FaultScore

Buick Rendezvous electrical problems

312 of the 1,798 complaints filed about the Buick Rendezvous are about the electrical system — 17% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.

312

Complaints

17%

Share of all complaints

6

Crashes

14

Fires

Electrical System complaints by model year

Median failure at 130,000 miles

2002 Rendezvous 110 35.3%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

2003 Rendezvous 47 15.1%

Median failure at 66,500 miles

2004 Rendezvous 83 26.6%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

2005 Rendezvous 39 12.5%

Median failure at 61,939 miles

2006 Rendezvous 21 6.7%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

2007 Rendezvous 11 3.5%

Median failure at 101,000 miles

What owners said

2006 Buick Rendezvous Mason City, IA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Piece of junk since June when I paid $3,000 for it and have put $1200 into it and still broke down and won’t start (ignition switch/key) and I refuse to pay for it to be fixed nor fixing it myself.. Has to be called home sweet home very soon and I need it fixed by GM asap or lawyer will be involved and I’m not sinking anymore into it then I have.. GM products are junk!!! Repair it

NHTSA complaint #11569749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Buick Rendezvous Cabin Creek, WV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I bought my car from a used car lot. I had it about 3-4 months and out of the blue it overheated very quickly, the warning light was on, some type of loud buzzer was going off so I pulled over and let it cool off, it took about 45 minutes but it started back up. I checked all the fluids and coolant levels and everything was ok. This continued to happen for about 3 weeks, quickly overheat, lights, alarms pulled over, checked fluids over and over. After about 3 weeks it would quickly overheat and then shut off on its own and several times it happened so fast I barely got off the road.i took it to a mechanic that drove it around a little until it overheated which at this point only took about 3 minutes to happen. He said there was air in my radiator and he released it and it was fixed, I drove about 3 miles and it overheated again so I returned to the same mechanic and after about 6 minutes he came and told me it was a head gasket but they didn't repair those there so I called the next closest mechanic who looked at the car for about 3 minutes, stuck an air hose in the radiator and he said it was blowing out gas fumes from the radiator meaning I had a cracked head. I had to tow it 200 miles to my house, my wife drove it back and forth to work which was only 1 miles from home, she was able to do that for about a month and then the engine would start stalling at different times such as slowing to turn, pulling in to park, and some times it would stall while driving in busy 4 lane roads. Well, a little over a month went by with all these things happening all the time and finally one day she came home from work and started to pull in the parking spot and it shut off again, we had to push it into the spot but once it shut off that day it has never started since

NHTSA complaint #11541076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Buick Rendezvous Union City, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Upon arriving at my destination and after i put my in park i was UNABLE to turn my engine off because the ignition was stuck in that position. I ultimately had no choice but to unhook the battery cables along with disconnecting the alternator to get my engine to turn off. Prior to this incident occasionally upon starting my car the ignition would not disengage immediately upon the engine turning over which ultimately resulted in having to replace the starter on this vehicle. I am a single parent and only have one vehicle so this is a major issue for my family. Furthermore the fan speed control knob doesnt work properly because when it is put in position 3 it shuts the fan motor off completely. So there CLEAR to me that there seems to be a MAJOR electrical issue. The suspension on this vehicle is horrendous. I cannot go above 45mph without by car wanting to go into on-coming traffic or off of the road or trying to flip over on its side because the shocks/struts on the passenger side are not working properly. I have not used this vehicle for any other purpose then to transport myself and children to and from work/school/appointments. Everyone i spoke to about this particular vehicle has said that these vehicles were manufactured poorly and repairs come at a high cost.

NHTSA complaint #11499974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Buick Rendezvous Galax, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Electrical problems,manifold gone, ants under my battery the whole vehicle was infected with them, battery wouldn't unbolt tailgate wouldn't open, it overheated

NHTSA complaint #11481681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Buick Rendezvous at 173,551 miles Bath, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I CAN BE ON THE STREET DRIVING AND MY VEHICLE JUST STALLS OUT AND I HAVE TO GET IT RESTARTED AND PULLING THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO RESTART IT THAT'S THE FIRST ISSUE THE SECOND ONE IS MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF AND MY TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT STAYS ON HAD IT LOOKED AT IT WAS FINE SYSTEM LIGHT REMAINS ON.

