Buick Park Avenue 2004 — Reported problems

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. 4) The surprised driver must pull on the manual head light switch to regain head lights. 5) This may potentially happen any and every time the car is started after dusk, especially by a driver not familiar with the vehicle or issue.

DRIVER SIDE HEATED REAR VIEW MIRROR LOST CLARITY AND THE VIEW IS MINIMAL WITH NO VISION WHEN IT IS DARK. THIS IS FORTH BUICK PARK AVE TO DO THIS . 1997. 2000 2003 2004 DEALER WANTS $545.00 FOR THE GLASS ALONE.

SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT THEN THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND STEAM STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS THE HEATER HOSE FITTING THAT HAD FAILED. ACCORDING TO MOST DEALERSHIPS THIS IS BECOMING A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE COOLANT SYSTEM. *TR

TL* 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.

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. ABOUT THE SAME TIME, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHETHER IT WAS JUST BEFORE OR JUST AFTER THIS, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH IT HAS DONE INTERMITTENTLY IN THE RECENT PAST WITH NO CONSEQUENCE. JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER, HOWEVER, THE RADIO CEASED TO OPERATE. SINCE OUR AM CAPABILITY HAD VANISHED ALMOST A YEAR AGO, WE BOTH TOOK NOTE OF THIS OBVIOUS INTERRUPTION. FOR THE NEXT FEW MOMENTS WE WERE DISTRACTED BY NOT HAVING RADIO, BUT FIDDLED WITH THE DIAL, AND SOON HAD A SIGNAL RETURN FOR JUST A BRIEF MOMENT THEN IT WENT SILENT AGAIN. AT ABOUT THAT SAME MOMENT I AGAIN DETECTED A WHIFF OF ELECTRICAL ODOR. EARLIER, SINCE THE REAR WINDOW WAS FREE OF SNOW, I HAD TURNED OFF THE DEFROSTER. BUT, SCANNING THE MIRRORS, I WAS SURPRISED TO DISCOVER A TINY FLAME IN THE REAR WINDOW. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR, AND IN THE UPPER CORNER OF THE REAR WINDOW, THERE WAS A CIGARETTE LIGHTER SIZE FLAME. OBVIOUSLY AMAZED AND SURPRISED, I TOLD MY WIFE WHAT I SAW AND QUICKLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE SO I COULD PULL OVER. AFTER STOPPING AND OPENING THE PASSENGER DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, I SWATTED INSTINCTIVELY AT THE FLAME WITH MY LEFT HAND, HOPING THAT SUCH A MOTION WOULD DOUSE THE FLAME. THAT ONLY SUCCEEDED IN INJURING MY HAND IN WHAT LATER TURNED OUT TO BE A 2ND DEGREE BURN. THE CAR WAS EVENTUALLY CONSUMED BY FIRE EXCEPT THE FRONT FENDERS & TIRES - TOTALLED BUICK DID NOT ATTEND TO MY CASE BECAUSE I NO LONGER OWNED THE CAR WHEN I CALLED THEM {CASE # 711288559106]. *JS

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. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFILLING THE FUEL TANK, HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD READ EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

BOTH FACTORY - EQUIPPED TEMPORARY SPARE TIRES IN MY SON'S 2000 BUICK LESABRE AND MY WIFE'S 2004 BUICK PARK AVENUE TRUNKS HAVE FAILED WITHOUT EVER USING THEM. THE TREAD SIMPLY SEPARATED WHILE IN THE TRUNK, REQUIRING EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS . TIRE PRESSURE WAS AT OR LOWER THAN THE 60PSI REQUIRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CHROME COVERED ALUMINUM RIMS HAVE CORROSION, THAT CAUSES A LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT ROAD SIDE SALT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63.520. UPDATED 10/26/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/09

2004 PARK AVENUE HEADLIGHTS ARE DESIGNED WITH A NON-ADJUSTABLE FIXED ANGLE BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW BEAMS. *TS AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER HAS POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *NM

CERTIFIED LTR RE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS ON A 2004 PARK AVENUE, REQUESTS A DEFECTIVE INVESTIGATION AND A REFUND. *BF THE HIGH AND LIGHT BEAM LIGHTS ARE MADE AS A SINGLE FIXED UNIT NOT ALLOWING THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES TO ADJUST EITHER, INDEPENDENT OF THE OTHER. *NM