2000 Buick Park Avenue Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2000 Buick Park Avenue most often describe seat belts that stick or will not extend, engines that shut off while driving, and fuel leaks or fires after intake manifold or fuel pump failures. Steering vibration, noise, or sudden heavy steering and ABS or brake-lock problems also appear repeatedly. Mileage is listed in only some complaints and spans a wide range, and many reports describe sudden events rather than gradual wear.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Seat belts stuck, not extending, or failing

   • 8 complaints (10%)
   • median 56,500 mi at 7.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2011

   Owners report that front seat belts stick, will not come out, or will not retract, so the belt cannot be used. Some describe a belt that would not extend while the car was parked, getting progressively worse over time. Other complaints describe cracked belt housings or rear center belts that do not hold firmly. Some dealers confirmed the fault, and some owners were referred elsewhere for a replacement or asked to pay for the repair. Where mileage is given, complaints range from about 25,000 to 130,000 miles.

   What to check: On a test drive, pull out each front and rear belt, let it retract, and check that it locks when pulled sharply. Ask the seller whether any belt has been repaired or replaced and ask for the paperwork.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “- the contact owns the 2000 Buick Park Avenue. The contact stated that the safety belt on the front passenger's side was stuck and it will not work . The buckle of the seat belt was stuck and cannot be moved. The contact stated that the dealer from whom he purchased the vehicle went out of business. The contact stated this problem started on 03/11/2007, and continued since that date. The current and failure mileage were both 72000. Update 4/9”

   NHTSA complaint #10185026, filed 2007-03, 72,000 miles

   “Front passenger seat belt will not retract from it retractor, leaving passenger without any restraint while driving. Dealer notified. Seat belt on front passenger side will not extend retractor is locked up.”

   NHTSA complaint #10089742, filed 2004-09, 25,245 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Intake manifold rupture, fuel leak, or engine fire

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 17.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2016

   Owners describe an intake manifold that cracks or ruptures, sometimes right after the engine is started, with fuel leaking and in some cases catching fire. In some complaints the failure happens at a dealer or repair shop during a start or test run. Another complaint describes a replacement fuel pump whose diaphragm ruptured during a recall repair and sprayed gasoline. A complaint ties the fuel pump failure to recall 04V090000, which concerns fuel pressure regulators that can leak fuel into the intake manifold. Where mileage is given, complaints range from about 51,000 to 78,000 miles, and several describe the event right after the engine was started.

   Recall 04V090000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 04V090000 was completed, which you can check by entering the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup. Look for a fuel smell, wetness, or leaks around the intake manifold and fuel lines, and ask whether any intake manifold work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Got my car towed to midas on 12/15 because it wouldn't start. They said I needed a tune up and a new intake. They went to test my car and the engine caught fire. I received a call on 12/17 from midas saying that my engine caught fire and the intake specifically was under GM recall as it is a GM 3800 series ii engine. I was directed by midas to file a complaint about my issue, and that this work would be covered as it is part of a GM recall. My car won't start and I need to get it towed to a local dealership for the work to be done.”

   NHTSA complaint #10935963, filed 2016-12, 60,000 miles

   “The vehicle would not start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and when the technician started the vehicle the manifold blew up resulting into engine fire.”

   NHTSA complaint #10017275, filed 2003-04
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 8 complaints (10%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 9.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2010

   Owners report the engine quitting or shutting down while driving, including at highway speed and when coming to a stop. A complaint describes power steering and brakes failing along with the shutdown, and the engine running normally after restarting. Some owners say the engine restarted after sitting, and others say it shut off repeatedly in heavy traffic. In some complaints the dealer could not duplicate the problem or find a trouble code. Where mileage is given, complaints range from about 5,200 to 95,000 miles, with shutoffs described at speeds from about 30 to 70 mph.

   What to check: On a test drive, check that the engine idles and accelerates smoothly, and ask whether the vehicle was scanned for stored trouble codes. Ask for records of any engine computer repairs before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While going 65mph engine quit without warning. Vehicle will restart after sitting for 10 minutes. Problem has existed for past 5 weeks, and the dealer has been unable to determine what the cause is. Please provide more information.”

   NHTSA complaint #8012342, filed 2002-06

   “The vehicle stalled four times when coming to a stop, it once occurred while the consumer was driving at 70 MPH. The dealer was unable to duplicate the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #566194, filed 2002-06
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering vibration, noise, or sudden heavy steering

   • 6 complaints (7%)
   • median 63,590 mi at 8.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2011

   Owners describe steering wheel vibration at all speeds, and sometimes at idle or in gear. Others report a loud noise and shudder on turns with a stick-slip feel up to highway speed, or a sudden jump in steering effort that briefly made the car hard to control at low speed. A complaint describes a steering rack that broke after rust formed from condensation dripping from an air conditioning drain pipe, and the rack had to be replaced. In some complaints the dealer said the problem could not be fixed or that no fix was known. Where mileage is given, complaints range from 38,000 to 146,766 miles, and the vibration is described at all speeds while the sudden-effort event happened at low speed.

   What to check: On a test drive, check for wheel vibration and for heavy or uneven steering effort at low speed and on turns. Ask about any steering rack or alignment work, and check the area near the steering rack for rust and water from the air conditioning drain line.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “(1) sudden increase in steering effort. No prior indication of impending failure. (2) momentary loss of vehicle control due to the major increase in steering effort while turning left or right at low speeds, 20 MPH. I'm 81 years old. (3) dealer replaced the steering rack with what I believe to be a rebuilt unit, therefore, I imagine the oem unit was returned to ?”

   NHTSA complaint #10148803, filed 2006-01, 52,960 miles

   “Rack and pinion breakage caused by rust out of component due to placement of air conditioning system drain pipe. Condensate dripped directly on component and caused the component to fail while in service creating steering hazard and inability to control vehicle steering. Vehicle was serviced and rack and pinion had to be totally replaced due to rust out.”

   NHTSA complaint #10358226, filed 2010-09, 146,766 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   ABS or stability faults, brakes locking or applying

   • 9 complaints (11%)
   • median 44,700 mi at 4.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2011

   Owners report brakes that lock up or apply on their own, including a sudden stop with no pedal input and a lock-up during a slow turn that triggered the stability control. A complaint says a repair shop found the antilock brake module applying pressure to a front rotor, which made the rotor smoke and wear out. A separate complaint describes a loud brake noise, and the dealer found broken connectors on a small component that may belong to the ABS system. In another case the stability system failed intermittently, and a new computer chip was installed at the owner's expense. Where mileage is given, complaints range from 37,000 to 74,221 miles, and some describe the event during low-speed turns or ordinary stops.

   Recall 00V114000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 00V114000 was completed, which you can check by entering the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup. On a test drive, confirm the ABS and stability warning lights are off and that the brakes release fully after each stop.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving front left wheel was smoking. Vehicle was towed to an automobile repair shop where they determined that antilock brake control module was applying pressure to front left rotor, causing it to smoke and wear out.”

   NHTSA complaint #10034247, filed 2003-08, 37,000 miles

   “While driving at any speed vehicle suddenly came to a stop without pressing the brakes. Driver got out of the vehicle, looked at wheels, and noticed brake dust around the rim.”

   NHTSA complaint #10034252, filed 2003-08, 46,000 miles

Buying note. Before buying, ask for records covering seat belt, fuel system, and ABS or brake repairs, and confirm whether recall 04V090000 was completed. On a test drive, check steering, brake release, and engine restart behavior, since these areas carry many of the complaints above.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.