1996 Buick Park Avenue Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1996 Buick Park Avenue has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 323,802 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 96V116000 1996-07-01 275,811 affected
Defect

A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A NO-START CONDITION AND POSSIBLY AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.

SEAT BELTS 96V044000 1996-03-05 15,122 affected
Defect

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH ONE OR MORE INCORRECT SAFETY BELT AND/OR SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ENDS. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF AN INCORRECT PART IS USED, THE BELT MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT ALL FRONT AND REAR SAFETY BELT LATCH ENDS AND SAFETY BELT BUCKLES FOR CORRECT PARTS AND REPLACE ANY INCORRECT PARTS.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 95V204000 1995-10-23 32,869 affected
Defect

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF…

Consequence

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE; THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE IGNITION OR THAT THE SAFETY BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS
4
1crashes1fires3injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4
1fires1deaths
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
4
1crashes
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
3
2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
3
TIRES
3
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
2
2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2
Total complaints68

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Sub-frame rust is severe where 2 at front of the engine mounting bushings all have rust, but the worst are the ones supporting the transmission -under the transmission, 2 have almost no metal frame and engine/transmission could drop down, as seen on some of the you tube videos. Inspected and find…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2021-04-21

“The driver seat belt unbuckled warning chime doesn't work. The "key in the ignition" warning chime usually doesn't work. The mall module has been diagnosed as the cause by a local buick dealership. This same issue is a recall on some of this model and make of car, but not currently on this vin#.…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2016-09-27

“Slowed to turn corner, passenger air bag deployed. Airbag light on. No contact with anything outside the car.”

AIR BAGS · reported 2015-05-10

“Ignition switch will not turn off key can be removed with car running. *tr”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH · reported 2014-10-01

“Large bubble on sidewall pulling bead loose from rim, after driving only about 140 miles these tires are kelly explorer 205/70r15 dot pjmo jd1r. *tr”

TIRES · reported 2013-05-18

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 buick park avenue with bridgestone insginia tires, size: p225 60 rx16. The contact stated that the front passenger side tire would wear prematurely. The tires were not rotated. The failure mileage of the vehicle was 200,000 and the tire failure mileage was 10,000. ..…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2011-10-29

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 buick park avenue with bridgestone insginia tires, size: p225 60 rx16. The contact stated that the front passenger side tire would wear prematurely. The tires were not rotated. The failure mileage of the vehicle was 200,000 and the tire failure mileage was 10,000. ..…”

TIRES · reported 2011-10-29

“Three of the four rear sub-frame bolts rusted away, allowing the sub-frame to drop on one side affecting the alignment of the front wheels. This is due to the fact that the lower control arm for the suspension is attached to the sub-frame. If the fourth bolt was rusted as bad as the other three,…”

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS · reported 2009-12-07

Defect investigations

Investigation EA02030 Opened 2002-10-22 · closed 2004-03-09

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…

Investigation EA02030 Opened 2002-10-22 · closed 2004-03-09

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…

Investigation EA02030 Opened 2002-10-22 · closed 2004-03-09

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME…

Investigation PE02050 Opened 2002-06-13 · closed 2002-10-22

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Investigation RQ03001 Opened 2003-01-02 · closed 2003-09-15

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS…

Investigation RQ03001 Opened 2003-01-02 · closed 2003-09-15

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Buick Park Avenue as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.