Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Buick Park Avenue problems

Owners filed 59 complaints about the 1996 Buick Park Avenue with NHTSA between Jun 1996 and May 2021. The most-cited component is air bags (10).

Complaints
59
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags10
  2. Electrical system9
  3. Engine and engine cooling9
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic6
  5. Fuel system, gasoline5
  6. Tires4
  7. Power train4
  8. Suspension3
  9. Seats3
  10. Visibility3
  11. Steering2
  12. Structure2
  13. Interior lighting1
  14. Seat belts1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19963
199711
19986
19994
20003
20013
20021
20032
20042
200510
20064
20072
20081
20091
20100
20111
20120
20131
20141
20151
20161
20170
20180
20190
20200
20211

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

10 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SOUND AND FELT PAIN IN HER LEFT HAND. SHE REALIZED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED SHE CALL NHTSA. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WERE NO AIR BAG RECALLS AVAILABLE AND THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,037 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,027. UPDATED 12/12/07”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2007Air bagsODI 10209173

Electrical system

9 reports1 related recall
“THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME DOESN'T WORK. THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME USUALLY DOESN'T WORK. THE MALL MODULE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS THE CAUSE BY A LOCAL BUICK DEALERSHIP. THIS SAME ISSUE IS A RECALL ON SOME OF THIS MODEL AND MAKE OF CAR, BUT NOT CURRENTLY ON THIS VIN#. GM AND SUTTLE MOTORS OF NEWPORT NEWS, VA REFUSE TO PAY THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I FEEL LIKE THIS VIN# SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED 5 YEARS AGO, WITH THE PROBLEM OCCURRING THE 1ST DAY OF OWNERSHIP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2016Electrical systemODI 10910574

Engine and engine cooling

9 reports2 fires
“DAVID NELSON DIED IN CAR FIRE IN DRIVEWAY OF RESIDENCE IN PLENTYWOOD, MT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2008Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineFire reportedODI 10230980

Service brakes, hydraulic

6 reports1 crash
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE STARTER, TIMING BELT, AND ELECTRONIC COMPUTER RELAY WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER. A NHTSA RECALL, # 96V116000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS COMPLETED BY THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE STALLING ISSUE REMAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. UPON INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, A BACKFIRE OCCURRED AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ATTRIBUTED THE DAMAGE TO THE RECALL REPAIR. UPDATED 05/30/06 4 FUEL PUMPS REPAIRED IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND STILL THERE IS A SHORT IN THE AIR CONDITION AFTER FIXING THE RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, CHECKED BRAKES DUE TO NOISE AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. FOUND REAR PADS WITH UNEVEN WEAR, AND REAR ROTORS FLAKING. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 21, 2006Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10153346

Fuel system, gasoline

5 reports1 fire1 related recall
“DT: THE PRESSURE FUEL LINE SPILT AND LEAKED GAS. IT WAS LOCATED RIGHT BEHIND THE ENGINE. CALLER SAID THEY SMELLED GAS. DEALER HAD TO ORDER A WHOLE NEW FUEL LINE AND IT TOOK THEM FOUR DAYS TO IT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2005Fuel system, gasolineODI 10131898

Tires

4 reports
“LARGE BUBBLE ON SIDEWALL PULLING BEAD LOOSE FROM RIM, AFTER DRIVING ONLY ABOUT 140 MILES THESE TIRES ARE KELLY EXPLORER 205/70R15 DOT PJMO JD1R. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 18, 2013TiresODI 10512661
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.