2003 Buick Park Avenue: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 33 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (22% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Dec 2002
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“New tires installed on vehicle 12/10/24. Passenger rear tire blew out at 65mph on interstate on 12/16/24. Car was able to be controlled, some damage to vehicle. Could have resulted in severe injury and/or death.”Owner report · Tires · Dec 2024
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick park avenue. While driving 25 mph, the transmission slipped and caused the vehicle to malfunction. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2016
“Abnormal wear pattern, low mileage, new tire < 8 months service, alignment check / good, tie rods, ball joints, shocks like new. Tire cord/ belts bare exposed on outside edge of tire 1/3 of circumference. Worn smooth, no cupping. Possible rubber compound issue. Only abnormal wear found on 1/3 of tire rotation. Tire manufacture pirelli, near zero m/s p235/55zr 17, dot ns ek f661 5014 estimated <10,000 miles pictures available”Owner report · Tires · Aug 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick park avenue. While driving at any speed the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over and noticed oil dripping down on the spark plugs. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who diagnosed that the intake manifold gasket was leaking. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. Updated 06/02/17*lj updated 06/27/18*jb”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2016
“My sister was the previous owner. The engine shuts down completely. This has occurred while at a stop light, while driving 40 mph down a city street. Fortunately, I have been able to pull over or the miraculously the vehicle re-started quickly. These symptoms are identical to the symptoms of the other gm recalled vehicles. *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Feb 2014
“In san diego union paper dated 10/28/2015, there is a recall on gm cars having the 3.8 liter engine. It involves vehicles having this engine. The problem is intake manifold leaking oil. This was found by the smog station. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).' *jb”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2013
“Tl*the contact owns a 2003 buick park avenue ultra. The contact stated that there was a leak from the engine intake which was repaired by the dealer. Three months later, the failure occurred again. The dealer stated that there was nothing they could do to fix the problem. The engine manufacturer had gone out of business. The failure mileage was 108,600 and the current mileage was 110,200.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Oct 2010
“I have a problem with a set of uniroyal tires that I purchased 2 years ago, within 11,000 miles the first separated, at 22,763 the second tire separated, at 30,875 the third tired separated. These tires should be investigated, who knows how many more tires are defective that are being used by unknowing drivers. *tr”Owner report · Tires · Mar 2010
“S10 appropriate handling re problems with 2003 buick park avenue possible safety recall issue for intake manifold and gasket. *kb the consumer stated he received a call from a gm executive assistant responding to a letter that was sent to them. She dismissed the consumers concern because he didn't take the vehicle to an authorized dealer for the repair when the parts failed a second time. However, both technicians who repaired the manifold and gasket within a two- year period told the consumer the oem replacement parts were substandard. The parts were made of plastic and had degraded.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Dec 2009
“2003 park ave ultra 3.8l series ii engine oil leak, smell of burnt oil concerned about engine fire. Leaks about 1 quart of oil between oil changes. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2009
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 0 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE MAY BE INSTALLED OR FORCED OUT OF THE PROPER POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL SECURE THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE CABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE OPERATES PROPERLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 19, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300.
How other years compare
Check your exact Park Avenue by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Buick Park Avenue reliable?
NHTSA has 33 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2003 Buick Park Avenue. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (22% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Buick Park Avenue problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 53,000 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Buick Park Avenue have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:lock. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.