NHTSA Complaint #10660723 — 2001 BUICK PARK AVENUE

A 2001 BUICK PARK AVENUE WAS PURCHASED ON APRIL 27, 2014. IT RAN GOOD UNTIL SEPTEMBER 19, 2014. ON THAT DAY MY SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER ON A SIDE ROAD. HE WAS ABLE TO START IT AFTER HAVING TO PULL OVER WITH NO LIGHTS, POWER BRAKES OR STEERING. I TOOK IT FOR A TEST RIDE AND IT DID THE SAME THING. WE GOT IT HOME AND FAILED TO REPAIR IT BY OURSELVES. WE TOOK IT TO A REPAIR GARAGE AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE MAF SENSOR. THE TECHNICIAN SHOWED ME HOW TO TAP ON THE ENCLOSURE (WITH A SCREWDRIVER) WHICH HOUSED THE PART AND THE ENGINE WOULD SPUTTER AND MISS. AFTER INSTALLING A NEW MAF SENSOR IT NOW RUNS FINE. WE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE HISTORY AND IT NEEDED A NEW MAF SENSOR TWO OTHER TIMES. ONCE AT 9/2013 AND ANOTHER AT 6/2012. IT IS SURPRISING AND SHOCKING THAT THE FAILURE OF THIS PART CAUSES THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. A BRAND NEW MAF SENSOR FROM THE BUICK DEALER COSTS $430 WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY GEARED TOWARDS SELLING TO REPAIR SHOPS VS. DO IT YOURSELF MECHANICS. THIS RIDICULOUS HIGH PRICE HAS CREATED A MARKET FOR CHEAPER MAF SENSORS WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE OEM PARTS. THE PART REMOVED WAS A DELPHI SENSOR WHICH ONLY LASTED ONE YEAR. GM HAS GOT TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM. IT IS PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK. SIMPLY BUYING AN AUTHENTIC GM PART IS NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE IT STILL EVENTUALLY FAILS AND THE CAR TOTALLY SHUTS DOWN, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALS OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR