2003 Buick Rendezvous Brakes Problems

THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WORKING AFTER TAKING IT IN FOR ANALYSIS THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAVE CEASED TO WORK. PULLING INTO GAS STATION I RAMMED PARKING COLUMN IN FRONT OF STORE.

ON 3/13/2015 MY CAR HAD GONE TO A FIRESTONE LOCATION IN INDIANA DUE TO A CHECK GAUGES LIGHT ON.THEY REPLACED MY ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. MY VEHICLE WAS ONLY KICKING OUT 300 CCA. I TOOK MY CAR HOME AND PARKED IT. THE FOLLOWING DAY I PUT APPROXIMATELY 350 MILES OF INTERSTATE DRIVING ON MY TRUCK. WHEN ARRIVING HOME, I PARKED MY TRUCK. ON 3/15/15 I TOOK A SHORT 2 MILE DRIVE AND LOST MY BRAKES.I HAVE A SEVERE BACK PROBLEM, WHICH MAKES QUICK AND SUDDEN MOVES PAINFUL. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ON A WINDING ROAD AND IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE TRUCK AT 40 MPH. THERE WAS NO WARNING TO MY BRAKES GOING OUT. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED IN TO THE SHOP AS I WAS NOT GOING TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE IT ANY FURTHER WITH NO BRAKES. I HAVE OWN MANY DIFFERENT MAKERS OF CARS AND NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. IF THERE WAS ANY KIND OF HINT IT WAS GOING , YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD HAVE CAUGHT IT 2 DAYS EARLIER WHEN IT WAS IN THE SHOP. I AM CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED AND EXPENSES LIKE THIS ARE VERY HARD TO ACCOMMODATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO NOTICED THAT THE WARNING INDICATOR LOW BRAKE FLUIDS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LINES THAT CROSSED OVER FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WERE FRACTURED DUE TO RUST ON THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED WHICH CAUSED THE LEAK. THE RUST WAS HIDDEN UNDER THE SHIELD. UPDATED 12/4/2014 *JS

WHEN DRIIVING 2003 RENDEZVOUS WHEN TRYING TO STOP THERE IS A LOUD CRUNCHING SOUND AND THUMPING PULSATING FROM BRAKE AS IF IT IS FORCING IT BACK UP. I HAVE TO STUMP BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR TO STOP. MECHANIC CAN NOT TELL WHATS WRONG WITH IT. ALMOST DROVE INTO 4 LANES OF CROSS TRAFFIC. CAR WOULD NOT STOP. HAD BRAKES CHANGED AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND HEART POUNDS. MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION SO I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. ALSO WHEN MAKING A TURN AND USING BRAKES IT IS WORST. VERY FRIGHTENING AT ANY SPEED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING AND MAKING CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN ENGAGED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A PARKED VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE FAILURE BY SHIFTING INTO PARK WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN MOTION. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HIP, SHOULDER, KNEE AND ANKLE FROM THE IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED A LOCAL BODY REPAIR CENTER FO FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

REAR BRAKE LINE BROKE BECAUSE OF RUST. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR THEN LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID FOR REAR BRAKES AFTER A COUPLE STOPS. *TR

THE SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON, AND THE TRACTION OFF LIGHT IS ON, AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT IS ALSO ON. I WAS BACKING UP WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED, AND NOW THE LIGHTS ALL COME ON EVERYTIME I AM IN THE CAR. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I TRIED TO STOP MY CAR AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING, AND I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN LOW SO IT WOULD SLOW DOWN. AND WHEN IT SLOWED I FINALLY GOT IT TO STOP. THE MECHANIC SAID THE CAR WAS PUT TOGETHER FUNNY AND THAT THE BRAKE LINE CORRODED CAUSE ITS OVER THE EXHAUST. I DIDN'T GET HURT BUT I COULD HAVE, BUT IF IT WERE SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO SLOW DOWN A CAR, OR A NEW DRIVER IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD. *TR

WE DROVE 6.4 MILES FROM OUR RELATIVES HOUSE TO A RESTAURANT. WHEN I PARKED, MY WIFE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSANGERS SIDE. I TOLD HER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND I RELEASED THE HOOD LATCH. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD THE FLAMES WERE VISIBLE. I CALLED 911, PRIOR TO FD ARRIVAL THE FLAMES WERE PUT OUT BY SOMEONE FROM THE RESTAURANT. THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED OUT AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CATCHING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON FIRE. THE RESPONSE FROM BUICK VIA CLAIMS ADMISINSTRATOR BRYAN SCHWARTZ THEY CLAIM NO LIABILITY DUE TO BRAACH OF WARRANTY. I CLAIM THIS BRAKE LINE SHOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED OUT AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. AT 59,411 MILES THIS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED @ VYLETEL BUICK INCLUDED IN THIS SERVICE WAS A MULTI-POINT VEHICLE INSPECTION INCLUDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM (ALSO INCLUDING LINES,HOSES AND PARKING BRAKE) NO ISSUES WERE NOTED. *TR

