Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Buick Park Avenue, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling97
- Seat belts32
- Electrical system28
- Fuel system, gasoline27
- Service brakes, hydraulic17
- Suspension13
- Steering12
- Power train12
- Structure10
- Unknown or other9
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 12 1998 Park Avenue vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 10 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Buick Park Avenue failed the safety check 2.52% of the time — 47% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 131,041 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 12.3–12.7 L/100 km (about 19 mpg US), CO₂ 283–292 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Avenue · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 14.6 | 9.5 | 12.3 |
| Park Avenue # · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 15.1 | 9.7 | 12.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Buick Park Avenue.
| 2003283 12 Nov 2003 | Engine On certain vehicles, a combination of a low battery condition and fuel in the upper intake manifold while the ignition key is activated at engine start could ca… |
| 2000108 28 Apr 2000 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the front seat shoulder belts may twist, allowing the webbing to become jammed in the retractor. When the shoulder belt webbing becomes ja… |
| 1998034 20 Feb 1998 | Emissions THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1101 - EMISSION DEVICE. IMPROPER CALIBRATION OF THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CAN RESULT IN UNCONTROLLED SPA… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE FUEL FROM THE LEAKING REGULATOR AND A MISTIMED SPARK CAN CAUSE A BACKFIRE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELTS THAT MAY TWIST, ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Buick told its dealers about the 1998 Buick Park Avenue: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635006 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING 4T65-E TRANSAXLE SPACER PLATE AND GASKETS FOR VARIOUS MODELS FROM 1997 THROUGH 2002. *TT |
| 634997 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING 4T65E TRANSAXLE SPACER PLATE AND GASKETS. *TT |
| 634993 | TECHNICAL INFORMATION REGARDING SHAKE / VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR, SEAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROADS. *TT |
| 634985 | CONCERNS WITH SLIPS, HARSH UPSHIFT OR GARAGE SHIFTS, LAUNCH SHUDDERS, FLARES, ERRATIC SHIFTS AND INTERMITTENT CONCERNS, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1811 OR P0748 SET. *TT |
| 634981 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHAKE / VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR, SEAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROADS. *TT |
| 634813 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A REPEAT ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. *TT |
| 629785 | ONWERS MAY ENCOUNTER ONE FUEL READING AFTER THEY HAVE FINISHED DRIVING THE VEHICLE THEN A DIFFERENT READING WHEN RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. *TT |
| 628928 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK. *TT UPDATED *EH |
| 627462 | INFORMATION REGARDING SHAKE/VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR,SEAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROADS (DIAGNOSE/BALANCE TIRES/WHEELS). *YH |
| 623615 | INFORMATION REGARDING EXTRA CLIPS IN THE 4T65E TRANSMISSION. *SLC |
| 620835 | EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION, OR AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK NEAR OR UNDER THE THROTTLE BODY AREA OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TT |
| 619177 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON A REPEAT ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK. *TT |
| 619176 | ENGINE COOLANT CONSUMPTION OR COOLANT LEAK (INSPECT FOR MATERIAL DEGRADATION/REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLDS) *TT UPDATED 11/02/07 *NJ |
| 619036 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE FRONT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR CAMPAIGN NUMBER 00039. *TT |
| 618097 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SHAKE / VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR, SEAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROADS. *JB UPDATED *EH GM VOICEMAIL MESSAGE. *TT |
| 609697 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT THE HIGH EFFORT TO MOVE THE RANGE SELECTOR (GEAR SHIFT) CONTROL LEVER TO A DESIRED POSITION. *TT |
| 609642 | THE FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER SWITCH TRIM PLATE HAS BECOME DTACHED FROM THE SEAT AND/OR SEAT ROCKS. YD |
| 609639 | TRUNK MOUNTED 12 CD CHANGER EJECTS INTERMITTENTLY. YD |
| 6092333 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE BLACK PLASTIC HOUSING AROUND THE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR TURNS CHALKY OR IS DULL IN COLOR. *TT |
| 6089947 | A CONDITION WITH THE FRONT SEAT BACK AND / OR SEAT CUSHION HEAT ELEMENT IS NON-FUNCTIONING. *TT |
| 6088955 | SUBJECT REGARDING LOW POWER / STUMBLE WHEN ACCELERATING IN TURNS OR STRAIGHT LINE. *TT |
| 6088910 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER SWITCH TRIM PLATE DETACHING FROM SEAT AND / OR SEAT CHUCKS / ROCKS. *TT |
| 6088866 | EXPERIENCING CLUNK, RATTLE OR METAL TO METAL NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. *TT |
| 6088815 | EXPERIENCING CLUNK, RATTHE OR METAL TO METAL NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. *TT |
| 6088811 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A POPPING TYPE NOISE HEARD IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
FRONT SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTION
FRONT SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation