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Buick Park AvenueModel year report

2004 Buick Park Avenue Problems

Complaints
12filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
90,000miles, 9 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.8L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Buick Park Avenue (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2004 Buick Park Avenue. The part named most often is electrical system, with 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by exterior lighting (3) and visibility (2). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 11% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 90,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 374 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 72 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Exterior lighting complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Tires (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “The afternoon of february 14 my wife and I were driving from indiana on I-70 east towards dayton, ohio. As we were driving we noticed how the snow storm we thought we were leaving behind in indiana seemed to be ever with us. About 3 p.m. In the afternoon I, the driver, smelled a faint electrical odor. Having had that experience before with no consequence I thought I might just be mistaken or smelled the odor from another car. …”

NHTSA complaint #10608583, filed 2014-07, 219,000 miles

Exterior lighting: “Head lights automatically shut off while driving at night: 1) The vehicle senses it is after dusk and automatically turns on headlights while starting the engine (Manual head light switch is in off position). 2) Driver therefore doesn't use manual switch to turn on head lights and proceeds to drive. 3) Approximately 10 minutes later, while driving in the dark, the vehicle automatically turns off the head lights resulting in a dangerous dark situation where driver can not see nor can the vehicle be seen by others. …”

NHTSA complaint #11537840, filed 2023-08

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Had the rear window defogger on while driving home at 45 MPH which is just a 15 minute ride and when I pulled in my driveway, smoke was filing the cabin of the car. I popped the hood and looked for damage and did not find any. Closed the hood and notice the rear (driver side) passenger seat on fire. I ran in the house and got the fire extinguisher and put out the fire. Unfortunately the insurer deemed the car a total loss due to extensive fire damage.”

NHTSA complaint #10452907, filed 2012-03, 67,501 miles

Wheels: “The contact owns a 2004 Park Avenue. The contact stated that there had been fluid leaking from the wheels intermittently. The authorized dealer was contacted and referred the contact to a tire shop for inspection and diagnosis. The vehicle was not inspected or diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10616021, filed 2014-07, 85,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

11% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 67,501 and 125,300 miles.

0%0–100%10–2511%25–5022%50–7522%75–10033%100–15011%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (9 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 90,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

200520062009201120122014420162023
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 Buick Park Avenue. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Park Avenue · sedan not rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2004 Buick Park Avenue version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Park Avenue FWD3.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic182721$3,200
Park Avenue FWD3.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic162620$4,100

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2004 Buick Park Avenue in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 374 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 374 bulletins →

Other model years of the Buick Park Avenue

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2005846,2420—21—Not enough data
20041290,0000—21—Not enough data
20033352,5001—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20023264,0001—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20015765,4342—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20008156,4803—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199914060,0003—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199824672,0002—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199721991,5253—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19965999,0003—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1995117108,0001—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19944897,0000—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199364156,5101—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199277123,0481—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19919296,6881—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199012200,0001———Not enough data
198921127,0000———Stable
198819—0———Stable
198713—0———Not enough data
1986655,0000———Not enough data
198510118,0000———Not enough data

All Buick Park Avenue model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Buick Park Avenue have?

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2004 Buick Park Avenue as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2004 Buick Park Avenue is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by exterior lighting with 3.

Has the 2004 Buick Park Avenue been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2004 Buick Park Avenue get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Buick Park Avenue (Park Avenue, 3.8L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Buick Park Avenue reported?

Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 90,000 miles and the middle half falls between 67,501 and 125,300 miles; 11% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.