RoadVitals

2002 Buick Rendezvous Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Mar 9, 2012
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 486 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Buick Rendezvous submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 9, 2012

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10450859
Incident
Dec 23, 2011
Mileage
70,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 30, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR LOCATE A FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID
10445872
Incident
Dec 14, 2011
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Dec 23, 2009

JUST PURCHASED A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS 4 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH THIS CAR, IT LEFT ME STRANDED AND STARTED UP BY A JUMP START. I GOT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND STARTER CHECKED ALL REPORTED FINE. CAR RAN FINE FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS THEN IT DID IT AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL FLICKER AT NIGHT SOMETIMES AT A RHYTHM. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DECIDED WHEN THEY WILL AND WILL NOT WORK. MAINLY THE SEAT HEATER BUTTONS. REPLACED BATTERY YESTERDAY AND WHILE DRIVING TO RICHMOND VA ALL INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT SHOWING IN THE DASH. AFTER A FEW MINUTES EVERYTHING WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THESE CHEAPLY MADE VEHICLES WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF NOT DEATHS IF THESE COMPANIES DON'T STAND BEHIND WHAT THEY PUT OUT TO IT'S PUBLIC. CONSIDERING THAT I OWE 5000.00 FOR IT I WILL NOT PUT ALOT INTO IT TO KEEP IT RUNNING. THIS COMPANY NEEDS TO FIX THEIR VEHICLES THE WAY THEY WERE ADVERTISED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10296773
Incident
Sep 25, 2009
Mileage
120,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 27, 2008

WE HAVE A BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CAR'S INTERIOR LIGHTS GO OFF WITHOUT WARNING, AND IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE DASHBOARD LIGHTS, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, AT NIGHT. OTHER TIMES, HORN WILL START BLARING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES WITH NO WARNING...ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY...IT STARTLES ANYONE AROUND. NOW, WHEN WE TURN OFF THE CAR, THE HEADLIGHTS WON'T GO OFF AT ALL, NO MATTER WHAT WE TRY. WILL HAVE A DEAD BATTERY NEXT TIME WE GO TO DRIVE THE CAR (TOMORROW MORNING). *TR

NHTSA ID
10235895
Incident
Jul 25, 2008
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 30, 2008

2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS ALL THE LIGHTS TURN OFF AND TURN BACK ON- THERE IS NOT A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 50-60 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. LOST COUNT ON THE PREVIOUS YEARS BEFORE THAT. WE'VE BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY STATE THEY CAN NOT GET THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN (WHILE IN THE SHOP), AND WITHOUT IT HAPPENING AT THE PRECISE TIME, THEY CAN NOT FIX THE ISSUE. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMETHING REALLY BAD HAPPENS. WE WANT TO SELL THIS VEHICLE, BUT I CAN'T SELL IT MYSELF KNOWING THIS WILL HAPPEN TO THE BUYER. DEALER WILL NOT GIVE US EVEN CLOSE TO A TRADE IN VALUE (PRICING OBTAINED FROM THREE SEPARATE SOURCES) STATING THE VEHICLE IS PLAGUED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10226284
Incident
Jan 1, 2006
Mileage
110,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE DASHBOARD ELECTRONICS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BCM MODULE; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10170103
Incident
Oct 5, 2006
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+4 more
Filed Aug 27, 2006

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

NHTSA ID
10166629
Incident
Aug 27, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 27, 2004

WE OWN A BUICK RENDEVOUS. IT HAS RUNNING LIGHTS THAT ARE ON ALL THE TIME THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU HAVE NO TAIL LIGHTS WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON. SO IF YOU GET IN TO A RAIN STORM WHERE YOU ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE YOUR "HEADLIGHTS" ON IT GIVES A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY THAT THEY ARE ALREADY ON. BUT UNLESS IT'S DARK ENOUGH FOR THE ACTUAL HEADLIGHTS TO COME ON YOU HAVE NO TAILLIGHTS. THIS IS DANGEROUS TO BOTH YOU AND THE CARS AROUND YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID
10096489
Incident
Oct 27, 2004
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Dec 9, 2003

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2002 BUICK, RENDEZVOUS KEPT GOING OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP (VANATTA BUICK IN VESTAL NY) AND THEY SAID IT COULD BE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. THEY SCANNED THE DATA OUTPUT AND FOUND SEVERAL CODES THAT INDICATED A MALFUNCTION OF THIS UNIT. I HAD THEM REPLACE THE UNIT. THEY COVERED THE COST OF THE UNIT AND I PAYED THE LABOR.. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURED SENSE THE UNIT WAS REPLACED. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS MALFUNCITON IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. IN MY SITUATION THE SEVERAL TIMES THAT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, II WAS NOT IN A DANGEROUS PLACE (IE ON A SUPER HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH) IF I HAD BEEN IN THAT SITUATION, THE SECOND OR TWO THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WERE OUT COULD HAVE HAD FATAL CONSEQUENCES-- SUCH AS A DEER CROSSING THE ROAD OR WORSE YET, A PERSON ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID
10049463
Incident
Nov 26, 2003
Mileage
43,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .