2002 Buick Rendezvous Suspension Problems

VEHICLE HANDLED VERY POORLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING BROKEN IN 1 PLACE, LEFT REAR BROKEN IN 2 PLACES. AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENTS HAD MORE WINDINGS. BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW - GETS NORMAL USE, NO ACCIDENTS, NEVER RUN OVER ANYTHING, E.G. CURB. MANY OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINING OF SAME ISSUE ONLINE. *TR

2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE: LEFT REAR SPRING DISCOVERED BROKEN. RIGHT FRONT SPRING FOUND BROKEN IN 2008. HIGHLY UNUSUAL THAT SPRINGS WOULD BREAK. IF SPRINGS BREAK WHILE DRIVING, BROKEN SPRING COULD PUNCTURE TIRE AND CAUSE ACCIDENT. SUSPECT POOR DESIGN OF SPRING OR SUBSTANDARD METAL OR WRONG SPRING USED BY MANUFACTURER. *TR

THE COMPLAINT IS THE LACK OF AVAILABILITY OF A PART FROM GM FOR MY VEHICLE, A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WITHOUT THESE REPLACEMENT PARTS, MY VEHICLE IS UNSAFE, UNABLE TO PASS INSPECTION AND MY TIRES ARE WEARING OUT CONSIDERABLY FASTER. MY MECHANIC HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER AND THAT I HAVE BEEN PLACED ON A WAITING LIST. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 BUICK RENED. I HAVE HAD AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR OVERHEATING AND NO AC. I HAVE HAD THE AC REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE, THE TEMP GAUGE, THE THERMOSTAT, THE WATER-PUMP, 2 BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, THE FUEL SENSOR, ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR AND THE FUEL PUMP. I ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ALL REPAIRS BUT NO I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PARTS. THESE REPAIRS HAVE COSTS ME AT LEAST $5000K IF NOT MORE. *TR

MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH REGARD TO 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS: WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ONBOARD COMPUTER ($900), LEFT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY ($1100) AND A/C CONDENSER ($1300). AMONG OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO DESIGN DEFECTS, THE ODOMETER IS LOCATED INSIDE THE ONBOARD COMPUTER, SO THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FOR 5 DAYS WHILE THE PART WAS SHIPPED TO CALIFORNIA (FROM VIRGINIA) FOR REPAIR. RECALLS HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THESE PARTS, THOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON WEB FORUMS (RECOMMEND INITIATING GOOGLE SEARCH FOR "2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS COMPLAINT"). *TR

GENERAL MOTORS 3.4 LITER ENGINE FAILURE AT 83,000 MILES. FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY FAILURE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHEN HE USED THE AIR CONDITIONER. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BUT BECAUSE OF THE COSTS, HE DECIDED TO HAVE A FRIEND REPAIR IT. HOWEVER, THE ISSUE STILL OCCURRED. THE OTHER ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE WAS THAT IT DID NOT GET THE FUEL MILEAGE THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE, A GRUMBLING NOISE TO BE EXACT. HE CHANGED REAR END FLUID BUT COULD STILL HEAR NOISE. THE NOISE WOULD BE HEARD WHEN HE TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT. HE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR HIS VEHICLE (02V222000, 07V349000, 07E021000) BUT WHEN HE CONSULTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, HE WAS TOLD VERY CONFLICTING STORIES ABOUT WHETHER THE RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE EXISTED AND IF THEY HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. AT THIS TIME, THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE RECALLS COULD AFFECT HIS VEHICLE AND HOW TO GET THE ISSUES REMEDIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/11/08*JB

WE HAVE A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS AT ONLY 86K MILES AND NOW THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER HAS FAILED. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS AND THERE SEEM TO BE MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE ... BUICK SHOULD FIX THESE AS THEY ARE A COMMON OCCURRENCE! *TR

WHEEL BEARINGS NEED REPLACEMENT. FUEL PUMP WAS BAD. REPLACED TIRES AND BRAKES 3 TIMES SINCE I HAV E OWNED THE VEHICLE 2 YEARS. INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING, CAUSING THE CAR TO BE SLUGGISH AND NOT START SOMETIMES. ABS LIGHTS CAME ON FREQUENTLY. THE CAR WAS A BIG NIGHTMARE. WISH I NEVER WOULD OF BOUGHT A BUICK RENDEZVOUS. *AK

BUICK RENDEZVOUS 2002 FAILURE WITH BLOWN TRANSFER CASE & TRANSMISSION, MAIN EXHAUST PIPE LOOSE FROM HEAD, REAR END NOISE, PASSENGER DOOR STICKS. *TR

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? *NM

BUICK RENDEZVOUS 2002 MODEL CX FWD FUEL LEAKING WHERE FILLER NECK ATTACHES TO GAS TANK. REAR SPRING BROKEN; VEHICLE NOT USED FOR TOWING OR HEAVY LOADS. *TR

I OWN A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FOR ME SINCE THE GET GO (2004). I HAVE NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH MY VEHICLE AS OTHER OWNERS. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS STARTED AT OR AROUND 70000 MILES. THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS GO OFF WITH OUT WARNING AND FOR NO REASON FOR SOMETIMES UP TO A MINUTE (AND THIS HAS HAPPENED AT NIGHTIME) "MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE" NO ONE CAN TELL US WHY THE VEHICLE DOES THIS. THE NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVEN AT 45 MPH OR MORE IS OUTRAGIOUS...IT MAKES AN AWFUL HUMMING SOUND SO LOUD THAT THE RADIO CAN'T BE HEARD. THE VEHICLE ALSO WILL NOT START AT TIMES AS WELL...FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON AT ALL...NOTHING CAN BE FOUND WRONG WITH IT ALL!!! IT WILL STALL OR WILL NOT START AT ALL AFTER SEVERAL STARTS AND TURN OFFS. IT HAS ALSO DONE THIS ON INCLINES OR AFTER FILLING AT THE GAS STATION ONCE AS WELL. IF YOU GO BACK AND TRY TO START THE VEHICLE IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR IT WILL START...I FIGURED THIS OUT AFTER CALLING A TOW TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES...AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO ME..THEY TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED. THE VEHICLE BURNS A QURT OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES OR SO. NOW MY BRAKES ARE TO THE FLOOR WHICH I HAVE RECENTLY HAD IT TO THE SHOP AGAIN AND THE MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKES ARE FINE THAT I NEED MY ABS PUMP (MASTER CYLINDER) REPLACED IT IS LEAKING 800.00 +++ JUST FOR THE PART ALONE HMMMMM??? JUST ANOTHER ISSUE REPORTED LIKE ALL THE ABOVE FROM OTHER BUICK RENDEZVOUS 2002 OWNERS. OH AND ALSO MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS BROKE AND THAT WILL BE COSTING ME 450.00. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT SHUT CORRECTLY NOW AT ALL THE HINGES ARE MESSED UP ON THESE MODELS. THE DOOR GETS STUCK ALL THE TIME. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE PROBLEMS THAT OTHER BUICK RENDEZVOUS OWNERS OF THE 2002 MODELS ARE HAVING AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT ASAP. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD. THE WHEEL BEARINGS MADE A LOUD SOUND AND WERE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE ALSO DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

I PURCHASED MY 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS CXL IN EARLY 2003. BY 2004 I HAD TO HAVE THE A/C CONDENSER REPLACED, THE SHOCKS & STRUTS REPLACED AND NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C. THEN IN SUMMER OF 2006 THE CAR ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING AND THE CAR STALLED OUT WITH SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD, ETC. HAD IT TOWED TO BUICK, THEY SAID THE ENGINE HAD A LEAK SOMEWHERE AND WATER LEAKED INTO THE OIL...HUH? ANYWAY, OF COURSE EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, I WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. THE OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $6,000. THIS VEHICLE WAS ALREADY PAID OFF AND WORTH ABOUT $14K PRIOR TO THE ENGINE BLOWING UP. I ENDED UP SELLING IT FOR $3K. IS THIS NORMAL? I THINK NOT. I SUBMITTED MY CASE TO SEVERAL "LAWYER" CLAIMING TO SPECIALIZE IN THIS TYPE OF RIP OFF ACTIVITY BY CAR MANUFACTURERS BUT THEY SAID IT WASN'T WORTH IT TO THEM TO PURSUE IT. MAYBE IF SOMEONE HAD DIED IT WOULD BE WORTH MORE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BUICK AT LEAST ADMIT POOR MANUFACTURING AND REFUND ME SOME OF MY MONEY. I TOOK A LOSS OF $11K ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB

BROUGHT A NEW 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS CX FROM A DEALER. AT ABOUT 10,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS THAT WERE BEYOND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. STARTING WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER PROBLEMS. THEY WERE REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY. BUT ABOUT 24,000 AND WITHOUT WARRANTY, THE CAR GOT OVERHEATED FOR A 15 MINUTES TRAFFIC JAM. TURNED OUT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE AC SENSOR WASN'T WORKING. REPLACED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING SENSOR. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, THE OTHER WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. JUST ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO AND 35,000 MILES LATER, THE OVERHEATED PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN, COMPOUNDED WITH THE A/C LINKAGE, AND THE ABS SENSOR WASN'T WORKING. I PAID $1,200 FOR FIXING THE OVERHEAT PROBLEM AND REPLACING THE ABS SENSOR. I DIDN'T FIX THE AC LINKAGE BECAUSE IT WOULD COST ME ANOTHER $900!! NOW I AM SO WORRY THAT ANOTHER MAJOR PROBLEM GOING TO HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CAR. I AM HOPING GM WILL ISSUE A RECALL AND STOP CHEATING CONSUMERS. *NM

BEARINGS AND SENSOR ON ANTI LOCK WENT OUT. CAR STOPPING, LOCKING UP, NOT RE-STARTING. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A SLIGHT THUMPING NOISE IN THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE AREA AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING HAD SIGNIFICANT PLAY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE COMPLETELY WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 3/20/2006 - THE ROTORS WERE ALSO REPLACED. *NM

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED A WHINING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN DRIVING AROUND 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE LOCAL MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE FRONT HUB BEARINGS WERE WORN AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE HUB BEARINGS.

I PURCHASED A USED 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS IN APRIL OF 2004 FROM A GM DEALERSHIP (ABOVE). IT IS AN AWD V6 CXL SUV. MY CAR MANUAL SPECIFICALLY STATES NOT TO USE ANYTHING OTHER THAN DEXCOOL ANTIFREEZE. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE FROM GM OR THE DEALERSHIP OR DEXCOOL REGARDING THE PROBLEMS ON THIS VEHICLE AND DEXCOOL. EVEN AFTER THE LAWSUIT AGAINST GM IN 2008 I DID NOT GET NOTIFIED IN ANY WAY, AND THE DEALERSHIP NEVER TOLD ME TO STOP USING DEXCOOL, SO I HAVE BEEN CONTINUING TO EXPERIENCE ENGINE PROBLEMS! WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR IT HAD 37,591 MILES ON IT. I PAID JUST UNDER $20,000 FOR IT. ON 12/8/05 I DID A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. FOUR MONTHS LATER, ON MARCH 9, 2006, THE CAR WAS FOUND TO HAVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS LEAKING OIL AND COOLANT, AND THE FRONT TIMING COVER SEAL WAS LEAKING. IT ALSO NEEDED FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. AT THAT TIME THEY TOLD ME THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING ALL OVER EVERYTHING AND WAS GETTING INTO THE TRANSMISSION (AND THE BRAKES, TOO, I THINK.) HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FLUSH DONE AND I THINK COOLANT FLUSH DONE - COST WAS $222. I HAD 3 ESTIMATES DONE FOR THE REST OF THE WORK AND THEY RANGED FROM $3,300, TO 1700 TO $1,380. IT COST ME $89 AND $73 FOR TWO OF THE ESTIMATES. HAD WORK DONE AT 4TH SHOP ON 4/20/06, COST ME $730. ON AUGUST 22, 2007, I HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE GASKET DONE AGAIN AS WELL AS A COOLANT FLUSH; COST ME $492. ON AUGUST 11, 2009 I HAD TO HAVE THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH REPLACED AS IT WAS LEAKING PLUS OTHER WORK; TOTAL WAS $257. I WAS TOLD ABOUT A YEAR AGO THAT THE INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AND COOLANT AGAIN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CAR DID NOT PASS INSPECTION IN JUNE, 2010; ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IS THAT A RESULT OF THE DEXCOOL COOLANT CONTAMINATING THE TRANNY? OTHER WORK NEEDED IS STEERING RACK (AGAIN), AIR COMPRESSOR, & REAR AIR SHOCKS. THE COOLANT LEAKING HAS CAUSED THE FAILURE OF MANY OF THE PARTS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE FIXED ON THIS CAR, NOT JUST THE GASKET. *TR