NHTSA — Engine And Engine Cooling: Exhaust System: Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe Problems

1998 Buick Park Avenue (Page 1 of 2)

3.0

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,426 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Buick Park Avenue exhaust system problems

exhaust system problem

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1998 Buick Park Avenue Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

Apr 302006

Park Avenue

  • Automatic transmission
  • 63,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

: the contact stated the engine overheated several times and continuously required additional coolant fluid. This was always preceded by the check engine light illuminating. When the vehicle was taken to a service dealer, they determined there was a pinhole sized leak in the manifold. The service dealer was able to repair the leak.

- Burton, MI, USA

problem #22

Feb 042006

Park Avenue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 71,967 miles
: the contact stated in May 2003 the vehicle was hard to start at times. The dealership determined the plenum on the upper intake manifold was cracked. The dealership replaced the upper intake manifold. Two weeks ago on 2-4-06 the vehicle shut down while driving 65-70 mph. The vehicle was restarted and driven home. The contact took the vehicle to the dealership on 2-6-06 where the dealership determined the plenum on the intake manifold was cracked again. Coolant had seeped into the engine resulting in engine failure. The engine was replaced.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #21

Sep 202004

Park Avenue

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,619 miles
The consumer stated the intake manifold disintegrated. As a result anti- freeze leaked into the manifold and started to burn. Please provide additional information.

- Charleston, IL, USA

problem #20

Oct 012004

Park Avenue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,856 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I noticed coolant in reservoir was disappearing with no visible exterior leaking. I filled it and watched it carefully over the next couple days. Within 20 miles I had used 2 quarts of coolant and then my ses light came on. I immediately took my car to the local repair shop. The mechanic checked it out and determined that no. 6 cylinder was taking in coolant. After removing the intake plenim he found a hole burned through the coolant jacket by the egr valve. Hopefully, my engine is O.K. but seems to have lost some mileage. This is obviously a defective part and I should be reimbursed. My total bill came to only $382 including the new plenim and gasket. (labor in town is a bargain). I have the old part and will provide it if requested.

- Finlayson, MN, USA

problem #19

Aug 252004

Park Avenue

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,460 miles
The sevice engine light came on and within a day or two my car kept needing coolant. I scheduled an appointment with a Buick dealer but the next day the car wouldn't start. I had it towed to the dealer and within hours of getting there I was told there was an upper and lower internal manifold leak. The service person told me that he was familiar with the problem but would not say it was a design flaw. Why would a dealer carry a manifold that is a non-moving part but a cast piece of iron if this was not continual problem? I work in a foundry for caterpillar that makes cast blocks and heads and was told by an engineer this is a bad design.

- Peoria, IL, USA

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problem #18

Jul 142004

Park Avenue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,327 miles
The consumer stated that intake manifold failed, allowing coolant to get inside the engine. This cost $1200 to repair. The consumer called the manufacturer and spoke with a representative, who basically told him that they could not help. The consumer called the Buick dealer and was told that this was a common problem and Buick will not do anything about it. Buick service department told consumer they kept a number of them because of this problem. When the consumer attempted to start the engine, the starter housing broke. The mechanic found the engine full of coolant and traced the problem to an upper intake failure due to heat from the egr passage eroding away the plastic manifold causing coolant to leak into the engine. The consumer requested reimbursement.

- Duvall, WA, USA

problem #17

Jun 012004

Park Avenue

  • 85,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving at 50 mph check engine light came on, showing that the coolant was low. Dealer examined the vehicle, and filled the reservoir with coolant. Between the dealership and the consumer's home coolant drained from the reservoir and the radiator. Vehicle was towed back to the dealer, who replaced the manifold, the gasket, and upper plenum on the engine.

- Cedar Springs, MI, USA

problem #16

Apr 262004

Park Avenue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,947 miles
Intake manifold defect causing engine destruction and failure, resulting in replacement of engine. 1998 Buick Park Avenue 88947 miles.

- Albany, OR, USA

problem #15

Mar 172004

Park Avenue

  • miles
Vehicle was parked in the garage and consumer noticed that coolant was leaking from underneath the vehicle. Consumer was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the intake manifold needed replacing due to a hole inside of the tube.

- Flint, MI, USA

problem #14

Feb 162004

Park Avenue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,244 miles
While enroute home from vacation low coolant warning light came on. Within a few miles the engine temperature gauge went to hot. I was able to limp back a mile or so to a Chevrolet dealer I had passed. The intake manifold gasket had failed, costing $593 to replace along with the spark plugs, oil and filter. However, upon returning home, I opened the oil filler cap to find a glob of water contaminated oil inside. Now even short trips result in water droplets on the underside of the oil filler cap. Also, the engine idle is down about 100 RPM, it doesn't sound or run as smoothly as beore and there's a slightly detectable metallic knock from the engine. I believe the plastic intake manifold has also failed and should have been replaced. As a result of the defective manifold and gasket design, a $34,000 vehicle has a sick engine at only 64,000 miles. The mechanic that replaced the gasket said he had only worked at the dealership for three weeks, but replacing these intake manifold gaskets had been a continuous job. The service manager said I was lucky, because another customer had seized the starter and broken the flywheel trying to jump start her car full of coolant from a failed intake gasket. This problem with the intake manifold and gasket design is a manufacturer's defect that should be corrected by GM and not borne by the customer. I've also experienced most of the other characteristic failures with this car such as, warped brake rotors, failed ignition control module, failed shoulder belt retractor, broken ash tray door latch, shudder in steering wheel while turning at low speed, suspension vibration due to defective bushings, etc. After 26 years of GM ownership loyalty, I'm calling it quits.