I WAS PARKED ON A HILL FACING UP WARDS. I MADE A U TURN IN THE STREET TO GO DOWN THE HILL AS I ALWAYS DO. AS I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN I LOST ALL PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN BUT NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A VERY SLOW STOP. WHILE I CONTINUED DRIVING TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND NOW THE "LOW BRAKE FLUID" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WARNING CHIMES WERE RINGING CONSTANTLY. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID HITTING HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS CAUSING THE SMOKE. I COULD SEE BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING UNDER THE VEHICLE TOO BUT UNDER THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE LINE AND SAID THAT THE LINE RUNS UP TO THE FIRE WALL BEHIND THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO WORK ON IT. "REAL NICE". I HAVE TO FIND A SHOP WHO IS COMPETENT TO DO THIS JOB. I WOULD HAVE NO DOUBT BEEN IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN ON THE FREEWAY WHILE THIS HAPPENED. FROM READING SOME OTHER SIMILAR ISSUES ONLINE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. APPARENTLY ALL THESE BRAKE LINES RUN UP TO THE FIRE WALL WHERE INSTALLATION HOLDS MOISTURE AND CAUSES FAILURE. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE. IF THE LINE WASN'T IN OR CLOSE TO INSULATION THIS WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. *TR *KB

BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINE ON FIREWALL ABOVE EXHAUST PIPE. I WAS ABLE TO BRING CAR TO FULL STOP USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. BECAUSE OF LIGHT TRAFFIC AND LOW SPEED MAJOR ACCIDENT WAS AVOID. BRAKE LINE FIXED BY SHELTON BUICK DEALER IN ROCHESTER HILLS AND PRICE WAS $429.70. I'M FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF GM VEHICLES.

BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINE ON FIREWALL ABOVE EXHAUST PIPE. THOSE 2 BRAKE LINES ARE SHIELDED TOGETHER BY A HEAT SHIELDED INSULATION WHICH IN RETURN KEEPS IN MOISTURE AND CORRODES BRAKE LINES,VERY POOR DESIGN. CALLED GM TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL AND SEE IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FINANCIALLY ,WAITING FOR ANSWER. THIS IS GOING TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND EXPENSIVE ONE,ON TOP OF BEING A DANGEROUS ONE. HAVE TO REPLACE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LINES,IF ONE CORRODED THE OTHER ONE WILL FOLLOW. *TR

LOSING OIL AND WATER EVERYDAY TEMP. GAUGE SHOWING HOT. NOW TRAC AND ANTI BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. BRAKE PEDAL IS GOT A JUMPING MOVEMENT. WE GOT OUR 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS A COUPLE YEARS AGO. *TR

MY 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS HAS A ABS PROBLEM WHERE IT ENGAGES COMPLETELY ON ITS OWN WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMP IS MORE THAN 50 DEGREES. WHILE DRIVING, I HEAR A HUMMING NOISE AT VARIOUS TIME DURING MY DRIVE AND WHEN I PUSH THE BRAKES THE ABS SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED AND THE PETAL PULSES AND A GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD. ALTHOUGH, THE ABS LIGHT DOES NOT LIGHT UP ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS IS CONSTANT THROUGHOUT THE MONTHS OF MAY THROUGH OCTOBER SINCE THE TEMP IS ABOVE 50 DEGREES DURING THE DAY. I HAVE HAD BOTH FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES AND WIRE HARNESS REPLACED WITH NO AVAIL. THEN, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, THE AWD SYSTEM DISABLES ANYTIME I HAVE TIRE(S) SPINNING. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND NOT ONE SEEM TO HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT CAN BE WRONG. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE FINDING AN ALARMING AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM CONCERNING THEIR RENDEZVOUS, BUT NO SOLUTION. *TR

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD THREE FRONT HUBS REPLACED AND THE SADDLE FOR THE TRACTION SYSTEM. ALL DONE AT THE ADVISE OF A BUICK DEALER. THIS PAST YEAR I TELEPHONED BUICK AND REQUESTED THEIR HELP, AS I FELT BUICK SHOULD KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THIS RECURRING PROBLEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. BOTH THE ANTILOCK BRAKES AND THE TRACTION SYSTEMS ARE OFF, AND THE CAR SOUNDS AS IF IT IS RAW METAL ON METAL. I AM AGAIN OCCASIONALLY HEARING THE GRINDING NOISE, WHICH USUALLY INDICATES ANOTHER PROBLEM (WITH SUBSTANTIAL COST) IS ON THE WAY. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WAS ENGAGING INDEPENDENTLY AND AS A RESULT, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND TIRES WERE REPLACED AND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS INSPECTED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND AS A LAST RESORT, THE CONTACT COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED THE ABS SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT AND BACK BRAKES AND ROTORS IN MY 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS TWICE NOW - ONE AT 36,000 MILES AND AGAIN JUST RECENTLY AT 73,000 MILES. I HAD TO HAVE $1200 WORTH OF WORK ON THE TRANSMISSION AT 62,000 MILES BECAUSE A GASKET WAS LEAKING AND CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ANTI-FREEZE. BUICK KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAD CHANGED THE DESIGN IN 2003, BUT AFTER I HAD PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. NOW, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES ARE LEAKING. DIDN'T THEY NOTICE THAT WHEN I HAD THE TRANSMISSION WORK DONE OR DID THEY CAUSE IT? MECHANIC SAYS IT HAS BEEN LEAKING A LONG TIME. *TR

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. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. ONCE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TRAVELING UPHILL, IT SLOWED DOWN AND THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE POWER BOOSTER BOX BURNED UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE ROTORS ONCE WITHIN THE PAST YEAR. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000.