Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Buick Park Avenue problems
Owners filed 36 complaints about the 2003 Buick Park Avenue with NHTSA between May 2003 and Dec 2024. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (9).
Complaints
36
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling9
- Electrical system6
- Tires5
- Engine4
- Suspension2
- Power train1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Service brakes1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Wheels1
- Seat belts1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Visibility1
- Electronic stability control1
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 14, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
5
2
3
3
3
2
4
1
1
0
1
2
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 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
Engine and engine cooling
9 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE ULTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK FROM THE ENGINE INTAKE WHICH WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER HAD GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,200.”
Electrical system
6 reports
“IN SAN DIEGO UNION PAPER DATED 10/28/2015, THERE IS A RECALL ON GM CARS HAVING THE 3.8 LITER ENGINE. IT INVOLVES VEHICLES HAVING THIS ENGINE. THE PROBLEM IS INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING OIL. THIS WAS FOUND BY THE SMOG STATION. [XXX] ' *JB”
Tires
5 reports
“New tires installed on vehicle 12/10/24. Passenger rear tire blew out at 65mph on interstate on 12/16/24. Car was able to be controlled, some damage to vehicle. Could have resulted in severe injury and/or death.”
Engine
4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED OIL DRIPPING DOWN ON THE SPARK PLUGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 06/02/17*LJ UPDATED 06/27/18*JB”
Suspension
2 reports
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS A WIND-LIKE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASED, THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THERE WAS ALSO A TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING TO EITHER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE HUB ASSEMBLY WAS OUT OF BALANCE. BOTH HUB ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.”
Power train
1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 14, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.