46 of the
1,798 complaints filed about the Buick Rendezvous
are about the body and structure —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
I PURCHASED A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP, 2 CAR GUYS LLC, IN YORK, PA ON 7/10. AT THE TIME I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE PURCHASE WITH THE LOW STICKER PRICE OF 4K, LOW MILEAGE OF 68K, AND THE 5/18 INSPECTION. THE CAR, AFTER CHECKING THE ENGINE AND FRAME, ITSELF SEEMED TO BE IN DECENT CONDITION AND I BROUGHT IT HOME THAT DAY. I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AND EVEN MADE A LONG TRIP TO ALTOONA, PA WITH MY FAMILY. THEN EARLIER THIS WEEK I NOTICED SOME ISSUES WITH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE. I TOOK IT IN TO MR. TIRE ON 7/26 FOR A BRAKE EXAMINATION. THE TECHNICIANS AT MR. TIRE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND EVEN MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE NEW. I WANTED THEM TO TEST DRIVE IT DOUBLE CHECK AND THEN AFTER THEY RETURNED THEY THOUGHT MAYBE A CALIBER WAS LOCKING UP ON IT. SO THEY LIFTED THE CAR AGAIN AND REALIZED THAT THE FRAME ITSELF WAS EXPANDING. SO THEY STUCK IT ON A LARGER LIFT TO ENSURE THAT THAT FRAME WOULD BE SHREDDED. THE LEAD TECHNICIAN BROUGHT ME OUT TO LOOK AT THE FRAME ITSELF. BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME HAD BEEN FILLED WITH FOAM INSULATION AND THEN SPRAY PAINTED WITH BLACK PAINT TO MATCH THE FRAME. SOMEONE HAD WENT TO A LOT OF EFFORT MASK THE ERODED FRAME. THE GUYS FROM MR. TIRE MENTIONED THAT NO WAY THAT COULD PASS A STATE INSPECTION LOOKING LIKE THAT. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE CAMOUFLAGED RUST. THREE TECHNICIANS WERE UNDER THAT CAR THE FIRST TIME THE BUICK WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND AND DID NOT NOTICE THE "SLIDE OF HAND". I WOULD HAVE NEVER EVEN TEST DRIVEN THE CAR WITH MY SON KNOWING THAT IT WAS UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11114159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING IN RIGHT LANE, SOMEONE CUT ME OFF, BY SWITCHING LANES & CUTTING IN FRONT OF ME AS LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I PRESSED ON MY BRAKES, WHICH WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, HITTING THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT I INJURED MY LEFT KNEE, DISPLACED MY KNEE CAP. I WAS TRAVELING ALONE. AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE. DURING THE SECOND INCIDENT MY DAUGHTERS WHERE TRAVELING WITH ME. MY DAUGHTER'S WERE WITH ME. I ENTER ROAD FROM RIGHT, HEARD A POPPING NOISE. PRESSED BRAKES WHICH WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAR SEEM TO ACCELERATE AND I RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. AIRBAGS ONCE AGAIN DIDN'T ACTIVATE. STUNNED FROM THE WEIRDNESS OF THE INCIDENT I COULDN'T THINK. I TOLD HER I WAS OK. AFTER GETTING BACK IN CAR I WAS HURTING & SO WERE MY DAUGHTERS. LIFE CHANGED FOR US. THEY HAVE BACK & NECK ISSUES. WE SEE VARIOUS DOCTORS TO MANAGE PAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10671823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS AND THE SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE FUEL GAUGE WAS GIVING INACCURATE READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE SEAT HAD CORRODED DUE TO THE INTERNAL LEAKAGE OF THE AC UNIT. AS A RESULT, THE CARPET CREATED MOLD DUE TO THE WETNESS AND THE FLOOR BOARD WAS CORRODED AS WELL. THE MECHANIC ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE WAS DISABLED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
NHTSA complaint #10598957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE APPLIQUES ON THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE BECAME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE APPLIQUES TWICE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE CONTACT STATED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ,THE APPLIQUES COULD FLY OFF THE VEHICLE AND INJURE A PEDESTRIAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10569394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR LIFTGATE HANDLE SWITCH NO LONG WORKS TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR. KEY FOB STILL WORKS BUT CONCERNED THIS WILL FAIL ALSO FOR THE REAR LIFTGATE ACCESS AND EGRESS.
NHTSA complaint #10498506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE IN 2004 FOR THE REAR HATCH. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE 2006. JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES AS I WAS TOLD BY SUTTLE MOTOR CORPORATION?