NHTSA complaint #11230574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Buick Rendezvous at 195,000 miles ST Paul, MN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NO ACCELERATION,WHEN I GO UP A HILL NO ACCELERATION, OR WHEN I GO TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY NO ACCELERATION, AND VERY DANGEROUS. I WENT TO DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND I REPLACED FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR AND VENT SOLENOID, NO ACCELERATION. I WENT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE 3 ELECTRICAL HARNESSES AND CONNECTORS $1350 DOLLARS PARTS AND LABOR TOO MUCH FOR ME AND THAT MAY NOT SOLVE MY PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM WAS CORROSION IN THE CONNECTORS TO THE FUEL PUMP $160 DOLLARS LATER THEY AGREED WITH ME. STILL DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #11228285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Buick Rendezvous at 123,000 miles MT. Prospect, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE HAS HARD START WHEN ENGINE IS HOT. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN RUNNING ERRANDS. BY THE TIME YOU COME OUT OF THE STORE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO START. TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. GAS MUST BE PIMPED AT THE SAME TIME AS TURNING IGNITION IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. MULTIPLE MECHANICS STATE THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BUT CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE. BATTERY & THROTTLE BODY HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL NOT RENDER TO THE ISSUE. THIS ISSUE CONSTANTLY HAPPENS AND THANKFULLY OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY.

NHTSA complaint #11189680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Buick Rendezvous at 144,000 miles Anderson, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT BUT ONLY SOMETIMES. ON OCCASION IT WILL BE DRIVING FINE THEN I GO TO PULL OFF FROM A STOP AND IT JUST WONT REALLY GO LIKE MAYBE SKIPS 1ST GEAR OR AT LEAST PART OF IT. IT'S CRAZY AND DANGEROUS. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. ONLY HAPPENS FROM COMPLETE STOP, SOMETIMES. BUICK RENDEZVOUS 05

NHTSA complaint #11103995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Buick Rendezvous at 212,314 miles Thornton, CO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR KEPT RUNNING HOT AND NO REMEDY WAS FOUND FOR IT. BATTERIES AND OTHER REPAIRS WERE DONE CONCERNING THE ELECTRICAL THINGS; BUT THE CAR RUNNING HOT WAS NEVER RESOLVED EVEN WITH REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT ETC. I COULD ONLY DRIVE ABOUT A BLOCK AND THE CHECK COOLING SYSTEM ERROR CAME ON AND THE CAR SPEED WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SLOW DOWN AND THE ENGINE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY CUT OFF IF YOU CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT WHILE HOT....SMOKE FROM THE HOOD ETC. WOULD HAPPEN. COULD FEEL INTENSE HEAT WHEN RAISED THE HOOD. IF THE CAR WAS STATIONARY....AFTER RUNNING FOR A WHILE IT WOULD STILL RUN HOT AND EVENTUALLY THE HOT LIGHT WOULD COME ON IN THE INSIDE WARNING PANEL. THE LAST MECHANIC TOOK IT APART AND NEVER PUT IT BACK TOGETHER, NEITHER FIXED THE CAR RUNNING HOT PROBLEM. THE UPLOADED FILES AND PICTURES WILL SHOW THE CONDITION MY CAR WAS LEFT IN AND THE AUTO PARTS TAKEN ALOOSE/APART AND NOT RECONNECTED.

NHTSA complaint #11098632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Buick Rendezvous at 126,000 miles Jamestown, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE HEAT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS BLOWING COLD AIR OR NOT BLOWING AT ALL. BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THE HEATING ISSUE, THE VEHICLE RAN HOT AND CONTINUED TO RUN HOT UNTIL A MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE COOLANT AND CU AT 2/3 SLIT IN THE RUBBER UNDER THE HOOD. IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATING PROBLEMS BEFORE IT WAS SOLD TO ME. I HAVE SINCE TRIED TO SELL IT AND FOUND TH ST IT WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY TWO CAR BUYING/SELLING WEBSITES DUE TO PREVIOUS SALVAGE. I PURCHASED FROM A BUY-HERE PAY- HERE. IT STILL HAS OVER HEATING ISSUES AND IT STILL HAS NOT HEAT BLOWING INSIDE. I WANT TO KNOW IF REPAIRS WILL HELP SINCE IT'S REGARDED AS A SALVAGE. IS IT LAWFUL TO SELL A SALVAGED VEHICLE KNOWING THE PURCHASER WAS PUTTING THE CAR ON THE ROAD? I BOUGHT THE CAR IN OHIO AND I LIVE IN NEW YORK.

NHTSA complaint #11080955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Buick Rendezvous at 160,000 miles Ivanhoe, MN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TT

NHTSA complaint #11072271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Buick Rendezvous at 30,000 miles Broomfield, CO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE PROBLEMS TRYING TO GET THE DASH LIGHTS INCREASE IN BRIGHTNESS USING THE VARIIABLE CONTROL ON THE INTERIOR DURING A NORMAL DAYTIME ESPECIALLY WHEN I TRY TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER (DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE DASH WHICH CAN BLOCK EXTERIOR LIGHT FROM ILLUMINATING THE DIAL ESPECIALLY AROUND 10:45 AND 11:15 AM MST.) ESP. WHEN I'M DRIVING

NHTSA complaint #11072178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Buick Rendezvous at 200,000 miles Concord, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DASH GAUGES, WARNING LIGHTS, & ALARMS, BELLS FLASH ON & OFF AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY RUNS ROUGH. DASH CODES OF ALL SORTS BLINK ON & OFF. NEW BATTERY AND NEW ALTENATOR INSTALLED, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THIS HAPPENED FIRST WHEN DRIVING ON HIWAY. AFTER VEHICLE PULLED OFF ROAD AND ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE DASH CODE THEN READ BATTERY ISSUE. WE TRIED TO DRIVE AGAIN BUT NOW VEHICLE OPERATED ROUGHLY AND THERE WAS NO MORE DAYLIGHT. WE HAD VEHICLE TOWED 100 MILES. THEN PAID FOR NEW BATTERY PROBLEM DID NOT CHANGE SO WE HAD A NEW ALTENATOR INSTALLED AFTER HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ADVISING THE NEED FOR A NEW ALTENATOR. I AM QUITE UPSET BECAUS EI FEEL THAT THERE IS FRAUD ON PART OF SEARS AUTOREPAIR. DIAGNOSTIC SAID ALTENATOR WAS THE PROBLEM. I PAID OVER $450 FOR THAT SERVICE AND ANOTHER $150 FOR THE BATTERY.

NHTSA complaint #11047219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Buick Rendezvous at 175,000 miles Jackson, MS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING, AND IT CAN ONLY BE STARTED BY MOVING THE FUSE BOX WIRING AROUND. NOT SURE WHAT ELSE TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. MECHANICS ARE UNABLE TO HELP OR DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10985598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Buick Rendezvous at 24,000 miles Georgetown, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY RESTARTED AFTER A MANUAL RESTART ATTEMPT WAS MADE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT IT COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.

NHTSA complaint #10971936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Buick Rendezvous Caruthersville, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I AM HAVING TROUBLE OUT OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACE SEVERAL PARTS AND STILL HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR AND CUT IT OFF I HAVE TO WAIT 30-45 MINS. BEFORE IT WILL START AGAIN. I HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR AND I HAVE NOT YET FOUND A SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK FOR A YEAR AND EIGHT MONTHS. THE VEHICLE IS MOTION BUT IT CUTS OFF AND I HAVE TO WAIT 30-45 MINS. BEFORE MY TRUCK CAN RESTART. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME MONTHS AND I HAVE CHANGED MANY PARTS AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING.

NHTSA complaint #10919229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Buick Rendezvous at 90,000 miles Tucson, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING OR NOT START AFTER DRIVING. ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT COMES ON AND SPEED THROTTLED DOWN TO 20MPH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON NOW. REPLACED RELAY BOX UNDER HOOD SINCE A CONNECTOR WAS FOUND BURNED. HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE COMPUTER, ALTERNATOR, IGNITION RELAY SWITCH, FUEL SENSOR RELAY. HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY AT ALL FOR FEAR OF IT HAPPINING IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY HAPPENING SINCE PURCHASED OCT 2015.

NHTSA complaint #10909575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Buick Rendezvous at 15,500 miles Bozrah, CT Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN DRIVING THE BUICK RENDEZVOUS 2002 HOME THE BRAKES BEGAN TO NOT RESPOND. AFTER ARRIVING HOME AND DRIVING DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY, THE SUV HAD SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE BUICK RENDEZVOUS WAS TURNED OFF BUT CONTINUED TO EXPELLED LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE UNDER THE ENGINE AREA. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE AREA CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE BOZRAH FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED WITHIN 15 MINUTES OR SO THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10891970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Buick Rendezvous at 139,000 miles Copperas Cove, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DASH BOARD LIGHTS- FLASH AND SOUND, WHILE DRIVING...ENGINE SLOWS DOWN AND BATTERY LIGHT GOES ON...THEN, ADJUSTS IT'S SELF AND LIGHTS GO OFF. SUV., THEN, CONTINUES ON HWY, LIKE NOTHING'S HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10885781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Buick Rendezvous at 155,000 miles Cedar City, UT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE WILL GO A FEW MILES AND STALL ILLUMINATING BATTERY LIGHT.IF YOU LET VEHICLE SIT WILL RESTART ONLY GO A FEW MORE MILES. FINALLY CAR WILL TURN OVER FOR SPLIT SECOND AND RPM WILL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN AND CAR WILL STALL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAD THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS LOOK AT VEHICLE CAN NOT DIAGNOSE CHANGED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING UNDER HOOD.

NHTSA complaint #10885222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Buick Rendezvous problems