2001 Buick Park Avenue Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2001 Buick Park Avenue most often describe the engine stalling or shutting off while driving, often without warning, and cruise control that speeds up on its own. Other frequent themes are power steering pump, rack, or hose failures, engine-bay fires or intake manifold breakage around startup, and windshield wipers that stop working in rain. Where mileage is listed, the stalls and steering failures are mostly reported at higher mileage, while the fire reports span a wide range.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 10 complaints (18%)
   • median 156,270 mi at 13.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2014

   Owners describe the engine stalling, losing all power, or shutting off while driving, often with no warning lights or messages. Some report losing power on a highway or expressway and having to coast to the shoulder, while others say the engine restarted after a few minutes. Dealers often could not find a fault, while in some cases a repair shop pointed to a mass airflow sensor or a code reader showed an anti-theft fault. Where mileage is listed, these events fall between 27,990 and 176,000 miles, and several happened at highway speed.

   What to check: During a test drive, check whether the engine restarts reliably after shutting off and whether any warning messages appear. Ask the seller for records of stall or power-loss repairs, including any mass airflow sensor or anti-theft system checks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A 2001 Buick Park Avenue was purchased on april 27, 2014. It ran good until september 19, 2014. On that day my son was driving the vehicle. Suddenly the check engine light started flashing and the car lost all power on a side road. He was able to start it after having to pull over with no lights, power brakes or steering. I took it for a test ride and it did the same thing. We got it home and failed to repair it by ourselves. We took it to a repair garage and they said the problem was the maf sensor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10660723, filed 2014-11, 156,270 miles

   “On 4 separate occasions and while traveling at speed around 50-65 miles per hour my car would just shut off. I would loose power steering and it would be hard to operate the vehicle. The last time this happened I was on a major freeway and had to pull over as cars would just drive by at 60 miles per hour or faster. I think it is ridiculous that my car is not included in the recall. This is a major safety issue and if I or my family would have been hurt or killed I am sure GM would add more cars to the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10626327, filed 2014-08, 176,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Cruise control speeds up on its own

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 65,500 mi at 7.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2010

   Owners describe the set speed rising on its own, for example from 55 or 65 mph up to 80 or 90 mph, and cruise control reconnecting after the brake was applied. Some say the car sped up when they tried to set, resume, or turn off the system. Some also describe sudden acceleration when backing out of a space. Dealers were told of the problem in some reports, and a complainant cites service bulletins that describe similar symptoms. Where mileage is listed, these reports fall between 24,200 and 86,743 miles, and several happened at highway speeds.

   What to check: On a test drive, set and resume the cruise control at highway speed and check that it disengages with the brake and the switch. Ask the seller whether any cruise-control or speed-control repair is recorded for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “During a trip from new mexico to arkansas, I was driving with the cruise control on. Suddenly the cruise control caused the vehicle to zoom. This has now happened a total of 8 times. One time I was in a place to see how far it would go. From a speed of 65, the transmission suddenly downshifted and the car accelerated to 90 miles per hour. It disconnected when I hit the brake. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10208714, filed 2007-11, 76,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2001 Buick Park Avenue. While the cruise control was set at 70 MPH he attempted to disengage it, the vehicle accelerated over 70 MPH. The contact stated that he also experienced failure with the vehicles head lights, high beams and the fuel gauge gave an incorrect reading. When the vehicle was out of fuel the gauge displayed full and when there was no fuel it also displayed full. The vehicle will be taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer will be contacted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10348310, filed 2010-08, 86,743 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering pump, rack, or hose failure

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 68,500 mi at 4.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2014

   Owners describe power steering pumps, racks, or hoses failing, with steering becoming hard to operate or the vehicle shuddering in turns. Some say the steering rack broke while pulling into a driveway, and others say power steering went out in traffic, making the car hard to maneuver. Dealers and independent shops replaced the pump, rack, or hoses in several reports, and an independent shop referred to a service bulletin for hose replacement. Where mileage is listed, these reports fall between 63,000 and 176,000 miles, and some happened while turning or in traffic.

   What to check: During a low-speed test drive, turn the wheel fully in both directions, listen for whining, and check for power steering fluid leaks. Ask whether the pump, rack, or pressure and return hoses have been replaced, and whether any service bulletin repair was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: consumer was steering when the steering rack broke. Consumer is concerned with the safety of this rack breaking. She was pulling into her driveway when the steering rack broke.”

   NHTSA complaint #10122281, filed 2005-05, 110,000 miles

   “The contact stated while driving 5-10 MPH and making turns the vehicle shuttered in motion and sound. There was also difficulty in steering. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who determined there was a technical service bulletin which directed that the power steering pressure hose and a power steering return hose to be replace. The repairs were performed by the independent repair shop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10167085, filed 2006-08, 63,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine-bay fire or intake manifold breakup

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 124,500 mi at 17.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2026

   Owners describe engine-bay fires and upper intake manifolds breaking apart, sometimes when the engine was started after the car had sat. In some reports the manifold broke into pieces and fire damaged nearby wiring and hoses, and an extinguisher or buckets of water were used to put out the blaze. A complaint links an engine-compartment fire to an earlier NHTSA investigation. Where mileage is listed, these events fall between 1,245 and 200,000 miles, and several happened while the engine was being started.

   What to check: Inspect the upper intake manifold, wiring, and hoses for cracks, melting, or heat damage, and check for fuel odors or leaks. Ask whether the intake manifold or fuel system was replaced or inspected on this VIN, and whether any NHTSA investigation or recall covers the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While attempting to start the car after the ignition was cranked for less than one second there was an explosion from under the hood resulting in fire. The fire was put out within a minute due to access of a nearby fire extinguisher. Upon examination of the engine compartment the entire intake manifold had exploded off of the engine and there was fire damage to wiring and hoses. The car was parked outside overnight and the temperature was 5 degrees f. It is a good thing I had recently purchased this car from my aging parents.”

   NHTSA complaint #10575288, filed 2014-03, 165,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2001 Buick Park Avenue. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the hood exploded and caught on fire. The fire was extinguished with 3 buckets of water. There was no property damage. It was unknown whether warning lights illuminated after the failure. There was no injury sustained; however, the contact stated that the incident was traumatic. The vehicle remained at the contact's residence, pending evaluation. No police report was filed. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11718919, filed 2026-02, 200,000 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop working in rain

   Mentioned in 4 of 47 sampled complaints

   Owners say the windshield wipers quit or became inoperable while driving in rain, leaving little clear view of the road. Some say the wipers worked only on high or low and not in intermittent mode after the car was pulled over. Dealers repaired the wipers in some cases, but the complaints say the problem still occurred, and some say it was later fixed. Mileage is not given in these reports, which describe the wipers stopping during rain, sometimes intermittently.

   Recall 00V346000

   What to check: During a test drive in rain or with the washer on, check that the wipers run on every setting, including intermittent. Ask whether the wiper system recall (00V346000) was completed on this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Windshield wipers stopped working while passing an 18 wheeler during a rainstorm at 6:00 am. Almost caused a multi vehicle accident as visibility was 0 . I could not get windshield wipers to work after I pulled off the road. Later in the pm, wipers would work on either high or low, but not intermittent.”

   NHTSA complaint #744505, filed 2001-04

   “Intermittently windshield wipers become inoperable, obstructing view of driver. Dealer has repaired windshield wipers three times, and problem still exists. Manufacturer has been notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #876864, filed 2000-12

Buying note. Used-car buyers considering this model year should ask whether the cruise control, power steering, and wiper systems have been repaired, and whether any engine-bay fire or intake manifold damage has been checked. A test drive at highway speed that includes a restart check after the engine is shut off can help identify the problems described above.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 47 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.