1997 BUICK Park Avenue

September 29, 2012

Pep Boys Customer Relations
3111 West Allegheny Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19132

Dear Pepboys:
I am writing to submit a formal complaint to Pepboys, Inc. This complaint concerns your store location below:
Pepboys, Inc. (#1540)
1540 Moffett Road
3108 Moffett Rd, Mobile Al 36607
Phone (251) 479-9444

Service Work Order#: 2011037
Vehicle serviced: 97 Buick Park Avenue

I hate to say it, but in my opinion, this particular location is in a state of mismanagement. Employees are wondering in the customer service area watching TV, not promptly answering phones, and just being unproductive. As result of my complaint, I goggled Pepboys trying to get customer reviews on your companys overall service rating. I thought maybe Im was wrong in my assessment of Pepboys.(which I hoped would be the case). BUT the online reviews are NOT GOOD. I wish I had known this before bringing my vehicle to Pepboys for service.

I am definitely not happy with the service provided to me on Saturday, September 8, 2012.

The following is the detailed timeline for your review. The afternoon of Saturday, September 8, 2012, I was on the way from Birmingham, AL to visit my mother who was in the hospital in the Mobile, AL (Mobile Infirmary). She is recovering from a stroke. At approximately 2:30 pm, my vehicle stalled and started to run hot on I-65 South Bound near the Bay Minette/Brewton, AL area. I discovered that my serpentine belt had come off.

Having to think fast on such a HOT day, I immediately pulled the vehicle to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. I then notified a towing service so that my vehicle could be towed. The towing operator asked where I would like to have my vehicle towed. I remembered Big 10 Tires (Mobile, AL) and the many years of satisfactory service that I received in the past. However, when calling I learned that Pepboys, Inc. had assumed control of Big 10 Tires. Relying on the good experiences with Big 10 Tires, I assumed that Pepboys would have similar quality/service principles. Therefore, I asked the towing service to take my vehicle to Pepboys.

Fast forward.when I arrived at Pepboys and had my vehicle evaluated, the manager (Torian Collins) told me that my serpentine belt and tension pulley needed to be replaced. Total Cost: $526.41. However, he told that he would not be able to repair my vehicle until Monday, September 10, 2012. I said ok. I arranged for my wife (who was traveling in another vehicle) to pick me up and we continued on our trip to visit my mother and then returned to Birmingham.

On Monday, September 10, 2012, the Pepboys store manager (Anthony) contacted me late that evening (about 5pm) and told me that my vehicle had been repaired. I told him that I would have someone come by and pick the vehicle up. My sister-in-law, who lives approximately 3 miles from the store, came by and picked up the vehicle. On Saturday, September 15, 2012, My wife and I traveled from Birmingham to Mobile, AL late that night to pick up the vehicle. About 10-15 minutes after leaving my sister-in-laws house, I discovered that my temperature gauge was increasing in temperature and approaching the red zone and the vehicle began to stall very badly. I immediately turned the vehicle off and let it cool. Upon raising the hood, I discovered that there was no water in the radiator!!!!

(Realize this!!!, my wife and I were about to get ready to get back on the interstate to travel home and this was late at night, approximately 10:30 pm). Had we discovered this problem on the interstate, the situation would have been MUCH WORSE!!! Who knows where we would have broken down.)

After MUCH aggravation, I was able to fill the radiator to the proper water level (after about an hour of trying to locate a sufficient water source). I checked for leaks, NO LEAKS. I let it idle. NO LEAKS. Then the vehicle began operating at normal operating temperature.

Basic Point: As a trained mechanic, after you replace the serpentine belt and tension pulley on a vehicle, you have to check the fluid levels. (WATER) A basic final step. With that being said, I do not know how much damage to the engine this NO WATER issue has caused. BUT I DO NOT WANT PEPBOYS TO TOUCH THE VEHICLE AGAIN.

As a result of this failure and not wanting to deal with this major issue over the phone, my wife and I decided to stay overnight to address this issue directly with Pepboys management the next day (Sunday, September 16, 2012). This overnight stay was AT OUR COST AND TIME when we were supposed to be returning home.

Anyway, when I awaken on Sunday morning ( September 16th), I contacted the Pepboys location to discuss my issue. I spoke with Anthony, store manager and he stated that I would have to speak with Greg who would be in later that day. I left my phone number for Greg to contact me. He did not return my call. As a result, I called Anthony told him that I would be at Pepboys before 4 pm. I arrived at the store around 3 pm; however, Greg was not in nor had he been by the store. I explained my complete situation/history to Anthony. I stated that I am a fair person and willing to compromise by paying $250 for the service provided and receive the difference in a refund. Anthony stated that Pepboys, Inc. probably would not give me refund. ??? I stated that I would be disputing the charge with American Express(payment type for the repair). Subsequently, a dispute was submitted on the same day (9/16/2012) to American Express.

I will say this, Anthony did write down the issue at hand, my phone number, other contact information, and stated that Greg would be calling me back FIRST thing in the morning. Question: I thought Anthony was the store manager, able to make management decisions??? Well, it is now SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 and I have not received ONE response from Greg or any other representative of Pepboys. Again, this is a problem of very poor customer service and mismanagement.

At this point, because of this disregard for the multiple honest attempts of trying to resolve this issue, I RESCIND any negotiation/compromise stated earlier related to this service. I will pay $110.98 only for the services provided. I request a REFUND in the amount of $415.43. Please send the check immediately to the following address:

Ron Tanner
1216 Riverchase Trail
Hoover, AL 35244

Bottom Line: As a customer and 20-plus year federal contract administrator, I CAN NOT recommend Pepboys, Inc. to my relatives, friends or colleagues for ANY service to be performed. There are much better alternatives.

Please contact me at your earliest convenience. My number is 205.914.7076 or [email protected].

Respectfully,

Ron Tanner

Cc: Better Business Bureau
Federal Trade Commission
Mobile Chamber of Commerce
National Legal Aid and Defender Association
State of Alabama Office of the Attorney General
State of Alabama Secretary of State
The Center for Auto Safety

When I turn the air condition on, the driver side blows out hot air from the two vents on the drivers side and the passengers side blows out cold air, the way the cool air should be on both sides. It gets so hot on the driver’s side, you have to turn the air condition off because it is so hot in the car, you feel as if you could pass out. I have talked to the Buick Dealership and they don’t know, so they said they would tear the entire dash apart but don’t know if they could find the problem but would be glad to charge me $1,000 to $1,500 just incase they found anything. I went to an independent mechanic and he replaced the modular in the dash, checked the antifreeze, etc.. The only thing he charge me for was for the modular that he install, but said he did not know why I continued to get heat on the drivers side and cool air on the passengers side when you turn on the air conditioner. He advised me (I agree) not to run the air conditioner for fear that I would get so hot, I could pass out because of the high heat it blows on me.

transmission started to jump into OD. Vibration at different speeds. Replaced tranny with GM rebuilt.after 700 miles problem came back (Vibration only) Same problem but now has Metal to metal grinding when making Left turn and accelerating. replaced engine mounts. They were cracked. Prior to this dealer said it was the solinoid, repalced. They only made this tranny in 1997

The suspension when driving 60+ would bounce and cause the steering wheel to jerk. Then 2 days later the car would not start as if it had a dead battery and when it finally started was smoking extremely. Then at that time we realized that the water was full of oil.

The heater in the seat quit working. A new one was installed and it doesn’t heat up correctly. The motor in the window failed. The rotors/brakes were warped. The stereo failed. The window will not roll up correctly despite a new one being put in. The starter is dragging. Some of this was covered under the smart choice extended warranty. However some of the repairs are still needed and I still have time remaining on my smart choice warrranty but they have went bankrupt and my dealer says the warranty is no longer valid and I will have to pay for any repairs done.

The a/c will turn on again after I turn it off. The radio will shift to cassette and back while displaying E33. Drivers window will come down unevenly and get wedged. The alternater went out and the bottom bolt stripped during removal. There is a lurch sometimes during shifting.

The \"cradle\" rusted completely through. Essentially this is the part of the frame that the engine rests on and to which the wheel and steering apparatus is attached. This otherwise beautiful car is no longer drivable. We just discovered this yesterday. The car had been driving oddly for several weeks before we discovered the real problem. We could have all been killed! My brother works for Jeffery-Nissan Buick in Roseville, MI and he does frame and body work. He says this shouldn\’t have happened and that they have a 1997 Buick in his shop now on which they are making the same repair. It stands to reason there must be more vehicles with the same problem. Repairs have not yet been made.

See failures

PEELING PAINT……..

My number one problem with this car is the plastic intake manifold failed under nomal usage. A crack in the plastic formed adjacent to the EGR port which allowed coolant to mix with the oil while i was driving on the highway in heavy traffic.The result was that the main bearings were destroyed and i had to buy a new engine.(I have the original plastic intake manifold in my possesion.)The problem is that the plastic intake manifold can not withstand the heat generated by the EGR valve and eventually suffers from thermal fatigue at the EGR and stress relaxation around the flange of the manifold.There was NO warning that this problem was about to occur, and I was not aware that these cars are susceptible to this type of failure.I notified GM of the problem in writing and they offered me $800 compensation for my $5,000.00 problem. They told me that my engine was probably on its last legs, etc. I told them that the car has been babied and offered up results of the manditory emissions test tha the car underwent not 3 weeks prior to failure as proof that the car was in good running order. (In Toronto, all vehicle owners must submit their cars for emissions testing every 2 years. The car is measured for hydro carbon output, NOx output, CO, and CO2. If the engine had been malfunctioning, it would have been quatified.)It passed with flying colours.GM didn’t care and maintained its offer at $800.00 take it or leave it. I left it and now am preparing legal action against GM.The plastic intake manifold on the 3.8 litre engine is a complete joke. The dealer service rep told me aside that they fix these things every day and the mechanics all know that this is truly junk. This problem would not have occured if GM didn’t switch from aluminum to plastic. This is cost driven engineering at its best.Other problems with the car:- A rear window defogger that caught on fire.- 3’rd alternator- 2,nd battery- a security system that sounds WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET- 10" of water in the trunk (several attempt to repair, ended up drilling a hole in the trunk)- failed AC compressor- failed heated seat- several instrument control light bulbs have burned out and can not be replaced, you have to replace the entire instrument. For ex. the heater control head has no lights but you can not change the bulb, you have to buy a new control head for $1,000.00 (for a burned out bulb?)- rear brake rotors that warp every 35,000 km.- fuel guage that doesn’t work below a quarter tank.If you would like copies of correspondence sent to GM, let me know.regardsdoug webb13 brumell avenuetoronto, ontariom6s [email protected] ex. 2624 (daytime)

Lost a wheel (right front) due to rust of the subframe.Also the panel behind right hind wheel, to protect the compressor for suspention, had to be replace because of complete deterioration caused by rust.

Heater/air conditioning leaks onto floor on the passenger side of vehicle. Started about a year after purchase (new) and we complained. Dealership replaced water pump. Still leaked. Became much worse in July 2003 (required a roll of paper towels to keep the front floor board semi dry on trips). We took it to Fitzpatrick in Concord, CA and they stated that all GM vehicles did that and there was no repair needed. This was when the car was still under warranty and now, no longer is.

1997 buick park avenue with a defective engine. dealer informed the consumer of a manufacturer defect which is anti freeze leaking onto the oil chamber causing the engine to overheat and cause a fire. *kb the consumer also stated the water pump leaked, which had to be replaced because it leaked onto the fan belt which caused it to break. (consumer wrote in on behalf of his aunt; owner of the vehicle) *jb

Steering gear bracket broke on 1997 buick park avenue.*mr the consumer has given copies of the repair bill and the statement from enterprise for the three days it took to repair the vehicle, to the dealership for considering a reimbursement. *cb

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. while driving, the contact noticed an odor of burning plastic. the contact noticed a little smoke coming from the rear driver's side panel. the contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road, turned off the rear defroster, disconnected the plug, removed the rear panel, and noticed that the electrical feed and module were melted. the vehicle was taken to bay ridge chevrolet (1575 86th st, brooklyn, ny 11228, (833) 452-1829) where it was diagnosed that part number: 25623688 (red radio antenna module), the ac (delco pt1183), and the rear window all needed to be replaced due to the connection. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failures and provided case number: 9-5585220430. the failure mileage was approximately 92,000.

Why was this car not recalled with other gm products with the 3800 v6 engines for the oil leaks? these cars have the same 3800 v6 as all of the recalled cars!

My problem is, the left blinker of the front, back and headboard is not working. but if i put on my flashers, all my lights are working, including the left blinker. i took it in and they told me that its not the light bulb, and its not the fuses from both the front and the headboard fuses boxes, and i've been told by research and the mechanic that this is not a new problem and its been an occurring issue for the 1997-2005 buick park avenue. . .updated 07/20/15 *bf

I have a 1997 buick park avenue, when i turn to the right only even the slightest bit i hear a grinding sound coming from the front suspension area. i had the wheel bearings checked and replaced the driver side bearing and still had the same noise. i do not know if its part of the steering or maybe the pilot bearing if it has one on the side of the transmission. maybe the rack pinion system. i don't really know what to do to fix it. please help...? *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. the contact stated that the vehicle began to smoke when starting the vehicle. the engine then caught on fire. the fire department was called and came to extinguish the blaze. the fire department stated that the fire was caused by an engine compartment failure. the contact did not call the manufacturer. the vehicle was neither repaired nor diagnosed. the failure mileage was 150,000.

Passenger shoulder belt will not retract. *tr

I own a 1997 park ave ultra with several recall repair issues the following were addressed by gm but not properly repaired: (faulty) abs system (with campaign code sticker) replaced abs system cuts out randomly causing changes in stopping distance (in severe braking situations the abs system has cut out on me getting off of the highway causing me to have to apply excessive pressure to the brakes just to come to a normal stop) front passenger seat belt replacement(no campaign sticker) middle rear seat belt anchor was never fixed or torqued to proper specified standards while in for repairs let alone addressed at all rack and pinion has multiple issues some due to age and miles but regardless the entire assembly is loose and bearings are shot the faulty recall repairs on my vehicle don't instill trust in gm's ability to repair my vehicle a second time. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. the contact stated before entering his vehicle he noticed there was a puddle underneath his vehicle. after inspecting the spill he noticed that it was coming from the fuel tank. the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor had it been repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure and current mileage was approximately 155,000. updated 03/23/12*lj updated 03/30/12

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. the contact stated that when driving at various speeds or when the vehicle was sitting idle, there was a strong odor of gasoline. the strong odor caused her to be hospitalized for respiratory problems. the vehicle was inspected by a dealer and they advised her that the fuel rail was fractured and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage approximately was 119,000.

Started to have strong odor of gasoline inside of car when engine was running. i checked to see if there was gasoline leaking from motor when i had the engine turned off without any luck. had to keep windows rolled down because odor was so strong from the gasoline fumes. this all happened one week before i was admitted to the hospital for respiratory issues. on june 4th was admitted to hospital with respiratory problems for three days in the telemetry unit for respiratory distress. on june 10, 2011, i took the car to my mechanic and he discovered a pin hole leak in the plastic fuel rail on this car. my mechanic said this is a high pressure fuel rail and gm made this out of plastic that failed. he said the car is can not be driven that way it is and that the part need to fix the problem is not available per the gm dealers. he also told me this part may be under a recall notice and that i should check it out. he said it was a wonder the car had not caught on fire since the entire engine was covered in gasoline from the leak from the fuel rail. i contacted a buick dealership called grand auto, inc. in thornton, co and talked with the parts department and the service department. i talked with the service department manager named brian vaughn and he and the parts department said there was not a problem with this part and they refused to even listen to me concerning the issue. i looked on the nhtsa web site and found many other people having the same problem with this same part that i have. there have been other recalls on this year and model car but gm never notified the owners about the recalls until they had class action law suits against them. i now respiratory problems issues because of this defective part.

