2003 Buick Rendezvous Complaint Log

2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS WITH 87,000 MILES. I STARTED SMELLING A SWEET BURNING SMELL THROUGH THE VENT. I AM BEING TOLD THAT MY INTAKE VALVE IS LEAKING AND THE WATER PUMP NEEDS REPLACING. THIS WILL APPARENTLY COST APPROXIMATELY $2,650.00. MY FATHER OWNS THE EXACT SAME CAR AND HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM ARISE IN HIS 2001 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. IT COST HIM SIGNIFICANTLY LESS. THE DEALERS ALL KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT IS HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED AS A RECALL THEREFORE THEY CAN CHARGE FOR IT. MY FATHER'S DEALERSHIP IN DAYTON, OHIO KNEW ABOUT IT AND WHEN I BROUGHT MINE INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN ALEXANDRIA, VA THE SERVICEMEN LAUGHED BECAUSE THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2003 BUICK RENDZVOUS. I AM EXPERIENCING A FUEL LEAK FROM THE GAS TANK FILLER PIPE, AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA ACTION #RQ06009. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE FILLER PIPE CONNECTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE FUEL TANK, BUT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MADE THE REPLACEMENT AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER FAILURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,737. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

ALL 4 OF MY WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD BEFORE 60,000 MILES, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BUICK STATING THEY ARE OFFERING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS UP TO 60,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT DIAGNOSED UNTIL I HAD 63,000 MILES, THOUGH 4 MONTHS AGO WHEN I ASKED MY MECHANIC ABOUT THE LOAD NOISE COMING FROM MY VEHICLE I WAS TOLD IT WAS FROM MY NEW TIRES AND I JUST NEEDED TO WEAR THE TREAD AND THE NOISE WOULD STOP. IT GOT WORSE AND I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO 3 MECHANICS. THE FIRST 2 BOTH SAID IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR EVEN 1 WHEEL BEARING TO GO BAD WITH THIS LITTLE OF MILES AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW ALL MY WHEEL BEARINGS COULD BE SHOT. THEY STATED WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE NOISE 4 MONTHS AGO IT IS MOST LIKELY THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD HAVE EVEN CONSIDERED WHEEL BEARINGS PROBLEMS IN A VEHICLE THIS NEW. ONE OF THE MECHANICS SHOOK MY TIRE IN FRONT OF ME A HALF AN INCH, STATING "THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE". THE LETTER I RECEIVED FROM BUICK CLAIMED THIS WAS NOT RECALLED BECAUSE IT DID NOT POSE A SAFETY CONCERN. I DID HAVE THE FRONT 2 RECENTLY REPLACED AND THE DEALER/BUICK PAID FOR HALF THE COST, BUT REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT AN ISSUE ON THE LETTER I RECEIVED. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS WAS REPORTED ON A NEWS STATION AND OVER 272,000 PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY THIS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. HE FIRST BECAME AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHEN HE SMELLED GAS IN THE GARAGE FROM THE FILLER HOSE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY TIGHTENED THE HOSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,000.

03' BUICK REDERZVOUS (WITH 65000 MILES) BEING TOLD LEAKING OF LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD WHILE BEING SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKES. GIVEN ESTIMATES OF $1200 FOR THE REPAIR JOB. TO ITS CREDIT BUICK IS HELPING WITH THE TAB (ENDED UP OF PAYING 400 OUT OF POCKET). WHILE DEALER WAS DOING THE INTAKE JOB, HE CAME BACK TO SAY THE WATER PUMP IS ALSO LEAKING WHICH COSTS ABOUT ADDITIONAL 350 FOR THE FIX. *JB

AT 38,000 MILES , WAS TOLD BY MY SERVICE MAN THAT I HAD SMALL HEAD GASKET AND INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS RESULTING IN COOLANT LOSS. WAS TOLD REPAIR WOULD BE ABOUT $700, AND IF THE LEAKS GOT WORSE IT COULD JUMP THE BILL UP TO 3,200 DOLLARS. CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY KIND OF CHUCKLED AND WERE VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT AS OF 4/19/09 THERE IS NO RECALL. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. LOOKING AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, IT SHOWS IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. GM IS NEGLECTING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES BY NOT DOING A RECALL. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS.*TR

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM LITTLE APPLE TOYOTA IN MANHATTAN, KS ON JUNE 2, 2006. THE VEHICLE WE PURCHASED WAS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND THIS WAS DONE THROUGH TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORPORATION. WE EXPLAINED TO THE GENTLEMEN NAMED TIM THAT WE WOULD BE MAKING A FEW TRIPS BACK AND FORTH FROM KANSAS TO TEXAS. ALSO, MY HUSBAND WANTED PEACE OF MIND WITH HIM DEPLOYING TO IRAQ THAT WE WOULD BE SAFE. WE WERE INFORMED BY HIM THAT THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE ACCEPTED EVEN UNDER THE MILES PROGAM AND THAT OUR VEHICLE WOULD MEET AND EXCEED THOSE. WE TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND HEARD SOME GRINDING AND HE SAID THAT THEY WOULD PUT ON NEW BRAKES THAT THIS WAS PROBABLY THE CAUSE. SO ANYWAY WE HAVE IT A YEAR TO DATE AND I AM MAKING A TRIP TO KANSAS WHEN IT GOES HAYWIRE. I TAKE IT TO LITTLE APPLE WHO WILL NOT HELP ME AND THEY SEND IT TO STAGG HILL TRANSMISSION WHO TELLS ME IT'S GOING TO BE $4,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THAT ALL MY WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACED, BUT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO FIX THAT. I GUESS BOTTOM LINE IS THAT NO ONE WANTS TO MAKE GOOD ON A VEHICLE THAT WE HAVE ONLY HAD FOR 1 YEAR. THE TRANSMISSION SHOULDN'T JUST GO OUT AT 24,000 MILES. I WENT TO A SITE AND FOUND OTHERS COMPLAINING OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BUICK RENDEZVOUS. I THINK THEY NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO MORE CAREFULLY. I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ANYONE BUY ONE. NOW I AM STRANDED, CAR LESS, AND MY HUSBAND IS DEPLOYED AND CAN'T HELP TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE THE BUICK RENDEZVOUS 2003 INVESTIGATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE LEAK REPAIRED. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THE 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS IS UNDER RECALL # 03V454000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE) FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE COULD NOT BE REIMBURSED SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE 2003 MODEL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

GAS TANK IS EMITTING FUMES. GAS PUMP LINE CRACK, LEADING TO FUEL SETTLING AT THE O'RING RELEASES COMPONENT. NOW O'RING HAS BECOME CORREDED. CANNOT REPLACE O'RING SINCE IT IS CONNECTED TO THE TANK. GAS PUMP AND LINE REPLACED; NOW THE GAS TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE FAULTY GAS PUMP. GM HAS A RECALL ON BOTH 07E021000 AND 07V349000; WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING IN THE WELDING SEAM, WHERE THE CHECK VALVE IS WELDED INTO THE TANK. HE HAS NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL, NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNLESS THE CONTACT AGREES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER COVERT BUICK CLAIMED WATER INTRUSION INTO FUEL PUMP/GAUGE HARNESS CAUSED CORROSION AND CIRCUIT FAILURE. REPLACED HARNESS AND CLAIMED REPAIRS TO PREVENT FURTHER WATER INTRUSION. FOUR DAYS AFTER COMPLETION OF REPAIR "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. DEALER NOW CLAIMS WATER INTRUSION FROM PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND IS SEARCHING FOR SOURCE OF WATER. DEALER WAS ADVISED OF POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH FILLER PIPE/FUEL TANK INTERFACE BUT DISCOUNTED THIS AS CAUSE. DEALER IGNORED REQUEST BY CUSTOMER TO EXAMINE DAMAGED PARTS TO DETERMINE IF METAL CORRODED BY WATER OR INSULATION DESTROYED BY HYDROCARBON EXPOSURE. *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.

