Faults:

Alternator, catalytic converter, power steering pump, brakes, oxygen sensor, mass air flow sensor, throttle position sensor, crank shaft position sensor, crank, fuel filter, fuel pump, fuel pump sending unit (gas gage), back air shocks, back wheel bearing, transmission and engine have been replaced already and these parts are on the replacement engine.

General Comments:

Very comfortable car, I like the car except I've had a lot of problems with it. Very comfortable and drives excellent.

Faults:

Catalytic converter rattled and needed replacing around 135000 miles. Timing chain had to be replaced at 145000 miles. Rear wheel cylinder needed replacing about 120000 miles, and my parents who also own an 86 Park Avenue had the same problem around the same mileage mark. Control panel for AC/Heat/Vent blinks like crazy - have to turn it on for a minute then back off to make it stop. Electric windows are beginning to show signs of wear at 179,000 miles.

General Comments:

Overall great car. I have driven this car to Kansas City, Missouri and back and have had no worries. Comfort is excellent and other than normal wear and tear, we have had no complaints. We have even pulled our pop up camper with this car.

Faults:

Water pump, timing chain, gears, and cover went at 110,000.

Torque converter clutch went at 115,000.

Starter at 139,500.

Both front windows stopped operating at 130,000 and 140,000 respectively. An easy fix with a $18 part (each side) from the dealership.

Catalytic converter rattles.

Clearcoat coming off of the top surfaces.

Keyless entry keypad went bad at 125,000. Parts unavailable from GM.

General Comments:

Extremely reliable car. NEVER let me sit in 40,000 hard miles. It loves the highways. A thousand-mile roadtrip is easy work in a Park Avenue.

Engine can be a bit noisy however.

Handling is much improved with wider tires (I put T-rated Bridgestone Touresnas on it).

Excellent in the snow and rain.

Good gas mileage for a car of its size.

Be wary of one approaching 100,000. The timing gears and transmission both need attention around this time. I used to work for a Buick dealership, and have seen it many times. I have also seen many of these cars with 250,000 miles, still on the road.

Plenty of power for passing and merging.

Faults:

We had to replace most of the electronics that control the engine at a cost of near $1000.

Original exhaust is still working but needs replaced.

Air compressor for the air shocks is bad, but the shock rotted off years ago. Seal on cylinder broke and had to be replaced at 225,000 miles.

Air conditioner has never worked since we owned it.

General Comments:

It handles good.

It has been very reliable with that many miles on it.

Seats are extremely comfortable.

Engine burns only a little of oil.

Faults:

Not a lot actually. It was my parents car from 1990 to 1998, and we didn't have a lot of problems with it. Every couple years something minor has to be replaced, but it's been quite inexpensive. But since I've got it, we've only had a battery problem, which was fixed easily, and we just replaced the brakes and rotors (which needed it, big time!!).

General Comments:

I really like this car. I'm only 17, and it's a good, reliable car for someone like me. I like the comfort of it and I like the interior (luxurious). I will always like Buicks now after driving this car, because it's so reliable and comfortable! Oh, I almost forgot, the 3.8 L engine can really haul if you have to go! But the only problem is that the speedometer only goes to 85 but it's easy to bury the speedometer. I'm guessing it can go around 110.