Model year guide

1996 Buick Park Avenue

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1996 Buick Park Avenue is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 2 on record.

1996 Buick Park Avenue — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1996 Buick Park Avenue at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints59
Combined19–21 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1996 Buick Park Avenue recalls 3

Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly NHTSA Campaign #96V044000 · 05/03/1996

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH ONE OR MORE INCORRECT SAFETY BELT AND/OR SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ENDS. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT ALL FRONT AND REAR SAFETY BELT LATCH ENDS AND SAFETY BELT BUCKLES FOR CORRECT PARTS AND REPLACE ANY INCORRECT PARTS.

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System NHTSA Campaign #96V116000 · 01/07/1996

A BACKFIRE DURING ENGINE STARTING CAN CAUSE BREAKAGE OF THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD.

Fix: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING. UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN REPAIR IS MADE, THE VEHICLE HOOD SHOULD BE SHUT WHENEVER STARTING THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Electrical System:ignition:anti-theft:control Module NHTSA Campaign #95V204000 · 23/10/1995

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A MALFUNCTION ALARM, LIGHTING AND LOCKING (MALL) MODULE THAT CAN CONTAIN A DAMAGED CAPACITOR. IF THE CAPACITOR IS DAMAGED, THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" WARNING CHIME AND THE DRIVER SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED WARNING CHIME AND INDICATOR LAMP MAY NOT WORK. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION" AND FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." IN ADDITION, OTHER…

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACE THE MALL MODULE.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1996 Buick Park Avenue common problems

Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

1996 Buick Park Avenue MPG & running costs

Combined19–21 mpg
City17 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,775
EPA size classLarge Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
Forced inductionSupercharged
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$6,875 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1996 Buick Park Avenue costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,875
Fuel only$18,875
Per mile$0.25

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1996 Buick Park Avenue trims & engines on record

Trims
Base
Engines
3.8L 6-cyl

1996 Buick Park Avenue vehicles on record

1996 Buick Park Avenue 1996 Buick Park Avenue Base1G4CW52K2TH642311 1996 Buick Park Avenue 1996 Buick Park Avenue Base1G4CW52K6TH636205

Other Buick Park Avenue model years

2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991

1996 Buick Park Avenue — frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 Buick Park Avenue have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1996 Buick Park Avenue. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Buick Park Avenue?

Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, air bags, tires.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Buick Park Avenue get?

The 1996 Buick Park Avenue has U.S. EPA estimates of 19–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.