After 20 miles of smooth driving with no indication of anything going wrong and while pulling into the parking lot of my office my check engine light came on, i always immediately shutoff my vehicle any time such thing happens to prevent any damage to the vehicle, i proceeded to walk into the parts store next to my office to get power steering fluid due to the low fluid level i had, however when i tried to turn over the motor the motor would not turn. my mechanic told me it was "hydrolocked" and that there is a coolant passage which is commonly known to leak into cylinder 6 and locking the motor requiring the intake and gaskets to be replaced. this happened less than 30days after my vehicle passed inspection at a dealership. also noting that the dealer was told i was losing about a gallon of coolant weekly. a coolant elbow was repaired, then two days later is when the motor locked. *tr

Tl*the 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.

Leaking gas tank that was made of plastic that was made for this specific 1997 buick park ave. only... *tr

1997 buick park avenue with a defective engine. dealer informed the consumer of a manufacturer defect which is anti freeze leaking onto the oil chamber causing the engine to overheat and cause a fire. *kb the consumer also stated the water pump leaked, which had to be replaced because it leaked onto the fan belt which caused it to break. (consumer wrote in on behalf of his aunt; owner of the vehicle) *jb

Tl* the contact owned a 1997 buick park avenue. the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle began accelerating without driver intent. he then attempted to depress the brakes and there was a slight decrease in speed; however, the vehicle continued to accelerate. the contact also heard an unusually loud popping sound and the vehicle began to accelerate at a higher rate of speed. the contact was forced to drive the vehicle into a grassy field to avoid a crash; however, the vehicle crashed into a tree at 90 mph. the vehicle was still attempting to accelerate after the crash occurred. the vehicle was destroyed. the driver and passenger sustained major injuries and were transported to the hospital via ambulance. a state trooper was called to the scene and a police report was filed. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. after having new tires placed on the vehicle, the contact drove away and found that the steering wheel felt uneven. the vehicle was taken to another repair shop and the mechanic noticed that the engine was about to fall out of the vehicle. the frame that holds the engine was rusted out. the mechanic replaced the frame and the vehicle currently operates normally. the contact read in consumer report that there were recalls for the frame on other buick models, but not for the park avenue. he feels that the manufacturer should be responsible for the repairs because this is a major safety issue. the current mileage was 93,530 and failure mileage was 90,669.

In 10 degree weather in the midwest, started the 1997 park avenue ultra to warm up. put the rear defrost on, on my way to work about 20 minutes after he initial start of the vehicle, i began to smell something relating to burning electrical or electrical components. upon further investigation, i found the module in the drivers side "c" pillar next to the rear window appeared to be melting/burning. i removed the module and found the power connector to the module had completely melted and almost caused an electrical fire. due to my experience in electronics and vehicle electrical systems i was able to repair the module and replace the burned connectors with another type of connector. i would recommend anyone that owns a gm with this module, check connections and put electric safe dielectric grease on the connections to avoid arcing and possible fire. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. while driving at various speeds, the antilock brake and traction control lights illuminated. currently, the antilock brakes will engage during braking. occasionally, they engage by themselves. in addition, the contact hears a grinding sound when she is not braking. the dealer could not find any failures and advised the contact to call the manufacturer. the current mileage was 48,000 and failure mileage was 47,800.

My vehicle is a 1997 buick park ave with 140,000 miles. i'm the second owner. my in-laws were the original owners. i got the vehicle from them in 1999 with approximately 9000 miles on the vehicle. therefore, i know the complete car care history of this vehicle. yesterday, september 1, 2008 my granddaughter was driving this car and she lost control of the vehicle due to lost of steering capabilities. no one was injured nor body damage due to her low speed when this incident occurred. the tow truck operator indicated that the engine cradle split into pieces due to rust and this caused the steering to fail since the steering rack is mounted to this engine cradle. the rust through of this the engine cradle (or engine frame) was confirmed by the repair shop today, september 2, 2008. the repair shop indicated that the 1997 buick park ave's had a steel engine cradle and that the moisture and salt gets caught within this box frame due to it's position directly behind the wheel wells. the repair shop indicated that 1998 park ave's( and after) have aluminum engine cradles but that the 1998 part will not fit the 1997 buick park ave. the only repair is to find another used engine cradle from a 1997 buick park ave which costs approximately $400 to $500 just for the used part. the other alternative is to buy a new engine cradle from a gm dealership for approximately $1200 to $1400. it seems to me that this engine cradle is a very critical part of the frame of the car and should not rust through within 10 years. all of the steering controls are mounted to this part and when this engine cradle fails all steering capabilities are lost. please review this web site for the same part failure by other 1997 buick park ave owners (http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/1997_buick_park_avenue_comments_and_complaints_c42-256-1997-312-1.html. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. whenever the vehicle is driven at various speeds, the abs and traction control engage when they are not needed. as a result, the braking distance increases. the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 97v064000 (service brakes, hydraulic:antilock). the current mileage was 70,004 and failure mileage was 67,000. update 10/01/08 *cw the abs and traction control engaged for no reason. the consumer experienced extended stopping distance. updated 10/03/08.*jb

Engine oil is leaking from the front valve cover of the 3.8l supercharged engine and dripping on the front exhaust manifold. *tr

I drove my car out to a restaurant and parked it. when i tried to start it to go home a couple hours later, it would not turn over. i tried it again the next morning and then had it towed to my mechanic where he discovered that it was 'liquid locked because antifreeze had leaked into a cylinder and would not allow the piston to move up. i am looking at 2500 dollars for repairs and a week to get the parts and do it. there are tsb's out on this problem and it is a common problem. i feel i should have been notified of the problem and gm should shoulder the costs for the repair because it was caused by a defective gasket. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue ultra. while driving 25 mph, the vehicle began smoking under the hood and caught fire. the fire department extinguished the blaze and provided a fire report. the police arrived, however, the contact did not know if a police report was filed. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they were unable to determine the cause of failure. the vehicle was destroyed. the powertrain was unknown. the current mileage was 125,998 and failure mileage was 111,998.

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. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. while driving 1 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal and it went down to the floorboard. he was unable to stop the vehicle using the brake pedal. he noticed brake fluid leaking from the vehicle. the dealer and mechanic have not inspected the vehicle. the contact stated that the cause of failure was due to corrosion of the driver side rear brake line. the vin was unavailable. the current and failure mileages were 45,000.

1. !997 buick pk. ave. frame rust out with failure of right front steering. life threatening defect in engine cradle. 2. all 4 alero coil springs fractured puncturing l front tire risking life.3. flooded pass. side due to defective firewall baffle on intrigue.4. intake manifold gasket defective 2 3.8 l. engines repaired pk. ave. and intrigue. all defective parts - no admission or offer of assistance thru gm complaint mechanism even with bbb help. all known defects reported on line by others. frame rust out put unusual but clearly defective risking my life - gm refused to view parts. public safety at risk . profits over safety. numerous other small defects inside and out pk. ave. fully documented. *jb

Repeatable, while driving my 1997 buick park avenue, the abs and traction-off warning-lights suddenly come on together and stay on indicating loss of abs and traction control. turning the ignition off and back on resets the functions, but they will become disabled again sometime later while driving. this could happen, possibly for the first time for someone, in an emergency just before one of these functions is called upon to avoid a severe accident. the failure occurs on smooth roads without regard to speed. i have not seen this happen when the car is stopped. the car may run for 200 miles without a problem, and then again the problem may occur within a few hundred feet from starting out. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated while driving at night under any road condition, the headlights were not bright enough to see due to the lenses turning a milky white. the vehicle was driven to the dealer who determined the headlights needed to be replaced.

Dt*: the contact stated that the vehicle's traction control and abs lights illuminated. the traction control engaged and the abs brakes cycled for no reason causing a grinding sound to appear from the transmission. a certified mechanic performed diagnostic testing determining there was a defect pertaining to the electronic brake and tract control module. information was also found online regarding recalls that matched vehicle's symptoms. the manufacturer and dealer were alerted who determined that the vin did not included in the recall.

The "cradle" of the frame of our 1997 buick park avenue failed by rusting through. i've been driving the car for several weeks and it has been wallowing all over the road, hopping sideways when i hit bumps, pulling to the left when i braked and one of the front tires started squealing when i went around a corner. i've been trying to convince my husband that something was amiss with it and perhaps it needed an alignment. he finally drove it yesterday, realized there was something seriously wrong, and discovered the part of the frame where the engine rests, and where the wheels are attached, was rusted completely through at a spot weld near where the tie rod is bolted on. it's only by the grace of god that it didn't completely fail and result in a injurious accident, or perhaps even death. i shudder to think what might have happened when i play back in my head, driving on i-696 in the rain, in detroit, at night, with my friends coming home from a night at the fox theatre, or when my sons and i went out for my birthday. would i be able to control the car if the front wheel fell off at 70 mph? my brother works for jeffery buick-nissan in roseville, mi. i talked to him about it this morning. he says the frame should not have rusted through in a nine year old car. in fact, he said there was another 1997 bpa in his shop with the same problem. i can't even remember hearing about a car frame rusting through, ever. in any car. it stands to reason that if there are two 1997 buick park avenues with the same problem, at the same time, there are probably more. i realize the car is nine years old, but surely, something as fundamental as a car frame can be expected to last longer than nine years. i believe it was a manufacturing flaw and the manufacturer should repair it. since this just happened yesterday, i've made no attempt to repair it yet. my brother will look at it first and direct me. the car is not drivable. i'm stranded. *jb

1997 park avenue has difficulties with the electrical system. vehicle's engine blew up at 89,000 miles because the intake manifold leaked engine coolant into the engine and caused it to seize. *ts in seven years the consumer had to replace the vehicle's battery five times. ***nar***

On starting engine, intake manifold exploded violently and engine caught fire. *nm

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

Dt: the problem started sometime around the middle of september 2005. the brakes were not holding. the contact had the rear brake pads replaced two weeks ago because the abs and traction light were coming on. the problem with the brakes, abs light, traction light, and a noise were still occurring. nhtsa recall 97v064,000 concerning abs was issued. when contacted the dealership they said that his vehicle's year was not included in the recall. when the contact called the manufacturer, they said they would contact the dealership. there has been nothing that came out of it yet. *ak

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. *nm

Dt: the contact s smelled gas and it progressively got worse. a few days later she noticed a wet spot on the ground. she had a hard time starting the vehicle, but it did start. she drove the vehicle and noticed a bigger spot on the ground. she then called the dealership ,and told them of the problem. they suggested towing the vehicle to diagnose the problem. the dealership found all of the fuel lines were corroded. the mechanic at the dealership and the manufacturer stated this was common occurrence in the northeast. the vehicle is currently being repaired; the fuel lines are being replaced.*ak

Dt: 1997 park avenue buick the sub frame that holds the engine/ engine drive ,and steering wheels corroded. there was faulty material on this sub frame because it rotted, enabling the driver's front wheel to break away from its mounting, and leaving the vehicle in a hazardous condition. it has been repaired, which was unusual to repair the problem. mentioned he had never seen a park avenue of that year where the frame rotted. it has been repaired at the cost of $725.00 with labor and used frame. *ak

Dt: contact states in hot weather 75 degrees or above and within one mile the car will die. can wait it 10-15 minutes and the car will restart. had this problem for the last 3 summers. it usually happened in slow traffic, but consumer did not get out on the interstate very much; but was concerned that if he did. the car would die in heavy traffic. took it to the dealer, and they said they could not find anything wrong with it. they suggested that it may be the fuel pump or the sensor in the crank case. the service engine light sometimes cam eon. . the car has less than 30,000 miles on it. he has not talked to the manufacturer. *ak *tt

Dt: the windshield wipers quit in the middle of the windshield, and would not go back down. the fuse was checked and it was not the problem. the dealership will charge the consumer to look the problem. the windshield wipers worked sometimes. the defect was thought to be in the windshield wiper circuit board. *ak buick was aware of the problem due to the fact that a recall was set for the 2001 make/model. *sc *jb

Dt: consumer stated: while backing vehicle out into the street, just changed the oil a couple weeks ago, the frame broke right from where the oil filter was. then, the driveshaft broke. neighbor heard a noise when it happened. *ak

Caller stated: transmission failing. locked up and shook the entire vehicle. there was the sensation of something hitting the bottom of the car from underneath. happened when car was put into motion, and intermittently. *ak

While driving 45 mph the consumer hit a deer. the dual air bag deployed upon impact, however the driver side caught fire. no injuries reported. as a result the vehicle was totaled. please provide additional information. *jb fire seemed to be coming from in the steering column. when the fire truck did arrive flames had burnt the leather seat, melted the steering column and burnt the windshield visor. *bf *nm

Pushrod malfunctioned in the engine, caused car accident.*ak

Nhtsa recall campaign 00v117000; daimler chrysler issued a shoulder belt recall. this vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin, but had problems retracting back to normal position. *ak

After starting the vehicle, the vehicle back fire and then caught fire in the engine compartment. the local fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. the cause of the fire has not been determined. *nm

While driving at any speed the engine stall without warning. as a result the automatic power door locked trapping the driver inside. the cause has yet to be determined. *nm *nm

No engine failure yet....i am consuming almost as much antifreeze as i am gasoline. just kidding, but in less than 1000 miles i have used 11/2 gallons of dexcool antifreeze. i can find no leakage on my garage floor, but it sure is going somewhere. am i in eminent danger of engine failure?????*ak

While driving 30 mph consumer noticed white smoke coming from the vehicle. it was towed to the repair shop and then to the dealer for repairs. consumer was concerned that the intake manifold gasket was made of plastic. *ak

The consumer complained about the rack and pinion steering problem which was being recalled by the manufacturer. the consumer contacted the manufacturer, but because of the vin consumer was denied any assistance. *ak the problem was noticed after the vehicle was first purchased. there was a stiffens when turning left and sometimes when the vehicle was driven at 50 mph or more, getting off at an off ramp, the steering would loosen then go back to normal. *sc

Vehichle stalled while turning at an intersection and was not driveable; vehicle had to be towed. upon diagnosis, the vehicle "hydrolocked" due to dexcool leaking into the engine chamber from a melted upper intake manifold. the upper intake manifold, water pump, thermostat crank sensor and map sensor required replacement. it was then further determined due to an intolerably loud engine knock that the dexcool had corroded the engine compartment bearings; the engine was not repairable and required replacement. *ak

My wife was driving to work and the gas pedal stuck on her 1997 bucik, park avenue. she had to brake with both feet and place vehicle in park while the engine was still revving at a high rpms. i checked the throttle area and the throttle wheel that rotates when the gas pedal is pressed was rubbing against a larger cable that was not letting the wheel return when the gas pedal was released. i fixed the problem by pulling & strapping the cable away from the throttle area. a locale dealership has worked on the engine, and i don't known whether the cable was installed like that at the factory. i could see some wear on the cable where the wheel had been rubbing on it for a while. i could also see a notch on the wheel that could've caught the cable and caused a major accident.*ak

My number one problem with this car is the plastic intake manifold failed under normal use. this allowed coolant to mix with the oil while i was driving on the highway in heavy traffic. the result was that the main bearings were destroyed and i had to buy a new engine. (i have the original plastic intake manifold in my possession.) the problem is that the plastic intake manifold can not withstand the heat generated by the egr valve and eventually suffers from thermal fatigue at the egr and stress relaxation around the flange of the manifold. i notified gm of the problem in writing and they offered me $800 compensation for my $5,000.00 problem. they told me that my engine was probably on its last legs. i told them that the car has been babied and offered up results of the mandatory emissions test that the car underwent not 3 weeks prior to failure as proof that the car was in good running order. (in toronto, all vehicle owners must submit their cars for emissions testing every 2 years. the car is measured for hydro carbon output, nox output, co, and co2. if the engine had been malfunctioning, it would have been qualified.) this problem would not have occurred if gm didn't switch from aluminum to plastic. other problems with the car include a rear window defogger that caught on fire, - 3'rd alternator, 2nd battery , a security system that sounds while driving down the street, water in the trunk (several attempt to repair, ended up drilling a hole in the trunk), failed ac compressor, failed heated seat, several instrument control light bulbs have burned out and can not be replaced, you have to replace the entire instrument. the rear brake rotors that warp every 35,000 km. - fuel gauge that doesn't work below a quarter tank. if you would like copies of correspondence sent to gm, let me know. regards doug webb 13 brumell avenue toronto, ontario m6s 4g3 [email protected] 905-238-0007 ex. 2624 (daytime)

Heater/air conditioning leaks onto floor on the passenger side of vehicle. started about a year after purchase (new) and we complained. dealership replaced water pump. still leaked. became much worse in july 2003 (required a roll of paper towels to keep the front floor board semi dry on trips). we took it to fitzpatrick in concord, ca and they stated that all gm vehicles did that and there was no repair needed. this was when the car was still under warranty and now, no longer is.

Transmission started to jump into od. vibration at different speeds. replaced tranny with gm rebuilt.after 700 miles problem came back (vibration only) same problem but now has metal to metal grinding when making left turn and accelerating. replaced engine mounts. they were cracked. prior to this dealer said it was the solinoid, repalced. they only made this tranny in 1997

The heater in the seat quit working. a new one was installed and it doesn't heat up correctly. the motor in the window failed. the rotors/brakes were warped. the stereo failed. the window will not roll up correctly despite a new one being put in. the starter is dragging. some of this was covered under the smart choice extended warranty. however some of the repairs are still needed and i still have time remaining on my smart choice warrranty but they have went bankrupt and my dealer says the warranty is no longer valid and i will have to pay for any repairs done.

The a/c will turn on again after i turn it off. the radio will shift to cassette and back while displaying e33. drivers window will come down unevenly and get wedged. the alternater went out and the bottom bolt stripped during removal. there is a lurch sometimes during shifting.

While driving at 35 mph and with out any warning steering wheel failed. vehicle was taken to the dealer. mechanic indicated the belt broke. *ak

The consumer complained that the passenger's front seat belt did not retract. the dealer replaced the seat belt at the consumer's expense of $545.00. *ak refer to recall#77955 *sc

Vehicle overheated twice within a 2 month period. coolant elbow broke when vehicle overheated the first time. the second time the vehicle overheated, the upper intake manifold broke. *la *jb

The abs light illuminated while driving. when the light came on the consumer had to apply more pressure to the brakes to get the vehicle to stop. the manufacturer and the dealer are aware of the problem. *nm

My factory installed supercharger has had a pulley mechanism fall apart. as a result the belt from this system (similar to a drive train belt) fell down through the engine compartment under the front passenger side tire abruptly stopping my vehicle as the belt was still attached to the another component in the engine. this has happened three different times and each time has involved a different pulley on the system.*ak

Hard steering turning right at low speeds. item repaired 1/14/2004 at dealer at a cost to me of $1351.18. repair invoice states " internal failure of steering gear diagnosed and replaced steering gear." auto is 1997 buick park ave ultra with 32000 miles.*ak

Steering gear bracket broke on 1997 buick park avenue.*mr the consumer has given copies of the repair bill and the statement from enterprise for the three days it took to repair the vehicle, to the dealership for considering a reimbursement. *cb

The plastic intake manifold developed a hole and leaked anti freeze onto the cylinder. this resulted in engine locking up and the crank shaft bearing going bad. *ak the rod bearings also failed due to water entering the oil pan. *nlm

Driver's seat belt has failed. it will no longer retract and must be replaced. this is a safety issue. i do not believe that a seat belt should fail. *jb

While driving windshield wipers quit working. when this occurred driver visibility was reduced. *ak

The plastic air plennom on the top of the 3800 engine of the newer gen motors cars that they are now using will not hold up under the heat. the egr tube which extends up into the plastic air intake burns a hold into the cooling system surrounding the egr tube, causing coolant to drian into the the motor intake chamber. in turn, the coolant then mixes with the oil and ruins the motor rod bearings. i have already replaced one motor and am now experiencing similar trouble with the second motor for the same problem. they need to go back to the metal air intakes!*ak

The driver side shoulder belt would not retract. the belt had about 18-18 inches of slack at all times. *nlm *cb *nlm

Failure of gas gauge. *nlm

The rotors warped prematurely. *jb

While driving vehicle lost all power without warning. this resulted in consumer being trapped in the their vehicle. the dealership indicated that this was caused by the alternator failing. ts

The vehicles' passenger side shoulder seat belt fails to retract from shoulder retractor. please provide more details. ts

1-23-3 id like to report a problem with a general motors engine, more specifically the bolts they're using on the 3800 series 2 v-6 (probably a cheap priced chinese product). i asked at my buick dealership if they send information to gm about a problem a vehicle is having if they see it as dangerous or see it more than once and the guy laughed... ha ha real funny. meanwhile people like me fix a problem that might be eligible for a recall, or at minimum gm could quit buying defective bolts to use on the 3800 series 2 engine before someone gets killed when suddenly they can't control a 3000 pound vehicle going down the highway. i have a 1997 buick park avenue (97,000 miles). i'm driving down the road and all of the sudden my power steering pump just falls off of the car, yes it literally fell off. i sent it too my local buick dealer for repair. they are for some reason out of the bolt that he said sheared itself off. the next day i call the buick repair shop to ask about it since they have to wait on the part, and he calls me mr. gray. i tell him my actual name and he apologizes and informs me that there's another guy's car in there at the moment who had that exact same thing happened to his car,... his power steering pump fell off too. this is a safety hazard because the car all of the sudden steers like a tractor with flat tires, fortunately i was only going 25 mph when it happened to me. a smaller man or woman could not likely handle controlling it, and god help them if they're on the interstate doing 70. and yet the dealership says they don't have a way or system set up with general motors to report stuff like this. how is gm supposed to know? hope you can help save people before we hear about this on the news as a tragedy. thanks... ken mcclelland

I have a 1997 buick park avenue with 103,000 miles. i purchased the car new in april of 1997. after 10 months and 16,000 miles i began to have problems with the transimission shifting hard after the car got warmed up. if i would stop and turn the car off and let it sit for 15 seconds and restart it shift smooth for several stops and then start shifting hard again. i took it into a buick garage and they kept the car for 10 days and could not find the problem. finally they decided to replace the transmission. that solved the problem. at 90,000 miles the same problem reoccured. it didn't do it that often to begin with but now one year later it does it almost every time i drive the car after it get completely warmed up. given it has happened twice to my car it would appear there is a defect here that buick should be responsible for. i have looked over you sight and found no recalls for the type of problem. are there any out there that you are aware of? what else can i do? mel rutlin

Odometer found to be broken

Symptom of battery failure-triple a jump started car -checked battery & engine with computer which detected no problem-drove car @ 50 miles on highway-no problem- after sitting over nite started normally but after driving about 2 miles lost all power- tripe a could not start so towed car to their shop & found engine froze up- caused by defective air intake manifold which developed a leak allowing coolant fluid to get into engine mixing with oil. i know of 5 other incidents of this nature, 3 of which resulted in engine failure.

