1997 Buick Park Avenue Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 Buick Park Avenue has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 255,821 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 355 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SEAT BELTS 00V117000 2000-04-18 77,952 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELTS THAT MAY TWIST, ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR.

Consequence

WHEN THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING BECOMES JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR, THE BELT MAY BE UNUSABLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF UPDATED FRONT SHOULDER BELT BEZELS AND WHERE NECESSARY, INSTALL NEW FRONT SEAT SHOULDER BELT OPENING BEZEL KITS.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 97V064000 1997-04-28 156,910 affected
Defect

THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE CAN CAUSE THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) TO CYCLE DURING A NON-ABS BRAKE APPLICATION.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE.

SEATS 97V036000 1997-03-11 20,959 affected
Defect

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH CENTER REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM WOULD NOT WITHSTAND THE REQUIRED LOAD AND INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE CENTER REAR SEAT BELT ANCHOR BOLTS TO SPECIFICATION.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
25
19fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
24
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
22
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
13
1crashes2fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
11
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
11
SEAT BELTS
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
9
2fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
8
Total complaints355

What owners report

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

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. While driving, the contact noticed an odor of burning plastic. The contact noticed a little smoke coming from the rear driver's side panel. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road, turned off the rear defroster, disconnected the…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2019-10-11

“Why was this car not recalled with other gm products with the 3800 v6 engines for the oil leaks? These cars have the same 3800 v6 as all of the recalled cars!”

ENGINE · reported 2016-02-07

“My problem is, the left blinker of the front, back and headboard is not working. But if I put on my flashers, all my lights are working, including the left blinker. I took it in and they told me that its not the light bulb, and its not the fuses from both the front and the headboard fuses boxes,…”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING · reported 2015-05-12

“My problem is, the left blinker of the front, back and headboard is not working. But if I put on my flashers, all my lights are working, including the left blinker. I took it in and they told me that its not the light bulb, and its not the fuses from both the front and the headboard fuses boxes,…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2015-05-12

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle began to jerk without warning. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel sending unit needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2013-10-09

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. The contact stated that the vehicle began to smoke when starting the vehicle. The engine then caught on fire. The fire department was called and came to extinguish the blaze. The fire department stated that the fire was caused by an engine compartment…”

ENGINE · reported 2013-05-31

“Passenger shoulder belt will not retract. *tr”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2012-10-27

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 buick park avenue. The contact stated before entering his vehicle he noticed there was a puddle underneath his vehicle. After inspecting the spill he noticed that it was coming from the fuel tank. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor had it been repaired. The…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · reported 2012-02-13

Defect investigations

Investigation EA00002 Opened 2000-01-06 · closed 2000-05-02

FRONT SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTION

There is no summary currently available

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 PE99056 Opened 1999-09-02 · closed 2000-01-06

FRONT SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTION

There is no summary currently available

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 1997 Buick Park Avenue as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.