- South Charleston, WV, USA

problem #13

Nov 112003

Park Avenue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While I was driving I heard a pop & the service engine light came on I went another block and the car lost power & white smoke came out of exhaust. I turned engine off & tried to restart which was unsuccessful. I contacted Buick dealer because after talking to a few people I was told that this was a common problem with GM autos. Customer representative told me to go to dealer & they would work with me on the cost of the repair. After a week of wasted time I went to a local mechanic who repaired the auto at a cost of $1,049. The mechanic informed me that this was a very common problem with this engine because of the type of parts the manufacturer uses durin G production. I am relieved that nobody was injured during this incident but if this had occured on a highway and I was not able to get off to a shoulder the situation might have had a different outcome. This auto at the time had 68,000 miles and 1 week after the time frame of the extended warranty the extended warranty expired at 60,000 miles.this is a $33,000 vehicle and I would hope that an engine would last longer than 70,000 miles. I own two other vehicles (Toyota's) and they have a combined mileage of over 300,000 miles and both purchased new cost less than this vehicle. It is my understanding that there have been other complaints of this type for this vehicle and the manufacturer has done nothing to correct this problem.

- Tenafly, NJ, USA

problem #12

Sep 192003

Park Avenue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,991 miles
Initiation of problem started 19 Sept 2003 while on a roundtrip, tx to ca. After approximately $3,200 in repairs, ca & tx, the culprit is identified and the problem is currently fixed (30 Oct 2003). The culprit is a warped upper intake manifold, which allowed coolant to leak into the cylinders (finally hydro-locking the engine). This hard-plastic, domed original GM part has about a 1-mm warp on the end nearest cylinders #1 & #2. I consider this to be a manufacturer's flaw, although the vehicle has more than 75,000 miles. The tx dealer has seen other problems like this. A GM/Buick representative does not want to consider sharing some of the repair costs. I have a thorough file on this problem. I note other complaints for this integral part of the engine. -- jack sanders, dallas.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #11

Jul 012003

Park Avenue

  • miles
Consumer stated that vehicle overheated and broke down on highway. Dealer diagnosed that the plastick intake manifold cracked, causing failure.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #10

Jun 152002

Park Avenue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,000 miles
Intake manifold developed a crack or hole. Coolant leaked into cylinders and oil causing engine not to run. Repair cost over $900. This appears to be a known problem and Buick did not offer to share any of the repair expense. The plastic manifold, was over $300 for the part, which should have not failed, or at least should have been cheap to replace since it was plastic. This is a long term know defect and Buick should have recalled this and fixed it in the newer vehicles.

- Lilburn , GA, USA

problem #9

Jun 082003

Park Avenue

  • 108,000 miles
Intake manifold has malfunctioned. Dealer notified.

- Cartersville, GA, USA

problem #8

Mar 032003

Park Avenue 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,496 miles
The vehicle was started while in the garage when without warning the vehicle "exploded" underneath the hood. The dealer indicated that the intake manifold fractured and resulted in the fuel rail bending. One of the fuel line holding clips also was broke. The vehicle would crank but would not start. The battery had run dead and was charged, the fuel pressure was checked, the engine backfired and had blown the intake gasket. The intake gasket was replaced, the spark plugs were removed, the cylinders were blown out, the fuel rail was straightened, the leaking fuel pressure regulator, and fuel feed line/fuel rail to fuel filter was replaced. Buick division of GM agreed to cover 50 percent of the repair cost. Scc

- Caledonia, NY, USA

problem #7

Feb 212003

(reported on)

Park Avenue

  • miles
The intake manifold exploded, which caused a loud noise and smoke to appear.

- Kasota, MN, USA

problem #6

Feb 032003

Park Avenue

  • miles
The intake manifold was a defect from the manufacture. The manifold allowed water to leak into the engine causing the engine to stall.

- Spartanburg, SC, USA

problem #5

Aug 122002

Park Avenue

  • miles
Engine coolant dex cool leaked into engine through defect in upper manifold, destroying entire engine, requiring complete new engine.

- Petoskey, MI, USA

problem #4

Aug 072002

Park Avenue

  • miles
Engine would not start. Car had to be towed to dealership for repair. R&R upper intake, clean water of of intake, replace plugs, manifold, coolant. Owner noticed a decrease in power while driving on interstate highway at 70mph. Exited interstate and drove home (aprox. 1/4 mile or less). Vehicle parked in owner's garage. Owner tried to restart car and engine would not turn over.

- Lumberton, NC, USA

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