AI Damage1991 Buick Park Avenue: common problems
Owners of the 1991 Buick Park Avenue filed 92 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 92
- involving a crash
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 61% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 5 Parking brake 7% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 4% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 3% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 3% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 56 complaints (61% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 10 complaints (11% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 7 complaints (8% of all).
- Powertrain: 7 complaints (8% of all).
- Parking brake: 6 complaints (7% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 92 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 56 | 9 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Driver hit a deer head-on. Both airbag's experienced no deployment which could have resulted in injury. No injuries were sustained.
Abs brakes; when applying the brakes in normal conditions pedal went to the floor, and the brakes failed to stop the vehicle, causing an accident.
Abs brake failure, when brakes were applied experienced extended stopping distance , impact 12:00 position, pedal went to the floor, driving at speed 10mph.
Vehicle stalls in traffic intermittently, once resulting in a crash.
Vehicle stalls in traffic intermittently. Resuling in a crash.
Applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor, the brakes did not work on wet pavement and the emergency parking brake had to be applied in order for the vehicle to stop.
Car was of in park postion on a hill car started to roll down hill with child in the car not in child seat climbed out car and hit a pole. Please describe .
Parking brake indicator light functions intermittently, car driven with brake on, brake fluid overheated/vaporized, causing brake failure/accident.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,758 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Park Avenue has 60 complaints (23 years in the data). This year has 92, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
- Park Avenue 198510 sources
- Park Avenue 19866 sources
- Park Avenue 198713 sources
- Park Avenue 198819 sources
- Park Avenue 198921 sources
- Park Avenue 199012 sources
- Park Avenue 199277 sources
- Park Avenue 199364 sources
- Park Avenue 199448 sources
- Park Avenue 1995117 sources
- Park Avenue 199659 sources
- Park Avenue 1997219 sources
- Park Avenue 1998246 sources
- Park Avenue 1999140 sources
- Park Avenue 200081 sources
- Park Avenue 200157 sources
- Park Avenue 200232 sources
- Park Avenue 200333 sources
- Park Avenue 200412 sources
- Park Avenue 20058 sources
- Park Avenue 99995 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1991 Buick Park Avenue?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 92. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (26%), smoke, burning smell, fire (9%), rollaway, parking brake (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1991 Buick Park Avenue?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1991 Buick Park Avenue from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1991 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.