NHTSA complaint #10471797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
NHTSA complaint #10454662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE HEADLIGHTS, DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND RADIO, CD PLAYER, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND TAIL LIGHTS ON MY 2002 BUICK, RENDEZVOUS KEPT GOING OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID IT IS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS MALFUNCTION IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. IN MY SITUATION THE SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, I WAS IN A DANGEROUS PLACE (ON CURVEY HIGHWAY BETWEEN PENNSYLVANIA AND OHIO AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55-70MPH) THE SITUATION WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WERE OUT COULD HAVE HAD FATAL CONSEQUENCES ESPECIALLY WHEN TALL HILLS SURROUND CURVEY FREEWAYS AND ROADS AND SUCH AS A DEER CROSSING THE ROAD OR WORSE YET, A PERSON ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING AND THE BCM KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING EVERY FEW MINUTES TURNING OFF ALL LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD CLUSTERS AND IT COSTS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO FIX-ALMOST $1400.
NHTSA complaint #10450859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WAS NO ENTRY INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE LIFT GATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. CONSUMER STATED SWITCH FALURE. UPDATED 09/01/2011 *LN
NHTSA complaint #10416896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS CXL. AS I WAS EXITING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE INNER DOOR HANDLE GAVE ME A FAIRLY DEEP PAPER- LIKE CUT. THERE SEEMS TO BE A ROUGH EDGE ON THE HANDLE THAT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THE METAL COATING IS PEELING OR SEPARATING AND IT SLICED MY MIDDLE FINGER ON MY LEFT HAND. I'M NOT VERY IMPRESSED AND I AM WONDERING HOW OFTEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN? I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A DEFINITE RECALL. IT IS NOT A LIFE THREATENING INJURY, BUT VERY CONCERNING CONSIDERING I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND IT COULD'VE BEEN ONE OF THEM THAT RECEIVED THE INJURY INSTEAD OF ME.
NHTSA complaint #10378292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING SOUND AND THE BRAKES BECAME HARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. SHORTLY AFTERWARD, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WIRING FOR THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, WIRING FOR THE SPEED SENSORS, AND THE REAR TIE RODS WERE ALL REPLACED BETWEEN 17,500 AND 22,000 MILES. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ALSO FELL OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAS RE-ADJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH FOR FAILED COMPONENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,542 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,126.
NHTSA complaint #10244629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2002 BUICK RENV. AND I BOUGHT IT FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN ALBANY NY, I HAVE HAD TO RETURN THE CAR 2 TIMES FOR DIFFERENT PROBLEMS, ONCE WAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IT CAME ON 3 HOURS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY ALREADY TOOK CARE OF IT BUT THEY DID NOT, SO THEY DID FIX THAT, THERE WERE A FEW OTHER PROBLEM THEY FIXED, BUT THE BIG PROBLEM CAME THE OTHER DAY WHEN IT WAS RAINING I CAME OUT TO FIND A LEAKY SUNROOF, SO I TOOK IT TO BE SEALED AND COME TO FIND OUT THE WHOLE ROOF OF THE CAR IS RUSTY, IT NEEDS ALMOST 2,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK, AND THE PEOPLE THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO TRY TO FIX IT TOLD ME THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD TO ME, AND TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THIS ROOF COULD CAVE IN, IT IS IN THAT BAD OF SHAPE, THAT IS WHAT I AM TOLD, WHILE THE REPAIR SHOP WAS TRYING TO SEAL IN WHAT THEY COULD, WHILE THIS WAS BEING DONE THE CORNER OF THE ROOF BY THE SUNROOF JUST CAME OFF NOW THERE IS A HOLE IN THE ROOF, HE TOLD ME THAT THE ROOF COULD JUST CRACK ANY TIME, WELL I AM STUCK AND I TRIED TO RETURN THE CAR AND THE DEALER WILL NOT TAKE THE CAR BACK, OR REPAIR IT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, SO I AM HOPING SOMEONE CAN HELP ME HERE.
NHTSA complaint #10244467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN ACCELERATED. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WOULD STALL WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. WHEN SHE REMOVES HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, SHE FELT A SENSATION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE VERY QUICKLY. THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IF SOMEONE WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE WOULD APPEAR. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WITH THE FAILURE STILL PRESENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD KEEP THE VEHICLE AND NOTIFY THE CONTACT OF THE SITUATION. HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE OTHER FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS THE ENGINE HESITATING UPON START UP, THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONING, AND THE DOORS JAMMING. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE ENGINE UNTIL IT MALFUNCTIONED. THE RADIO WAS REPLACED AND THE DOORS WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DOORS CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION OCCASIONALLY. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,300.
