1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

I OWN A 1997 PARK AVE ULTRA WITH SEVERAL RECALL REPAIR ISSUES THE FOLLOWING WERE ADDRESSED BY GM BUT NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED: (FAULTY) ABS SYSTEM (WITH CAMPAIGN CODE STICKER) REPLACED ABS SYSTEM CUTS OUT RANDOMLY CAUSING CHANGES IN STOPPING DISTANCE (IN SEVERE BRAKING SITUATIONS THE ABS SYSTEM HAS CUT OUT ON ME GETTING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES JUST TO COME TO A NORMAL STOP) FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT REPLACEMENT(NO CAMPAIGN STICKER) MIDDLE REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR WAS NEVER FIXED OR TORQUED TO PROPER SPECIFIED STANDARDS WHILE IN FOR REPAIRS LET ALONE ADDRESSED AT ALL RACK AND PINION HAS MULTIPLE ISSUES SOME DUE TO AGE AND MILES BUT REGARDLESS THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY IS LOOSE AND BEARINGS ARE SHOT THE FAULTY RECALL REPAIRS ON MY VEHICLE DON'T INSTILL TRUST IN GM'S ABILITY TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE A SECOND TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. CURRENTLY, THE ANTILOCK BRAKES WILL ENGAGE DURING BRAKING. OCCASIONALLY, THEY ENGAGE BY THEMSELVES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARS A GRINDING SOUND WHEN SHE IS NOT BRAKING. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,800.

Mileage: 47,800

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGE WHEN THEY ARE NOT NEEDED. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V064000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,004 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATE 10/01/08 *CW THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED FOR NO REASON. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. UPDATED 10/03/08.*JB

Mileage: 67,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING 1 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE BRAKE PEDAL. HE NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MECHANIC HAVE NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE LINE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45,000.

Mileage: 45,000

REPEATABLE, WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE, THE ABS AND TRACTION-OFF WARNING-LIGHTS SUDDENLY COME ON TOGETHER AND STAY ON INDICATING LOSS OF ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON RESETS THE FUNCTIONS, BUT THEY WILL BECOME DISABLED AGAIN SOMETIME LATER WHILE DRIVING. THIS COULD HAPPEN, POSSIBLY FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR SOMEONE, IN AN EMERGENCY JUST BEFORE ONE OF THESE FUNCTIONS IS CALLED UPON TO AVOID A SEVERE ACCIDENT. THE FAILURE OCCURS ON SMOOTH ROADS WITHOUT REGARD TO SPEED. I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED. THE CAR MAY RUN FOR 200 MILES WITHOUT A PROBLEM, AND THEN AGAIN THE PROBLEM MAY OCCUR WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM STARTING OUT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED AND THE ABS BRAKES CYCLED FOR NO REASON CAUSING A GRINDING SOUND TO APPEAR FROM THE TRANSMISSION. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING DETERMINING THERE WAS A DEFECT PERTAINING TO THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACT CONTROL MODULE. INFORMATION WAS ALSO FOUND ONLINE REGARDING RECALLS THAT MATCHED VEHICLE'S SYMPTOMS. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE ALERTED WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VIN DID NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

Mileage: 70,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED AND THE ABS BRAKES CYCLED FOR NO REASON CAUSING A GRINDING SOUND TO APPEAR FROM THE TRANSMISSION. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING DETERMINING THERE WAS A DEFECT PERTAINING TO THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACT CONTROL MODULE. INFORMATION WAS ALSO FOUND ONLINE REGARDING RECALLS THAT MATCHED VEHICLE'S SYMPTOMS. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE ALERTED WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VIN DID NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

Mileage: 70,000

DT: THE PROBLEM STARTED SOMETIME AROUND THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER 2005. THE BRAKES WERE NOT HOLDING. THE CONTACT HAD THE REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED TWO WEEKS AGO BECAUSE THE ABS AND TRACTION LIGHT WERE COMING ON. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, ABS LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT, AND A NOISE WERE STILL OCCURRING. NHTSA RECALL 97V064,000 CONCERNING ABS WAS ISSUED. WHEN CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THAT HIS VEHICLE'S YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING THAT CAME OUT OF IT YET. *AK

THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

Mileage: 78,800

THE HEATER IN THE SEAT QUIT WORKING. A NEW ONE WAS INSTALLED AND IT DOESN'T HEAT UP CORRECTLY. THE MOTOR IN THE WINDOW FAILED. THE ROTORS/BRAKES WERE WARPED. THE STEREO FAILED. THE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP CORRECTLY DESPITE A NEW ONE BEING PUT IN. THE STARTER IS DRAGGING. SOME OF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER THE SMART CHOICE EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER SOME OF THE REPAIRS ARE STILL NEEDED AND I STILL HAVE TIME REMAINING ON MY SMART CHOICE WARRRANTY BUT THEY HAVE WENT BANKRUPT AND MY DEALER SAYS THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER VALID AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS DONE.