THIS HAS OCCURRED ON AND OFF SINCE PURCHASING MY 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS IN JANUARY 2005. USUALLY OCCURS WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPS ARE WARMER, SPRING THRU FALL, NOT IN THE WINTER. AT SLOW SPEEDS ( 10 TO 20 MILES/HOUR) WHEN BRAKING AND/OR TURNING STEERING WHEEL WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, A GRINDING/CRUNCHING NOISE IS HEARD AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES FEELS LIKE YOU ARE CRUSHING SOMETHING WITH YOUR FEET. BRAKES DO NOT WORK IMMEDIATELY. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT, SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT, AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE OFF INDICATOR LIGHTS ALL COME ON AND STAY ON AFTER THE BRAKING AND NOISE STOPS. WARNING LIGHTS SOMETIMES STAY ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AFTERWARDS. JUST BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE CAN EVEN CAUSE THIS TO OCCUR. RECENTLY I HAD AN INSTANCE WHEN DRIVING AT 10 TO 15 MILES/HOUR AND COULD NOT STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOUR-WAY STOP AFTER I SLAMMED BRAKES TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP CANNOT NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HAVE HAD IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS THREE TIMES AND ONLY ERROR SHOWING UP WAS RIGHT FRONT SPEED SENSOR MALFUNCTION BUT UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM WHILE IN FOR SERVICE. I LEFT DEALERSHIP AND WITHIN A MILE IT STARTED AGAIN. I KEEP DRIVING THE CAR BUT AM FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIX IT, AND PRAY I DON'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR HIT A PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE I CANNOT STOP. BRAKES DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM AT DRIVING SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. *TR

ENGINE RAN HOT. SERVICE REPAIRED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. ALL COOLENT WAS LOST, BUT NO LEAK WAS FOUND UNDER CAR. GASKET WAS REPLACED. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF AT ALL TIMES. THE VEHICLE ALSO SMOKES A LOT AND THE GASKET OVERHEATED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DROPPED DOWN INTO THE DOOR. THE BUICK DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A WEEK MAKING REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT DIFFERENT FAILURES KEEP ARISING, SUCH AS THE AIR MAST FLOW SENSOR HAD TO BE CHANGED TWICE, ALONG WITH THE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, AND NEW THERMOSTATS WERE INSTALLED. THE REPAIR COULD POSSIBLY COST MORE THAN $2,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

03' BUICK RENDEZVOUS. AXLE ASSEMBLY (FRONT) FAILED AT 60,000/4 YEARS. REPAIRED AT BUICK DEALERSHIP THAT COSTS ~600 PARTS PLUS LABOR. WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE A SEVERE SAFETY RISK IF NOT FIXED. *TR

2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS @ 59000 MILES NEEDS REAR HEAD GASKET REPLACED. FIRST NOTICED AN OVERHEATED CONDITION. TOOK IT TO A MONROE SHOP AND WAS TOLD RADIATOR CAP WAS BAD. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND TOOK IT TO GM DEALERSHIP 2-02-07. TOLD THAT IT HELD PRESSURE AND NO LEAKS. FOUND ORANGE SNOW UNDER CAR 2-14-07. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AND TOLD IT IS LEAKING AT REAR HEAD GASKET. COST FOR REPLACEMENT IS $1500. CALLED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY ARE HELPING. FOUND THAT CANADIANS ARE SUING GM FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE GASKET MATERIAL BREAKS DOWN WHEN DEX-COOL IS USED. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES COOLANT LEAK. ENGINE SEIZURE, GELLED OIL AND POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE CAN BE POSSIBLE RESULTS. I WOULD HATE TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED UP. COULD BE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. GM CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WILL COVER SOME OF THE COST OF THE REPAIR AND I WILL PAY A DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT. I AM TAKING IT IN TO BE FIXED 2-16-07. *NM

IN 11/05, AT APPROXIMATELY 43K MILES, MY 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS CXL REQUIRED A NEW INTAKE GASKET & THERMOSTAT AFTER THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY LOST ALL OF ITS ENGINE COOLANT AND I WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP. THIS WAS A CERTIFIED USED GM VEHICLE, BUT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 39K MILES SO I INCURRED AT $700+ REPAIR BILL. NOW, AT 59K MILES, I AM HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM; THE ENGINE COOLANT OVERHEATED, ALSO LEADING TO AN EMERGENCY STOP AND TOWING, AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT THE SAME INTAKE GASKET HAS FAILED AGAIN. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE HORN WILL NOT ENGAGE UNLESS THE CONTACT PRESSED THE ICON. THIS INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO GENERAL MOTORS, AND THAT WAS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT THAT WAS RELATED TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE HORN. *AK UPDATED 02/22/07. *JB

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS CORRODED BY GM COOLANT AFTER A COUPLE YEARS. SPECIFIC TO COMBINATION OF FACTORY COOLANT AND FACTORY GASKET. MECHANIC REPLACED GASKET WITH ONE THAT DOESN'T CORRODE WHEN IN CONTACT WITH THE FACTORY COOLANT. THIS REQUIRED 6.5 HOURS OF LABOR PLUS PARTS TOTALING $600. *JB

INTAKE-MANIFOLD STARTED LEAKING AT 69,000 AND WILL COST ME $800.00. WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002-2003 BUICK RENDEVOUZ'S. *JB

BUICK RENDEVOUS. 1ST WAS A 2002 CXL - PROBLEMS: REAR DIFFERENTIAL SLIPPED, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE, AC CONDENSER BROKEN, REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF, BACK UP SENSORS SHUT DOWN VEHICLE - BECAUSE OF THIS FRIED ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED AT 30K. 2ND IS A 2003 CXL - PROBLEMS - REAR DIFFERENTIAL SLIPPING, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR BROKEN, DRIVER 1 & 2 MEMORY BROKEN, ENGINE RUNNING HOT BECAUSE OF LEAK IN RADIATOR - AGAIN 30K *JB

THE FIRST INDICATION OF THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE WHEN THE HEATER WAS TURNED ON, IT WOULD NOT GET WARM OR HOT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WHICH IS A $900 REPAIR. WHAT THEY DID NOT TELL ME WAS THAT, WHEN THIS GASKET LEAKS COOLANT, IT WILL MIX WITH THE ENGINE OIL AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO BLOW OR SEIZE. IN RESEARCHING ON-LINE, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM THAT BOTH GENERAL MOTORS AND BUICK ARE WELL AWARE OF. IN FACT, GM SENT OUT AN INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN JULY 2001 STATING THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT WHEN BROUGHT IN TO THE SERVICE DEPT., IT SHOULD BE FIXED. ONLY THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE DEFECTIVE PART OR PAY FOR OR REIMBURSE CONSUMERS FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE STATING THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM, YET GM REFUSES TO RECALL IT! THERE IS A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT IN CANADA FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND A PETITION FOR GM TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART IN THE U.S. GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DECEIVING CONSUMERS ABOUT ALL ALONG. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR CONTINUING TO SELL VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NOT SO MUCH AS DO A RECALL. I WANT TO GM TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AS WELL AS RECALL THE PART. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT OVER $700 IN REPAIRS TO THE CAR, INCLUDING WHEEL BEARING SENSORS, BRAKES, AND A GAS-LINE LEAK. THESE ARE ALSO WELL-KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE BUICK RENDEZVOUS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE CAUSES THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILS. ALSO, THE POWER SOURCE OUTLETS DO NOT WORK AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS MUST BE MADE IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. GENERAL MOTORS COULD NOT ASSIST HER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 100,000 MILES AND DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIR SERVICE. THE BUICK DEALER WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, THEREFORE SHE IS UNABLE TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE PAPERWORK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF UPDATED

