1997 Buick Park Avenue V6

Summary:

A big yellow lemon

Faults:

The fuel gauge had to be replaced three times.

The gas line leaked and had to be replaced.

The pulley to the belts exploded.

The driver's seat fell apart.

The climate control computer stopped working three times.

The radio stopped working..

The head lights gave me lots of trouble at night.

The motor on the driver's door stopped working, so the window would not go back up, so had to have a replacement motor put in.

The rear bearings on the axle started making a terrible noise and had to be replaced for the third time.

Water started coming into the car on the driver's door, even though all the windows were up and the doors were closed.

Had to put in two radiators in this car, as the motor would overheat.

The seals on the engine started to leak really bad and I had to pay out of my pocket to have them fixed.

The seat belt quit on the driver's seat and had to be replaced.

General Comments:

From the outside of this car, it looked really great, but it was a mechanical nightmare. I finally had it with this car, sold it, and it was sent to the crusher and I was glad to see it go. I will NEVER own another GM car because the dealership refused to honor some of the recalls on this car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 24th May, 2015

30th May 2015, 01:07

I wondered the same thing. Why on earth would you keep a car you were SO unhappy with for 16 years?? I had a Buick Lucerne I was unhappy with and I didn't even keep it that many months! Granted my decision was not the most financially sound, but I didn't want to drive a car I hated and should have never bought in the first place every day.

Prior to that I had 2 Park Avenues (a 1999 and a 2005) which I loved. I still wish now I had kept the '05. They just don't make cars like that anymore and probably never will again.

I had several of the minor issues you mentioned with both cars (fuel gauge, climate control, driver seat trim coming loose, etc.) Most of the issues were very minor in my opinion, and I was even able to repair/replace many of the faulty electrical parts myself, and I have very little to no mechanical experience (I thought the dash design was very easy to take apart and the parts were very accessible). If GM still made these, I would gladly still be buying them.

9th Aug 2015, 20:25

I'm wondering if anyone has driven both a Park Avenue (1990s or 2000s) and a 2000-2005 Deville base model (not a DTS though).

How would you compare the ride quality of each? Which one absorbs bumps, potholes, expansion joints better? Which one is quieter and which one has softer seats? I don't mind a bit of up and down floatiness, because I'm not interested in a sports sedan ride. To me all recent cars are just too firm riding.

10th Aug 2015, 21:42

Ride quality and comfort are about the same. The Cadillac has more power and quietness due to the V8. The Park Avenue is twice as reliable with the 3800 V6. Early Northstars are junk.

1997 Buick Park Avenue Ultra 3.8 Supercharged

Summary:

Very comfortable car to drive

Faults:

Great car! Unfortunate repair record though.

Complete transmission replacement at 160k miles.

Complete engine replacement at 180k miles.

Excellent ride, so the investment was worth it. One unfortunate problem is that the GM bankruptcy has resulted in many repair parts being no longer available.

ABS traction control system is problematic.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 31st December, 2010

29th Sep 2019, 20:18

The GM bankruptcy had nothing to do with certain parts not being available. What lack of part availability does have to do with is the vehicle being older than 10 years. The government mandated long ago that replacement parts be available for a minimum of 10 years after the particular model year for any vehicle being sold. GM's bankruptcy was a restructuring, they didn't become defunct.