Complaints
355
Crashes
5
Fires
40
Injuries
11
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Buick Park Avenue Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#125 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fires:19
#224 complaints
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
Avg mileage:103,250 mi
#322 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Avg mileage:72,900 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Buick Park Avenue.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 25 | — | 19 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 24 | — | — | 103,250 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 22 | 1 | — | 72,900 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 13 | 1 | 2 | 71,674 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 12 | — | — | 55,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 11 | — | — | 44,000 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 10 | — | — | 116,993 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 | — | 2 | 118,172 mi | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 7 | — | 2 | 118,340 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 7 | — | — | 29,000 mi | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 7 | — | — | 52,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 6 | 1 | — | 101,571 mi | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 5 | — | 5 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 5 | — | — | 109,229 mi | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 5 | — | — | 34,000 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 1 | 1 | 155,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 4 | — | — | — |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
25
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
19
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
103,250
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,900
Engine & Cooling
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
71,674
Automatic Transmission
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,000
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
44,000
Seat Belt Issues
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
116,993
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
118,172
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
118,340
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
29,000
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
52,000
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
101,571
Wiring & Fuses
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
109,229
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
34,000
Suspension:Front
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
155,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Buick Park Avenue. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Buick Park Avenue Years
1997 Buick Park Avenue — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Buick Park Avenue reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1997 Buick Park Avenue has 355 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline with 25 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Buick Park Avenue?
Top reported problems: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (25 complaints); Seat Belts:Front:Retractor (24 complaints, avg 103,250 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (22 complaints, avg 72,900 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Buick Park Avenue?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 83,126 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Buick Park Avenue?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Buick Park Avenue include 5 crash-related reports, 40 fire reports, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Buick Park Avenue have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Buick Park Avenue as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Buick Park Avenue?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1997 Buick Park Avenue shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Buick Park Avenue reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Buick Park Avenue
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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