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR DAYS. THE ALRM DIDN'T WORK, THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION, THE AC DID NOT COOL PROPERLY, THE ABS WOULD ENGAGE WHEN IT WAS NOT NEEDED, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULDN'T CANCEL, THE DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK. UPDATED 12/29/06. *JB

I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE INTAKE GASKETS ON THE GENERAL MOTORS 3.4 LITER ENGINE. THE FAILURE MOST COMMON WITH 2002 AND 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. MY RENDEZVOUS HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE GASKETS FAILED AND WAS OUT OF THE 36,00 MILE WARRANTY. THE FIRST INDICATION OF THE FAILURE WAS THAT MY HEATER WAS NOT BLOWING HOT AIR. I TOOK IT INTO A LOCAL SHOP AND THE MECHANIC SUSPECTED GASKET FAILURE BEFORE EVEN LOOKING AT THE CAR STATING THAT "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND WE REPAIR 2 OR 3 A MONTH IN OUR SHOP. THE PROBLEM IS YOU THINK YOU ARE JUST LOOSING (DEXCOOL) ANTIFREEZE FROM EVAPORATION DURING THE SUMMER BUT IN THE WINTER WHEN YOU TRY TO USE YOUR HEATER IT DOES NOT HEAT PROPERLY. THE ENGINE DOES NOT LEAK ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND, IT GOES INTO YOUR ENGINE OIL AND CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IF NOT CAUGHT QUICKLY ENOUGH." I CALLED MY LOCAL BUICK DEALER TO SEE IF GM COULD HELP ME OUT SINCE MY CAR WAS ONLY 4.000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY SAID BRING IT IN AND THEY WILL LOOK AT IT. THEY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID IT WAS THE INTAKE GASKETS THAT FAILED AND IT WOULD COST ME $900 TO REPAIR. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AFTER A WEEK OF NEGOTIATIONS, I FINALLY GOT MY CAR REPAIRED AT A REDUCED PRICE($360). NOW I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO MY ENGINE AFTER HAVING ENGINE COOLANT CONTAMINATING MY ENGINE OIL. I WAS TOLD BY THE BUICK SERVICE TECH. THAT "NO COOLANT GOT INTO THE OIL. IT GOES OUTSIDE THE ENGINE." THAT IS VERY STRANGE, BECAUSE PART OF THE REPAIR IS TO CHANGE THE ENGINE OIL. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT AT NO TIME WAS THERE EVER ANY INDICATION OF ANY TYPE OF FLUID LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. IF YOU GOOGLE "GM ENGINE COOLANT LEAK" MORE THAN 100,000 ITEMS COME UP ON THIS. *NM

FAILURE OF MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKETS, AND MANIFOLD CRACKED, BOTH AT 43,000 MILES. *JB

LEAKS ANTIFREEZE AND ANTIFREEZE GETTING INTO THE OIL. WILL REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. *NM

PLASTIC WINDOW CLIPS BROKE ON ALL 4 WINDOWS. WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP. DEALER WANTS $500.00 EACH WINDOW TO FIX THAT'S 2,000.00 .DEBRIS FLEW IN WINDOW ON FREEWAY HIT EYEBROW AND GLASSES RESULTING IN CUT AND BLOOD INTO EYE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING IS GOING-MAKES A LOUD NOISE. *NM

WITHIN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDOW MOTOR ON THE DRIVERS SIE,BLOWER MOTOR, LOAD LEVELER. NOW THE POWER STEERING IS GOING AND THE 02 SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED. *NM

I HAVE AN 03 BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET ($875) WAS IDENTIFY BY THE DEALERSHIP AS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AT THE SAME TIME MY FRONT HUB BEARINGS WERE FIXED AT JUST OVER $400 BY THE BUICK DEALERSHIP IN NEW JERSEY. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK MY MONEY GLADLY AND LATER THAT DAY I FIND OUT IN THIS FORUM MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT NO COST TO ME. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THE SERVICE MANAGER/DEALERSHIP WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE NOTICE POSTED BY GM. I FEEL USED AND ABUSE AT THIS POINT AND MY VEHICLE IS STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH LEAKING COOLANT/OVERHEATING EVEN AFTER GETTING THE PROBLEM FIXED. ALL I WANT FROM GM IS JUSTICE FOR ALL US WHO WORK HARD EACH DAY AND HAVE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEIR COMPANY AND PRODUCTS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, CAN ANYONE GIVE ME INFORMATION ON GETTING ON THAT TRAIN. I FOUND OTHER CONSUMERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN CANADA ON THIS WEBSITE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/BUICK-RENDEZVOUS/T1TIK6GQ01P6GHP7D/P3. *NM

RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BUICK THAT MY 2003 RENDEZVOUS HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH PREMATURE WEAR OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE CHECKED BY THE PLACE I PURCHASED IT (QUALITY AUTO OF WARSAW IN) A WEEK BEFORE RECEIVING THE LETTER BECAUSE I HEARD A LOUD HUMM. WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN ON 9-8-06 FOR WHEEL BEARING REPLACEMENTS BY SERVICE MANGER MATT DILLEY, BUT ON 9-5-06 MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE SHEARED THE STUDS OFF AND THE TIRE FLEW OVER THE CAR AT 50 MPH, AND CRASHED INTO A FARMERS FIELD. NOW BUICK STATES IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT AND WILL NOT PAY ME OR MY INSURANCE FOR REPAIRS. *JB

I OWN A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS THAT JUST "CUTS OUT" WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS 74,756 MILES ON IT AND I BOUGHT IT NEW. IT HAS DIES 4 TIMES (AND OF COURSE NOTHING "POWER" WORKS - MY 3 YR OLD WAS IN THE TRUCK EVERY TIME - IT'S DANGEROUS!) I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC 3 TIMES AND HE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. HE SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. IT TOOK THEM 5 DAYS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THEY SAID FIRST IT WAS A MODULE SHUTTING EVERYTHING OFF, NOW THEY'RE SAYING I ALSO NEED A NEW FUEL PUMP. AT 75,000 MILES IT'S RIDICULOUS! I'VE BEEN READING LOTS OF STORIES ON THE WEB WITH RENDEZVOUS' HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS! GM NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS! SOMEONE COULD DIE HAVING THEIR TRUCK CUT OUT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND BEING HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE! *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SEAM ON THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AROUND THE FUEL SPOUT SPILLING GAS OUT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INFORMED. UPDATED 08/14/06.*JB

2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS CXL 75000 MILES COOLING TEMPERATURE VARIED WIDELY INDICATING A POSSIBLE PROBLEM. TOOK AUTO TO AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AT 75000 MILES. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED A POOL OF GAS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE FILLER NOZZLE ELBOW COMING OUT OF THE GAS TANK APPEARED TO BE A TWO PIECE UNIT. THE SEAM AROUND THE FILLER ELBOW SEEMED TO BE LEAKING. CHANGED COMP CODE.PCO

I BOUGHT A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS IN JULY 2006. I HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVERSIDE WINDOW FIX IMMEDIATELY THANK GOD THE DEALER FIXED IT FOR ME AND NOW HERE WE ARE IN SEPTEMBER 2007 AND NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE WONT GO DOWN AND I LIVE ON DISABILITY AND I HAVE SEEN ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO HEAT OR AIR STOPS WHEN YOU ARE SITTING AT A LIGHT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LEAK ANTIFREEZE, WHICH CAUSED IT NOT TO PRODUCE A LOT OF HEAT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE ANTIFREEZE ADDED EVERY MONTH, BUT THE CONTACT NEVER ACTUALLY SAW IT LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT ANTIFREEZE AND OIL WERE LEAKING INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $700. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT RECALL; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY EXPENSES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

DRIVER'S WINDOW "FELL" AND HAD TO BE CLOSED MANUALLY; IT WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. *JB

I OWN A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS AWD. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SATURDAY. SUNDAY GAS WAS DRIPPING FROM MY CAR. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE FAILURE WAS BETWEEN THE FUEL INTAKE VALVE AND THE FUEL TANK. HE SUGGESTED THAT I CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND THERE WAS FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON 2004 MODELS. I CAN ONLY GET PARTS THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND I AM TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS WITH THEM RIGHT NOW. IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE TO BE AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH MY CHILDREN, AND MY CAR SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE. *JB

