub frame appears to be fine. This is a safety issue. The main frame of a $40,000 plus vehicle should not fail in less than 10 years? 100,000 miles. Pictures show much detail of rot. GM 's best offer was to replace subframe part only. No labor or other damage to be paid for. Photos available. Please help.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Buick Park Avenue. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle she heard a loud popping noise, then she noticed smoke underneath the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The dealer nor the manufacturer were informed. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were approximately 129,000.
Frequently asked questions
Which Buick Park Avenue years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1997 (14), 1995 (13), 1998 (10) and 1999 (9) model years. Body complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 1997.
Is there a recall for Buick Park Avenue body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for any Buick Park Avenue model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Buick Park Avenue body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 108,000 miles; 14% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frame and members (17 mentions), followed by the body › door (15).
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.