1994 Buick Park Avenue

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

70/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 Buick Park Avenue, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Structure	8	14%
Electrical system	8	14%
Service brakes	8	14%
Unknown or other	4	7%
Engine and engine cooling	4	7%
Power train	4	7%
Tires	2	4%
Steering	2	4%
Seat belts	2	4%
Suspension	2	4%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

AT 120K CAR BEGAN STALLING OUT (COMPLETELY) IN CITY TRAFFIC AT STOPS. CAR REQUIRED RE- STARTING. TOOK CAR TO A STATE EMISSION CONTROL & REPAIR SHOP STATING CAR DIES AT STOPS AND IS HARD TO START. THE SHOP RETAINED THE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPE
NHTSA complaint: Engine

1994 BUICK PARK AVENUE, RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT RIPPING THE FRONT FENDER OFF AND DAMAGING THE FRONT FENDER AND RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0457-90)*JB UPDATED 09/13/10*BF
NHTSA complaint: Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK PARK AVENUE. ALL FOUR SUB FRAME BUSHINGS ON THE ENGINE HAVE RUSTED. TWO OF THEM HAVE BROKEN AND THE OTHER TWO ARE CLOSE TO BREAKING. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THE ENGINE WILL FALL OUT OF
NHTSA complaint: Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BUICK PARK AVENUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

1994 BUICK PARK AVENUE RAN OFF THE ROAD HIT A CONSTRUCTION BARREL AND A LIGHT POLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER HIT THE LIGHT POLE IT PUSHED IT OVER AND THE LIGHT POLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONT
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO OUR 1994 BUICK PARK AVE. ULTRA STARTED TO HAVE THE PAINT (WHITE)PEEL OFF. IT HAS PROGRESSED TO THE POINT WHERE THERE IS VERY LITTLE PAINT LEFT ON THE HOOD OR TRUNK AND ONLY ABOUT HALF LEFT ON
NHTSA complaint: Structure

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED ON THE CONSUMER DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE GOT STARTED UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

The seven scores

Reliability raw	85	excellent
Longevity est.	80	excellent
Maintenance	75	good
Depreciation	54	average
Performance	59	average
Efficiency	35	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 54% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 70% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 51% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 30% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 85: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 80: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1994 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 75: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1994 Buick Park Avenue?

Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 8 of them (14%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 1994 Buick Park Avenue reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1994 Buick Park Avenue last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1994 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1994 Buick Park Avenue?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.