2003 RENDEZVOUS MADE A NOISE IN THE FRONT END, MECHANIC DETERMINED THE LEFT AND RIGHT HUB BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CONSIDERED A COMMON REPAIR AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. *JB

I HAVE HAD ONGOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. IT KEEPS BLOWING THE NUMBER 40 FUSE WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ITS TURN SIGNALS, BREAK LIGHTS, AND EMERGENCY FLASHERS. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM 3 TIMES SINCE JUNE OF 2005. THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAPPENED A WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASHBOARD CAUGHT FIRE WHILE MY WIFE AND A FRIEND OF HERS WERE TRAVELING 350 MILES FROM HOME. IT WAS AT NIGHT, IN THE RAIN, AND ON I-77 IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA. A LOCAL GM DEALER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE. THEY STATED A SERIOUS FIRE COULD HAVE RESULTED FROM THIS, PARTICULARLY SINCE A 30 AMP FUSE WAS PLACE IN THE #40 POSITION WHICH IS MADE TO TAKE A 15 AMP FUSE. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ON THIS VEHICLE ONE WITH UNDER 36,000 MILES AND THE OTHER WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN VERY HARD ON FRONT TIRES. I AM GUESSING DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE BEARINGS. *NM

I JUST PURCHASE A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS WITH 41,532 MILES ON IT. WITHIN 700 ADDITIONAL MILES A FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED. ANY AUTO SHOULD BE ABLE TO LAST TWICE THAT MILEAGE. IS THIS A ONE OF A KIND FAILURE OR HAS BUICK'S QUALITY CONTROL PEOPLE ASLEEP? *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED THE BACK GROUND COLOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MADE THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THE PRIMARY PROBLEM WITH THIS IS IN DAYLIGHT. THE SUN BEAMS INTO THE WINDOW AND THERE IS DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAKING IT UNABLE TO BE SEEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ALTERNATIVE TO THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED HE COULD NOT READ THE SPEEDOMETER DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. IT WAS SO BAD THAT THE CONTACT'S WIFE COULD NOT AND WOULD NOT DRIVE IN DAYLIGHT HOURS. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE INTAKE GASKET WAS CONSISTENTLY LEAKING. DURING THE TIME OF THE LEAKAGE, THE ENGINE DID NOT STALL. WHEN THE ENGINE COOLANT BECAME LOW THE ENGINE WOULD GET HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY AT 50000 MILES AND THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS AT THIS POINT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND DETERMINED THERE WOULD BE NO REIMBURSEMENTS FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS; REPAIRS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT IF PERFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S DEALER. UPDATED 7/7//2006 - *NM

HAD TO REPLACE LEAKING INTAKE GASKET @ 56,000 MILES ON 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICES SAID THIS FAILURE WAS TO BE EXPECTED ON A VEHICLE WITH 50,000 MILES. TRADED RDV ONE YEAR LATER WHEN HEAD GASKET FAILED. *JB

BRAKE FAILURE ON A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS, 36,440 MILES DUE TO RUSTED THROUGH BRAKE LINE AT FIREWALL ABOVE EXHAUST. MY WIFE WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER; NOT WARRANTY; VERY EXPENSIVE; TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR REPAIR. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS FAIL TO PROPERLY MOVE OR UP DOWN. ONE WINDOW FALLS WHILE DRIVING. ISSUE IS IDENTIFIED AS BROKEN WINDOW REGULATORS. PROBLEM APPARENTLY WIDESPREAD AS PARTS ARE HARD TO FIND (OUT OF STOCK). UNABLE TO LEAVE VEHICLE IN PUBLIC AREAS AS YOU CAN'T KEEP THE WINDOWS CLOSED. *JB