NHTSA complaint #10221050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OWNER PURCHASED 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS IN JULY, 2007. AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST, 2007, WITH APPROXIMATELY 80K MILES ON IT, THE VEHICLE'S ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE GAS GAUGE BEGAN FLUCTUATING ERRATICALLY. UPON INSPECTION AT THE LOCAL GM SERVICE CENTER, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER DESIGN FLAW RELATED TO THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IN WHICH THE CONDENSATION DRAIN WAS MADE FORWARD FACING, WHICH WHILE DRIVING AT MODERATE TO HIGH SPEEDS, WOULD PREVENT THE CONDENSATION TO DRAIN PROPERLY WHILE RUNNING THE AIR CONDITIONING DUE TO WIND RESISTANCE. THIS CAUSED THE CONDENSATION (WATER) TO POOL INSIDE THE VEHICLE, CAUSING MULTIPLE VALVES TO RUST, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS TO MALFUNCTION, AND RESULTED IN A MUSTY MILDEW SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CARPET WAS BECOMING SATURATED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED HE HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT BUICK REMEDIED THE PROBLEM FOR THE 2005 AND NEWER MODELS. THEREFORE, THE REMEDY PROVIDED WAS THAT THE ORIGINAL A/C CONDENSATION DRAIN WAS REPLACED TO MATCH THAT OF THE 2005 AND NEWER RENDEZVOUS. THIS REMEDY ALONE WOULD HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE HAD BUICK ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW (WHICH THEY CLEARLY RECOGNIZED AS EVIDENCED BY THE DESIGN MODIFICATION ON THE 2005 AND NEWER MODELS), HOWEVER SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS NOT OBSERVABLE UNTIL SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE (INCLUDING MULTIPLE RUSTED VALVES THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND SEVERAL HOURS OF LABOR), THE REPAIR ENDED UP COSTING THE CONSUMER OVER $1,000.
NHTSA complaint #10203634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT MY 02 BUICK RENDEZVOUS IN OCT OF 05. IT HAD 53K. I JUST HIT 90K THE LARGEST PART IS HIGHWAY MILES FROM THIS PASSED YEAR WITH SEVERAL DEATHS IN MY FAMILY. TO START WITH MY PASSENGER FLOOR WOULD GET SOAKED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE WINDOW WAS LEFT DOWN OR THE SUNROOF WAS LEAKING. I CHECKED AND THE RUBBER IS STILL INTACT AND I CAN SPRAY WATER ON THE ROOF AND NOTHING LEAKS IN. THE TRACT AROUND THE SUNROOF IS NOT WET. ONE MORNING MY ON STAR SYSTEM HAD WATER DRIPPING FROM IT BUT NO WATER WAS FELT AROUND THE SUN ROOF AND THE WINDSHIELD SITS BELOW IT. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON SINCE I GOT THE CAR. NOW WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS EVERYTHING ON THE CAR IS FAILING. MY DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE REMOTE. THIS IS A 300 MOTOR. MY COOLANT DISAPPEARS FROM RESERVE WITH NO SIGN OF LEAKING. I HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND THE FIRST DAY OFF I HAD TO GO GET IT CHECKED IT WENT OFF. MY AC STOPPED WORKING. I HAVE 3 KIDS AND NO AC IN 100 WEATHER SUXS. HAD IT CHARGED AND WITHIN 2 WEEKS BACK TO NO AC NOW AFTER WEEKS OF RESEARCH I AM FINDING OUT THAT THE INTAKE GASKETS ON THIS MOTOR ARE MADE FROM NYLON AND THE DEX COOL THAT IS SAID TO BE USED IN IT CAN EAT THEM PREMATURELY. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE MY CAR WAS OVER HEATING. THE AC CONDENSER IS ALSO KNOWN TO GO OUT REGULAR. I JUST BOUGHT BRAND NEW TIRES IN MAY AND HAD THE ALIGNMENT DONE. I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT OF MY CAR HAS BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE IS ATE UP. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS THE BEARING PROBLEM THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR. I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT FORCING GM TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE. MY RESEARCH HAS FOUND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE PROBLEMS. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN CANADA NOT INCLUDING THE RECALL THAT CANADA HAS FORCED OVER THIS EXACT YR AND MODEL. I STILL OWE A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR AND MY REPAIRS ARE ALMOST MORE THEN WHAT I OWE.
NHTSA complaint #10203278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THREE SAFETY RELATED ISSUES WITH MY 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS CXL. THE ABS SENSORS FAILED WHICH WAS A DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO DIAGNOSE AS THE PROBLEM WAS ACTUALLY CAUSED BY WATER IN THE INSULATION TO THE SENSOR WIRING HARNESSES. I'M NOW BEING NOTIFIED OF A FRONT WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT YET REACHED A FORMAL RECALL. SECOND ISSUE INVOLVES THE AWD REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY (DIFFERENTIAL). MOANING NOISES START IN THE REAR END, IN LOW SPEED TURNS SUCH AS PARKING LOT MANEUVERS. OCCURRENCE INCREASES IN SEVERITY AND FREQUENCY FAIRLY QUICKLY. THE REAR AXLE IS TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. BUT I NOTICE THAT THIS IS NOT A RANDOM OR UNUSUAL PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR/MODEL BUICK. I WOULD THINK THAT BOTH OF THESE ISSUES DUE TO THEIR RATE OF OCCURRENCE WOULD TRIGGER A FORMAL RECALL. WHY DOES THE REAR DRIVE AXLE CONTINUE TO FAIL? IF IT SHOULD FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY, WILL IT POSE A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF HIGHWAY SPEEDS ARE INVOLVED AND THE VEHICLE BECOMES UNSTABLE?
NHTSA complaint #10170723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.