While drivng at low speeds the steering wheel binds making wheel hard to turn. the dealership cannot determine the cause of the problem. please provide more details. ts

While driving engine mount bolts cracked, causing engine to fall on one side. contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak *yh

Problems with starting up vehicle. please provide information. mr consumer also states that the car wouldn't start after getting gas at a full service gas station. when she tried the ignition the air bag exploded. she substained swelling to both arms and her right hand. even today she's taking physical therapy and has nerve damage to right arm and shoulder pain. ph 09-dec-2002

Consumer states that while parked with the vehicle turned off the vehicle inadvertently jumped into reverese resulting in a collision. when the vehicle was inspected the vehicle was in drive. feel free to provide any further information. *mr

At 70 mph vehicle began to slow down a lot, then stalled. towed to dealer, antifreeze flooded engine, causing the engine to seize.*ak. consumer was forced off the road by an 18 wheeler because vehicle had started slowing and consumer could not get vehicle to respond. loss of steering accompanied the sudden decelleration. *jg

Defroster vents for windshield and side windows fail to work properly, this causes driver to have poor visibility while driving.*ak dealer has attempted to repair, however problem still exists, consumer states on one occasion the heat control failed completely, after shutting off the vehicle and restarting the heat worked. *slc

Consumer stated when she tryied to stop vehicle quickly, the brake pedal pulsated and then there was a grinding noise coming from the brakes when applied, owner checked brake pads, and found them in good condition, vehicle was taken to dealership, this happens when the brakes lock-up on ice and the car is sliding. *jg *ak

Insured was starting the vehicle when he heard a big boom and then smoke came from engine and caught on fire, claim 25-5607-676. *jg

Fuse box relay box suspected for cause of fire, claim 42-1331-250. *jg

Insured attempted to start vehicle. after hearing what sounded like back firing, a fire started under the hood of vehicle, claim 52-2467-692. *jg

When vehicle was started, there was an explosion and vehicle was on fire, claim 53-c849-836. *jg

Insured believes the engine fire was caused by a loose wire in the starter, claim 25-5562-917. *jg

Insured tried to crank the vehicle when immediately it popped and caught on fire. insured had noticed the smell of gas, but repair shop could not locate cause. check for possible loss with the fuel injections, claim 24-5198-330. *jg

Lap belt buckle does not function properly, being difficlt to be released from buckle anchor.*ak

Fire occurred in the engine compartment, fuse box relay suspected as cause, claim 42-1331-250. *slc

Consumer attempted to start vehicle and heard what he thought was a back fire, a fire started under the hood, claim 52-2467-692. *slc

When vehicle was started, there was an explosion and vehicle was on fire, claim 53-c849-836. *slc

Vehicle experienced a fire in the engine compartment, believe this fire was caused by a loose wire on the starter, claim 25-5562-917. *slc

Consumer tried to crank vehicle when it immediately popped and caught on fire, claim 24-5198-330. *slc

Seat belt retractor does not always work. consume rhas driven three days last week without seat belts protection because retractor did not work. dealer has replaced that part twice, but it did not fix the problem.*ak

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle began to jerk without warning. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel sending unit needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 121,000.

Air conditioner programer failed. yh

Transmission/transaxle failed. yh

Gas gauge sender unit failed. yh

The dealer replaced the plastic intake manifold, water pump, gaskets and serpentine belt. the vehicle only had 47000 miles on it. *nlm the vehicle had required many repairs while under warranty. the coolant tank kept going low and the upper and lower gasket along with all components. the water pump was replaced. *scc *jb

Vehicle will stall out while consumer is driving at any speed. contacted dealer, and the dealer cannot find cause of problem. *ak

Driver's and passengers seat belts will not release from retracting mechanism.*ak *slc

Recall 97v064000; while driving and applying brakes they will pulsate, resulting in extended stopping distance. contacted dealer, and dealer stated that this vehicle was not included in recall due to vin. *ak

Engine burned out because there was no coolant in system. also talked to mechanics, and mechanics stated plenium which was part of coolant system, cracked causing coolant escape and burned engine out. there be no coolant in engine.*ak

The part in front of the retractor on the passenger seat belt is defective, consumer states it will not move out of the main roller. *slc

There is an electrical short in wiring of steering column which causes brakes to vibrate and make a rumbling noise. this happens when making a stop at any given speed. dealership said there was a short in the steering column, causing this defect. please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak

Electrical control box in front passenger door shorted out, causing a failure in power windows/locks/mirrors. a private mechanic repaired this defect. *ak power door lock control module was replaced. the front door, express module, and pig tail were replaced. *yh

At 21,470 miles, driver's side seat belt will not retract when used, and passenger's seat belt intermittently will not retract from retractor. dealer and manufacturer were notified. *ak passengers right front lap belt is not stuck and will not release, dealer stated in the beginning that he would correct the problem, however when he found out the cost, he declined his offer. *slc

Electronic brakes malfunctioned, causing abs to activate when it was not suppose to. also, traction control activated when taking off, preventing vehicle from accelerating. recall 97v064000/ abs failure. however, this vehicle was not included in recall due to vin. *ak

While driving 65 mph engine stalled. dealer found power control module and alternator had to be replaced. *ak

Intermittently while coming to a slow and normal stop abs will kick in, causing extended stopping distance. abs kicks in when it is not necessary. *ak

Electrical seat control sometimes will pop out. could not be put back in place.dealer could not fix defect.*ak

Transmission would clink before engaging. taken to dealer, and informed consumer that transmission needed to be overhauled. *ak the consumer believes the transmission had been defective. similar failures were found on internet by the consumer. *yh

Car was taken in for a recall for bucket seat latch, and dealer broke part of seat that was on recall. told consumer that that parts were in, but in a while consumer was waiting and parts fell off. *ak

Vehicle intermittently stalls/shuts off when using cruise control. vehicle been in dealer shop on two occasions for different repairs on same problem, but problem still reoccurring. *ak

Consumer contacted dealer regarding recall no 00v117000/ manufacturer's recall 00039, dealer corrected the problem consumer noticed shoulder belt was locking when making any slight movement.*ak the driver side seat belt is still does not retract. *yh

Consumer will hear a loud thump and vehicle will jerk when first starting vehicle, and putting it into reverse. dealer cannot determine cause. they have contacted a service advisor, consumer has been waiting for the service advisor to return call since january 2000.*ak

Shoulder belts do not work properly for a big person, but works fine for a smaller person. manufacturer has been contacted. *ak

While traveling instrument panel displayed an off track function, within minutes vehicle lost power, and consumer was locked in for 15-20 minutes. dealer notified. but, vehicle was inspected by an independent repair shop. *ak

Rack and pinion steering is binding due to defective parts. *ak

00 117 000/gm shoulder belts: received manufacturer's recall notice, informing that parts were available. contacted dealer(west point buick, houston, texas, phone # 281/493-2000 for a appoiment, and was informed that part were not available. appointment would not be made until later. can nhtsa provide any information on this matter.*ak

While traveling at 50 mph going down hill brake pedal was locked in place. consumer could not press brake, and had to coast down the hill. *ak the possible cause is brakes heating the fluid and was fixed by the dealer. *yh

Fornt seatbelts twisted, allowing webbing to be jammed into the retractor. a recall has been issued on the vehicle make; however this vehicle was not included due to vin. *ak

Consumer noticed a small oil leak. took vehicle to dealer. they repaired it. dealer said that a gmc bullentin about oil pans on buicks stated that pan was wavy and could cause an oil leak. *ak

While making a turn brake indicator light flashed and stayed on. mechanic stated that the brake line was rubbing on transmission and wore a hole through the brkae line. would have led to total loss of brakes. *ak *ml

Driver's shoulder belt is sticking , will not retract, causing a loss of protection. dealer has installed a redesigned seat belt in nov 1999, but defect has reoccurred. *ak

Ea00002, driver's and passenger's seat belts malfunctioned, causing the seat belts to twist, which wont properly protect the occupants in event of a crash. consumer have taken this problem to the dealer 12 times. dealer says as long as the belt retracts they will not replace it. *ak.et.

Front end shakes while driving down the road. dealer does not now what is causing the problem. *ak

Driver's seat belt does not return to the retracting mechanism , cause unknown. *ak *ml

Serpentine belt separated from vehicle twice. dealer and manufacturer were notified. *ak

When the brake pedal is applied there is a pulsating feeling in the pedal . dealer has been contacted. *ak

Pe99056, driver's and passenger's seatbelt system malfunctioned due to design flaw. when the seatbelt is on and the occupant turns either way, the seatbelt becomes twisted in the housing and won't retract back, which won't protect the occupant in event of a crash. dealer replaced driver's and passenger's seatbelts 2 times. problem still exists. please provide further information. *ak

Cruise control activated automatically at 60mph,causing the vehicle to accelerate rapidly. dealer has been notified. *ak

Driver's side and passager's side shoulder belts don't work due to the shoulder belts keep getting jammed. *ak

Driver's and passenger's seat belts malfunctioned which may not protect the occupant in event of a crash. dealer replaced seatbelts 5 times. please provide further information. *ak

After vehicle had been parked about 5 to 10 minutes engine caught on fire, totalling the vehicle. the manufacturer has been notified. *ak

Shoulder belt doesn't work on passenger's side, and on driver's side shoulder belt keeps geeting jammed. *ak

Power steering bolts broke at pump, resulting in a loss of control. on 5/28/98 owner experienced the same problem. the dealer has repired vehicle. manufacturer has been notified. *ak

The battery had been leaking acid onto the case for 11 days before owner found out. dealer has seen. *ak

The front passenger's seat belt is inoperative. consumer cannot pull it down,out of casing to strap it across and lock it. dealer has been contacted. *ak

Passenger's seatbelt housing spring gets stuck, causing the seatbelt not to retract unless the occupant keeps pulling the seatbelt. but, it won't protect the occupant in event of an accident. dealer replaced the housing 3 times. dealer cannot determine the problem. *ak

While driving 50 mph down a mountain hill and when appyling the abs brakes, the entire vehicle violently shuddered cause unknown. dealer resurfaced the rotors. please give any further details. *ak

When trying to unlatch the seat belts on driver's and passenger's sides, the belts gets jammed and will not retract properly. the belts are also loose on the body, and are not tight enough. *ak

The driver's and passenger's side seat belts will not retract. the belts are extended to the utmost position. consumer has contacted the dealer. *ak

Front passenger's seat belt has been on back order for over a month. consumer is driving without a seatbelt due to this seatbelt defect. this can result in injuries in case of accident. douglass motors 908 277 3300. *ak

When leanning over the front driver's and passenger's seats, seat belt extends and then will not retract back after sitting up. *ak consumer states that the parts ordered from buick are same as the original and are defective. *slc

While driving at 65 to 72 mph, the steering wheel shakes and vehicle vibrates. cause unknown. dealer replaced tire three times. *ak

Dealership says nothing is wrong with the fuel gauge, but when the fuel gauge reads empty there's really 8 or 9 gallons in the tank. please describe details. *ak

Vehicle owner contacted dealer immediately after receiving recall notice. according to dealer, no parts to perform corective action, manufacturer cannot get parts. nhtsa no: 97v064000, mfr no: 97020. no brake problems as yet. *ak

When the transmission is in drive and the engine goes past first gear, the engine races. even though foot is not on the accelerator pedal the engine goes into a passing gear. the transmission was replaced on october 1, 1997. *ak

When applying the abs brakes under normal conditions, the brake pedal went to the floor and the brakes failed to stop the vehicle. *ak the cause for the brake failure was determined to be a missing split lock ring. possibly, it was never installed at factory. driver suffered minor injuries durign the abs failing. *yh

Owner states while driving vehicle there is a reflection in windshield coming from the dashboard that obstructs view. *ak

Owner states that while driving the abs light comes on and the service light also comes on, owner notes that dealer replaced a faulty computer but problem returned. *ak

Consumer experienced a hard time reading the speedometer due to the location and the design. also, when driving at highway speed consumer is unable to verifiy how fast the vehicle is traveling due to the location of speedometer. *ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Brake lines leaking discovered in florida on trip. buick dealer repaired, both brake pipes from master cylinder to abs unit rubbed against transmission, replaced. i would say this is a mfg. fault.*ak

All four disc brake rotors are defective and require replacement at only 54000 miles. product prcludes turn down? life is terrible for such an important safety related item. repair facility reports many similar failures are occuring.*ak

While driving on the interstate engine check light began flashing, and chimming. pulled over to side of road stopped and raise the hood. the engine was running rough. stopped the engine saw that it was not overheated. attempted to start. it wouldn't. wrecker tooto brian harris dealer. dealer repaced both intake manifolds because they were pitted and allowed coolant to enter into cylinders and lock the engine. dealer said both manifolds had to be replaced.

On two occassions, one on dry pavement, one on wet, in a panic stop situation, there was little or no braking for a time. it was as if the abs started on the wrong cycle (no braking). the stopping distance was increased significatly in both cases. *ak

No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak

Item 1. returning home, play developed in the steering wheel. with the car parked in driveway, during investigation , the steering wheel totally disconnected from the steering rack, so the car was no longer steerable. dealer said the steering wheel shaft had separated from the rack input, but could not understand how this could happen. rack assembly had been replaced 03/28/97, 2101 miles beause of oil leaks. item 2. taking car home from dealer after engine oil leak repair, there was much play, 1/3 turn, in steering wheel. dealer diagnosed problem as broken mounting ear on steering rack and pinion, requiring replacement of rack assembly. rack assemble had been replaced 03/28/97, 2101 miles due to oil leaks.*ak

Plastic electrical switches are breaking and falling off. door pannel and seat adjustment switch falling off. we also feel like it may have been flooded at one time and was not disclosed at time of purchase.*ak

First time repaired brakes at 19000 miles. *ak

My issue is constant vibration of the vehicle at highway speeds. i have replaced all tires, all struts, balanced numerous times. buick people tell me its the tires. tire people tell me its the drive train. meanwhile, nothing gets done except i keep spending money. i don't mind a problem now and then as long as someone responds to it. but in this case, based on my own experience and reading accounts of other owners, this issue never goes away. my guess is now that i'm out of warranty, gm will be more than happy to stick it on the rack at the going labor rate and maybe get to the bottom of it. i see tsb 833004, which i just discovered, was published in 9/98, long before i went into sun buick with this issue, but they never mentioned or did any of the remediation called for in that tsb. what other buttons are there for a consumer to push?*ak

Seat belts wrinkle and jam into retractors from ordinary movement of passenger and /or driver. they become useless. conversations with dealers service manager states that is a "manifacturers defect" and nothing can be done about it. discussions with manifacturer is no help. they refer us back to the dealer. *ak

Seat belts become twisted and unable to use due to jam of the retracting mechanism. *ak

No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak

Factory replacement of defective seat belt retractor sept 1998 same as before. this dangerous problem persists; service manager told me that buick could do nothing. passenger can extend seat belt, but it often folds & jams, leaving 1-2 ft of loose belt which voids the safety of seat belt. warped brake rotors were replaced. the defective power steering problem is a known defect to buick who has last week suggested a trial of changing hoses.

Transmission failed again and leaked transmission fluid all over the underside of vehicle and roadway. *ak

No summary

Car vibrates and shakes when traveling on the hwy at speeds between 60-70. dealer took the car for a road tested and confirmed that the problem does exist and that the tires are extremely noisy!! he said i should wait until i need new tires ,and buy special micheline 's. this is not an acceptable solution!! the tires should be replaced with no expence to me!!( dot number: tire size: p225/60r16 )

Vibratioin in vehicle at 60-75 mph - tires have been balanced twice in first month of ownership - tire runout/out-of-round is good

Shoulder belts roll and jam in retractor opening if lean forward, or as retracting. fuel expelled from filler when fueling - repeatedly, even at slow pump speeds if use auto shutoff - several different stations/pumps. must slowly nurse fuel by hand to avoid - approx 1 cup fuel splashes over vehicle, onto ground or operator.

Car has been in garage for repairs or problems for 116 hours of service

Electrical wiring failure in the back of dashboard. *yc

Rear drivers seat small plastic broke. yh

Driver side window motor switch broke. yh

Battery is leaking at rear terminal. yh

Sway bar link missing. fuel gauge replaced, strong fumes when full. weatherstripping on door replaced.

Tramsmission failed to shift into gear. nm

Battery died. yh

Transmission failed. nlm

Transmission failed.

Seat belts jammed. nlm

Rotors resurfaced at 14,000 miles due to failure. *yc

Seat belt retractor failed. *yc

Cracked battery. *yc

Consumer received a recall notice regarding a repair to the front seat belts(00v-117). dealer has been contacted twice, however has not informed consumer as to when the vehicle can expect repairs. yd

Seat belts became inoperative prior to recall 00v-117, consumer request reimbursement. nlm

Owner seeking reimbursement for recall campaign 00v-227, experienced defect prior to notification, seatbelt would not retract. *cj

Owner is seeking reimbursement from manufacture for recall (00v-117). repairs were made prior to receiving recall notification, owner would like to be reimburse for charges. *cj

The consumer feels the head rest design is not sufficient and would not protect the consumers head during a collision. *mjs

Consumer told of manufacture service bulletin # 9908-50-013 for the replacement of front seat belts, local dealer replaced passenger belt but is reluctant to replaced driver side belt, the driver side belt is folding and jamming. yh

Automatic transmission failed on two occasions, first repaired internal clutches, second repair of the torque converter. mjs

Power steering grinding noise in front of vehicle , replacement of the high pressure hose has helped some of the noise. mjs

Driver's door window and lock switches replaced, broken plastic separated and fell inside door panel. mjs

Brakes make vibration and shudder, repaired rotors however continues. mjs

Cruise control intermittent failures, 14 repairs in six months. mjs

Driver's power seat electrical systems failed several times. mjs

Battery failed and acid leaked out. mjs

Driver seat exit module and memory system failed. yh

Right front fender misaligned. nlm

Cruise control switch and module failed. yh

Transmission torque convertor failed. yh

Parking brake switch and lamp failed. yh

Driver window switch cluster failed. yh

Driver master door lock inoperative. yh

Trunk bolt covers failed. nlm

Power steering hoses malfunctioned. yh

Transmission clutch malfunctioned. yh

Front brakes and rotors failed. yh

Front wheels out of balance. nlm

Multi function switch failed. yh

Front end vibration continual, design characteristic and no cure at this time. vibration is causing premature wear of tires. mjs

Seatbelt buckle failed causing the seat belt light to illuminate. nlm

Spare key that came with vehicle doesn't work. nlm

Tilt column got stuck in highest position. nlm

Hose clamp failed resulting in leakage. nlm

Front and rear door locks failed. nlm

Drivers side door misadjusted. nlm

Windshield wiper motor failed. nlm

Engine belt broken. nlm

Water pump failed. nlm

Fuel gauge failed. nlm

Alternator failed. nlm

Battery failed. nlm

The front brake rotors were replaced five times and the rear brake rotors were replaced three times. however, vehicle still experience shaking of the wheel, most severe when braking at 60 mph. *yc

Vehicle has trouble with suspension control when going over bumps in the road, vehicle experiences loss of control when traveling over 50 mph. mjs

Front seat belts continuously fail to retract and twist. units have been replaced once, however problem continues.

Remote entry key system works poorly due to design, the alarms and opening devices are activated very easily when remote is in pocket, resulting in accidental engagement. mjs

Abs brake module recall component (97v-064) replaced, however brakes still experience poor performance. mjs

Seat belt inoperative due to the retracting mechanism jamming. mjs

Anti lock brake recall repair work completed however after replacement brakes heated up causing rotors to warp.

Steering wheel loose causing power steering to be inaffective and vehicle to loose control.

Rotors warped resulting in vibration.

Seat belt retractors locks up.

While driving between 60 and 70 mph, the steering wheel and vehicle vibrates. cause is unknown. dealer replaced all four tires but it did not correct problem.

Front brake malfunciton.

Steering wheel broke free from steering system.

Automatic transmission failed.

Brake pedal broke loose and dangled to the floor, causing accident due to loss of control.

Front seat belt twists and becomes jammed in the guide rendering it useless. very difficult to un-jam.

Seat belts roll in the over the shoulder bracket.

When filling gas tank and tank reaches full capacity and kicks off automatic nozzle, gasoline will leak onto ground. *ak

When filling gas tank and reaches full capacity, it kicks off the automatic nozzle and gasoline will spill onto vehicle and ground. in addition, windshield had to be replaced due to a visual defect in the driver's area. the replacement windhshield causes a double image and is very distracting. *ak

Horn is too hard to activate. *ak

Anti-lock brakes failed prior to recall, recall repairs refused due to wrong vin (97v-064). *ak

Unspecified: road debris hits airbag sensor, causing false deployment of air bags, resulting in leg injuries/hearing loss.

Serpentine belt came off on a crowded interstate at 70 mph, cutting an a/c hose so that engine fluid leaked out, resultging in engine overheating. *ak

Gas expulsion after filling tank.

Horn hard to engage.

Service engine light comes on.

Grinding sound in the front.

Traction control goes off.

Brakes failed.

Difficulty seeing dashboard controls due to dash top design.

Both rear seat belts were non operative, belt tensioning device could not be adjusted causing a safety hazard for anyone riding in the rear seat of the vehicle.

Driver's side seat belt is twisted & fails to retract properly. the seat beltis suppose to lock up. also, front end has a scrapping noise while being driven. been to dealer's & was test driven, twice by mechanic. nothing was found. *ak

Consumer received recall notification #00039 for front shoulder belt retractor, consumer made an appointment to have repair completed only to be told parts were not available, second occasion parts were in consumer returned vehilce and was advised by dealership repairs were made, but after checking to see if problem was fixed consumer realized seat belt was still exhibiting same problem, consumer went back to dealership a third time and was advised that parts had to be ordered, the last time consumer received a call from dealership stating there were no parts and the vehicle did not require repair of the defect, consumer was later advised that mechanic stated consumer did not understand the recall and that the dealership was finished. *jb

There is no summary currently available

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 source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm¿s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other my 1995-2002 gm passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.

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 source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm¿s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other my 1995-2002 gm passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.

There is no summary currently available

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 cavalier and pontiac sunfire sedans built between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997.odi opened this rq after receiving reports that other vehicles were exhibiting the same symptoms as the recalled vehicles.based on odi's review of technical and complaint data collected during the rq, the w-cars are associated with either a higher steering complaint rate or a higher lpb failure rate than the other vehicles investigated under the rq and are above or near the rates for the recalled vehicles.thus, odi will further examine the w-cars (1996-1997 oldsmobile cutlass supreme, 1996-1998 buick regal, chevrolet lumina, chevrolet monte carlo, 1997-1998 buick century, and 1998 oldsmobile intrigue) under a new investigation, engineering analysis (ea)03-019.

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 source of fuel to produce a combustible air-fuel mixture in the manifold.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by odi that no safety defect exists in the vehicles that are not included in gm¿s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the incidence of manifold ruptures and related fires in other my 1995-2002 gm passenger cars equipped with the subject intake manifold.for additional information, see the attached closing report.

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 cavalier and pontiac sunfire sedans built between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997.odi opened this rq after receiving reports that other vehicles were exhibiting the same symptoms as the recalled vehicles.based on odi's review of technical and complaint data collected during the rq, the w-cars are associated with either a higher steering complaint rate or a higher lpb failure rate than the other vehicles investigated under the rq and are above or near the rates for the recalled vehicles.thus, odi will further examine the w-cars (1996-1997 oldsmobile cutlass supreme, 1996-1998 buick regal, chevrolet lumina, chevrolet monte carlo, 1997-1998 buick century, and 1998 oldsmobile intrigue) under a new investigation, engineering analysis (ea)03-019.