NHTSA Complaint #753697 — 1995 BUICK PARK AVENUE

IN SEPTEMBER 2001 WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT, BUT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FAILURE OF THE LIGHTING SYSTEM. AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD SUDDENLY GO OUT COMPLETELY. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE HEADLIGHTS SET ON THE TWILIGHT SENTINEL CONTROL AND ALSO WHEN WE USED THE MANUAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH. TO GET THE LIGHTS BACK WE HAD TO BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP, THEN TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART. WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WHERE THE ROADS ARE TYPICALLY CURVING WITH NO STREET LIGHTS, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO SAFELY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SO YOU DONT BLOCK THE ROAD FOR CARS COMING FROM BEHIND.I FOUND THIS SAME CONDITION REPORTED IN AN EXISTING NHTSA RECALL ON THE 1995 OLDS 98, WHICH SHARES THE SAME CHASSIS, HEADLAMP MODULE, AND TWILIGHT SENTINEL OPTION. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID IS 94V190000. WE HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AT OUR LOCAL AUTHORIZED BUICK DEALER AND THEIR NOTE ON THE COMPLETED REPAIR ORDER CONFIRMED THE CONDITION AND CAUSE. THEY PROVED THAT THE HEADLAMP MODEULE WAS AT FAULT AND REPLACED IT.WE HAVE CONTACTED BOTH BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CORPORATE OFFICES, AND THEY ARE DENYING THAT IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT.