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1998 Buick Park AvenueProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 246 owner complaints about the 1998 Buick Park Avenue, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

25
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid3.0× the Park Avenue median · #1 of 19 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints24638 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage77kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 25, 2017. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1998 Buick Park Avenue has problems

246 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling9721
Seat belts321
Electrical system288
Fuel system, gasoline272
Service brakes, hydraulic171
Suspension130
Steering120
Power train122
Structure100
13 other systems433

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

1998 Buick Park Avenue recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Buick.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

77kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 43 engine and engine cooling complaints. 86% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 34% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
1under 30k miles37under 100k miles6100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

13 owners mentioned a cost

$966median

Middle half: $750 – $1,200

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1998 vs. every other Park Avenue year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Park Avenue median. How we score

'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
5 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1998 Buick Park Avenue, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FRONT SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTIONEA00002 · closed May 2, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-117
  2. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA02030 · closed Mar 9, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-090
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE02050 · closed Oct 22, 2002
    No recall
  4. FRONT SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTIONPE99056 · closed Jan 6, 2000
    No recall
  5. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURERQ03001 · closed Sep 15, 2003
    No recall
In owners' words

What Park Avenue owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

LOSS OF COOLANT INTERNALLY TO COMBUSTION/COMPRESSION CHAMBERS, HYDRO LOCKED ENGINE, THICK SMOKE FROM ENGINE EXHAUST, COOLANT MIXING INTO OIL, UNSTABLE TEMPERATURE REQUIRING VEHICLE STOPPAGE TO AVOID OVERHEATING/FIRE, CAR WILL NOT RUN. INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE AND HEAD GASKET DAMAGE. *TR
Complaint 10434115 · Nov 3, 2011 · 65,000 miles
1998 BUICK PARK AVENUE. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING OIL ON JULY 3, 2006. THE DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED THE INTAKE GASKET. ON JULY 9, 2009 THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 395.91.…
Complaint 10393276 · Mar 30, 2011
CAR OVERHEATED, ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH,I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO A STOP OFF OF THE ROADWAY, ENGINE LOCKED UP. HAD IT TOWED TO BUICK SHOP, WAS TOLD THAT COOLANT HAD GOTTEN INTO THE ENGINE. NEEDED TO REPLACE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLDS AND GASKETS, VALVE COVER GASKETS, SPARK PLUGS…
Complaint 10266437 · Apr 22, 2009 · 85,150 miles

Own a 1998 Park Avenue?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.