Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Buick Park Avenue, and it carries 3 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 9 | 11% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 9% |
| Steering | 7 | 9% |
| Visibility | 5 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 5% |
| Wheels | 3 | 4% |
| Seats | 3 | 4% |
| Suspension | 3 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Right side blinkers stopped working front and back I have checked bulbs fuses relays the safty flashers work on both sides break lights work no blink on the dash for right side blinkers out completely could be blinker sw
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
GOT MY CAR TOWED TO MIDAS ON 12/15 BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START. THEY SAID I NEEDED A TUNE UP AND A NEW INTAKE. THEY WENT TO TEST MY CAR AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. I RECEIVED A CALL ON 12/17 FROM MIDAS SAYING THAT MY ENGIN
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCHES FRACTURED INTERNALLY. THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK PARK AVENUE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE MANIFOLD EXPLODED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS N
NHTSA complaint: Engine
AT APPROXIMATELY 157800 MILES, DRIVERS' SIDE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK BECAME INOPERABLE, UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE WITH MANUAL CONTROLS, UNABLE TO UNLOCK DOOR WITH REMOTE AND UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR WITH KEY FROM OUTSIDE. CA
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK PARK AVENUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT CONTROL BUTTON PLASTIC PIECE PREMATURELY FRACTURED. THE CONTACT HAD TO RECONNECT THE PIECE WITH TAPE UPON SITTING IN THE SEAT DUE TO THE FAI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUICK PARK AVENUE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RUPTURED INTAKE MANIFOLD
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I WAS DRIVING A BUICK PARK AVE 2000. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO A BUSY 3 LANE CITY STREET. WHEN I ACCELERATED AND BEGAN CHANGING LANES THE CAR LUNGED A LITTLE AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2000 Buick Park Avenue. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 104, "WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A WIPER SYSTEM MICROPROCESSOR THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO VOLTAGE TRANSIENTS, WHICH CAN CAUSE A "LATCH-UP" CONDITION IN THE S
Risk: IF MICROPROCESSOR "LATCH-UP" OCCURS, THE CUSTOMER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE SYSTEM IN BOTH THE LOWER AND HIGH-SPEED MODES REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COVER WHICH CONTAINS THE MICROPROCESSOR.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKS IN THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT.
Risk: WHEN THE REAR BRAKE PROPORTIONING, ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, OR STABILITY CONTROL FEATURE IS ACTIVATED IN SOME DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE FEATURE MAY NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULATOR UNIT AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC MODULATOR.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3800 V6 (L36) ENGINES AND CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, THE REGULATORS HAVE A MUCH HIGHER THAN USUAL RATE OF FUEL LEAKS. A LEAK CAN ALLOW FUEL TO ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THROUGH A VACUUM LINE. IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT START WHEN CRANKED, THE
Risk: THE BACKFIRE CAN RUPTURE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE RUPTURE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAN DISPLACE A FUEL LINE, PULLING AN INJECTOR OUT OF PLACE, AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND POSSIBLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH IMPROVED DIAPHRAGMS. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASED MAILINGS. PHASE 1 BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004, AND PHASE 2 BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004.
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 59 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 9 of them (11%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (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.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. 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.