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1997 Buick Park Avenue Recalls & Complaints

3

open safety recalls on record

Serious

355 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.49 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious97V064000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE raises the risk of A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & full details

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

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.

Serious97V036000

Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly

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 & full details

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

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."

Moderate00V117000

Seat Belts:Front:Webbing

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

Remedy & full details

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

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.

Complaint volume

355 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

5Crashes
40Fires
11Injuries
0Deaths

Across 355 complaints. Severity Index 0.49.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Engine And Engine Cooling…25 · 7%Seat Belts · Front · Retr…24 · 7%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…22 · 6%Engine And Engine Cooling13 · 4%Power Train · Automatic T…12 · 3%Seat Belts · Front · Webb…11 · 3%Electrical System · 12v/2…11 · 3%Seat Belts10 · 3%
  1. Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline — 25 reports
  2. Seat Belts:Front:Retractor — 24 reports
  3. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 22 reports
  4. Engine And Engine Cooling — 13 reports
  5. Power Train:Automatic Transmission — 12 reports
  6. Seat Belts:Front:Webbing — 11 reports
  7. Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery — 11 reports
  8. Seat Belts — 10 reports
  9. Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine — 9 reports
  10. Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage — 8 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (1) · 1996 (3) · 1997 · 1998 (2) · 1999 (3) · 2000 (3) · 2001 (2) · 2002 (1) · 2003 (1) · 2004 · 2005

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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