Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Buick Park Avenue problems
Owners filed 44 complaints about the 2002 Buick Park Avenue with NHTSA between Sep 2001 and May 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (9).
Complaints
44
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system9
- Engine6
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Visibility5
- Air bags3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Structure2
- Steering2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Tires2
- Seats2
- Forward collision avoidance1
- Power train1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
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 Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
6
5
1
7
1
6
1
0
0
1
0
4
3
2
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
9 reports3 fires
“Rust got to the back end of this car it is completely detached this car is not safe in any shale or form. The backend could fall apart at any moment and completely make the tires and everything else fall right off. It has only been inspected by me and I am 100%sure it is rusted through and through. Just don't wanna see someone get hurt. The car vibrates on the highway.”
Engine
6 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Engine and engine cooling
5 reports1 fire
“DROVE 2.5 MILES FROM STORE,PARKED IN DRIVEWAY ,WENT IN HOUSE, 3MINS LATER HEARD EXPLOSION,CAR ENGINE IN FLAMES,BURNED FOR 20 MINS UNTIL FIRE DEPT EXTINGUISHED. *KB”
Visibility
5 reports
“ON 12/24/2007 THE RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW ON MY 2002 BUICK LESABRE BROKE. IT WAS REPAIRED AT A BUICK DEALERSHIP ON 12/28/2007. THIS IS THE THIRD POWER WINDOW TO BREAK. THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW BROKE ON 6/28/2007 AND THE LEFT REAR WINDOW BROKE ON 12/4/2007. THESE WINDOWS ALL BROKE IN THE DOWN POSITION, SO A REPAIR IS NECESSARY. ALL WINDOW HAD VERY FEW OPERATIONS. I WOULD ESTIMATE NO MORE THAN 100 OPERATIONS FOR THE FRONT WINDOWS AND NO MORE THAN 50 OPERATIONS FOR THE REAR WINDOWS. THE RELIABILITY OF THE WINDOWS SHOULD BE BASED ON OPERATIONS AND NOT MILEAGE. *TR”
Air bags
3 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MOVE INDEPENDENTLY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND BRUISES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
3 reports
“ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES PREMATURELY. THIS STARTED AFTER DEALER REPLACED BACK BRAKES. ABS MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT, INTERMITTENTLY. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.