Mileage: 72,000

THE ROTORS WARPED PREMATURELY. *JB

Mileage: 29,000

CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TRYIED TO STOP VEHICLE QUICKLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED AND THEN THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHEN APPLIED, OWNER CHECKED BRAKE PADS, AND FOUND THEM IN GOOD CONDITION, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE BRAKES LOCK-UP ON ICE AND THE CAR IS SLIDING. *JG *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

RECALL 97V064000; WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES THEY WILL PULSATE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

BRAKE LINES LEAKING DISCOVERED IN FLORIDA ON TRIP. BUICK DEALER REPAIRED, BOTH BRAKE PIPES FROM MASTER CYLINDER TO ABS UNIT RUBBED AGAINST TRANSMISSION, REPLACED. I WOULD SAY THIS IS A MFG. FAULT.*AK

ALL FOUR DISC BRAKE ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT ONLY 54000 MILES. PRODUCT PRCLUDES TURN DOWN? LIFE IS TERRIBLE FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RELATED ITEM. REPAIR FACILITY REPORTS MANY SIMILAR FAILURES ARE OCCURING.*AK

ON TWO OCCASSIONS, ONE ON DRY PAVEMENT, ONE ON WET, IN A PANIC STOP SITUATION, THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO BRAKING FOR A TIME. IT WAS AS IF THE ABS STARTED ON THE WRONG CYCLE (NO BRAKING). THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED SIGNIFICATLY IN BOTH CASES. *AK

ELECTRONIC BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING ABS TO ACTIVATE WHEN IT WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO. ALSO, TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATED WHEN TAKING OFF, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. RECALL 97V064000/ ABS FAILURE. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE COMING TO A SLOW AND NORMAL STOP ABS WILL KICK IN, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ABS KICKS IN WHEN IT IS NOT NECESSARY. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH GOING DOWN HILL BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. CONSUMER COULD NOT PRESS BRAKE, AND HAD TO COAST DOWN THE HILL. *AK THE POSSIBLE CAUSE IS BRAKES HEATING THE FLUID AND WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER. *YH

FIRST TIME REPAIRED BRAKES AT 19000 MILES. *AK

FIRST TIME REPAIRED BRAKES AT 19000 MILES. *AK

WHILE MAKING A TURN BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED AND STAYED ON. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUBBING ON TRANSMISSION AND WORE A HOLE THROUGH THE BRKAE LINE. WOULD HAVE LED TO TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK *ML

WHILE MAKING A TURN BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED AND STAYED ON. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUBBING ON TRANSMISSION AND WORE A HOLE THROUGH THE BRKAE LINE. WOULD HAVE LED TO TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK *ML

FACTORY REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SEPT 1998 SAME AS BEFORE. THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM PERSISTS; SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT BUICK COULD DO NOTHING. PASSENGER CAN EXTEND SEAT BELT, BUT IT OFTEN FOLDS & JAMS, LEAVING 1-2 FT OF LOOSE BELT WHICH VOIDS THE SAFETY OF SEAT BELT. WARPED BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PROBLEM IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO BUICK WHO HAS LAST WEEK SUGGESTED A TRIAL OF CHANGING HOSES.

WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED THERE IS A PULSATING FEELING IN THE PEDAL . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS FAILED. YH

FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS FAILED. YH

BRAKES MAKE VIBRATION AND SHUDDER, REPAIRED ROTORS HOWEVER CONTINUES. MJS

THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED FIVE TIMES AND THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES. HOWEVER, VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCE SHAKING OF THE WHEEL, MOST SEVERE WHEN BRAKING AT 60 MPH. *YC

ABS BRAKE MODULE RECALL COMPONENT (97V-064) REPLACED, HOWEVER BRAKES STILL EXPERIENCE POOR PERFORMANCE. MJS

ANTI LOCK BRAKE RECALL REPAIR WORK COMPLETED HOWEVER AFTER REPLACEMENT BRAKES HEATED UP CAUSING ROTORS TO WARP.

ROTORS RESURFACED AT 14,000 MILES DUE TO FAILURE. *YC

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DOWN A MOUNTAIN HILL AND WHEN APPYLING THE ABS BRAKES, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHUDDERED CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DOWN A MOUNTAIN HILL AND WHEN APPYLING THE ABS BRAKES, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHUDDERED CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ROTORS WARPED RESULTING IN VIBRATION.

FRONT BRAKE MALFUNCITON.

BRAKE PEDAL BROKE LOOSE AND DANGLED TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL.

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO WRONG VIN (97V-064). *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CAUSE FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A MISSING SPLIT LOCK RING. POSSIBLY, IT WAS NEVER INSTALLED AT FACTORY. DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES DURIGN THE ABS FAILING. *YH

VEHICLE OWNER CONTACTED DEALER IMMEDIATELY AFTER RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE. ACCORDING TO DEALER, NO PARTS TO PERFORM CORECTIVE ACTION, MANUFACTURER CANNOT GET PARTS. NHTSA NO: 97V064000, MFR NO: 97020. NO BRAKE PROBLEMS AS YET. *AK

BRAKES FAILED.

OWNER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE SERVICE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON, OWNER NOTES THAT DEALER REPLACED A FAULTY COMPUTER BUT PROBLEM RETURNED. *AK