Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 14 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
VEHICLE GAVE NO KIND OF NOTICE JUST STARTED JUMPING OUT OF GEAR GOING DOWN THE MAIN ROAD. IT WILL JUMP IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND JUST STOPS SHIFTING. HAVE TO TURN ENGINE OFF THEN BACK ON FOR IT TO GO BACK INTO GEAR AND SOMETIMES THAT STILL DOES NOT WORK. ALMOST GOT HIT FROM THE REAR BECAUSE IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATION DECREASED AND THE ENGINE REVVED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
CAR IS RELUCTANT TO MOVE AT LOW SPEEDS (25/30 MPH). GEAR MOVES VERY RELUCTANTLY INTO HIGHER GEAR. HEAR LOUD CLUTTERING NOISES FROM GEAR BOX, METALS GRINDING AGAINST EACH OTHER. THIS CAUSES SLOWING THE TRAFFIC AND FEEL AS IF SOMEONE WILL HIT ME FROM BEHIND. FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
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
PURCHASED 02 RENDEZVOUS CXL AWD LAST FALL FROM DEALER. LAST WEEK VEHICLE STARTED ACTING LIKE IT WAS CONSTANTLY RUNNING IN 4WD OR DRAGGING AND WE NOTICED A WHINNING NOISE IN THE REAR END. TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER, WAS TOLD THAT THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS SHOT AND THE RIGHT ONE WAS STARTING TO GO BAD. ESTIMATED COST OF OVER $1,000. $303 FOR EACH WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSY (AUTO PART STORE MAX PRICE OF $134 EA) 1.4 HR LABOR FOR EACH SIDE (MANAGER SAID HIS MECHANIC COULD HAVE EACH SIDE DONE IN AN HOUR). EQUALS $606 ($338 IN PROFIT) IN PARTS AND $400 IN LABOR FOR 2 HOURS OF WORK. VEHICLE HAS 79,000 MILES AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO REPLACED EVERY 30-40,000 MILES. *NM
TWO SAFETY RELATED ISSUES WITH MY 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS CXL. THE FRONT HUB ABS SENSORS FAILED AT 51,000 MILES (LEFT SIDE) AND 58,500 MILES (RIGHT SIDE). DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNTIL ACTUAL FAILURE AND ERROR CODE. MEANWHILE, THE BRAKES ARE VERY ERRATIC AT LOW SPEEDS. OFTEN LONG STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE THE PEDAL PULSATES SEVERELY. VEHICLE PULLS SEVERELY TO ONE SIDE. DEALER REPLACED A WHEEL HUB THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. THEY REWIRED THE ABS SENSOR ON THE OTHER FRONT WHEEL THE SECOND TIME. IT WAS CORRECTED WHEN FINALLY DIAGNOSED BUT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE FIRST INCIDENT, WE HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH UNSAFE BRAKES UNTIL THE ERROR CODE WOULD REGISTER AND THE DEALER WOULD PERFORM THE REPAIRS. SECOND ISSUE INVOLVES THE AWD REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. MOANING NOISES START IN THE REAR END, ESPECIALLY IN LOW SPEED TURNS SUCH AS PARKING LOT MANEUVERS. OCCURRENCE INCREASES IN SEVERITY AND FREQUENCY FAIRLY QUICKLY. THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. ONCE AT 27,000 MILES AND ONCE AT 55,000 MILES. THIS IS A $3,000+ REPAIR AND IS NO LONGER COVERED BY WARRANTY. WHY DOES THE REAR DRIVE AXLE CONTINUE TO FAIL? IF IT SHOULD FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY, IT WILL POSE A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF HIGHWAY SPEEDS ARE INVOLVED AND THE VEHICLE BECOMES UNSTABLE. NOT ONLY IS SAFETY INVOLVED BUT THE VERY HIGH COST OF REPLACEMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *JB
HAD MY LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACE REAR BRAKES. STILL GETTING NOISE FROM REAR WHEELS, TOOK IT TO BUICK DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE. THEY ADJUSTED BRAKES AND THEY FAILED WITHIN A WEEK. I WAS THEN CHARGED $1000 PLUS A $400 RENTAL CAR BILL WHILE THEY "FIXED THE BRAKES." AFTER GETTING MY CAR BACK IT WAS STILL "WHIRRING", TURNS OUT THE PROBLEM WAS A HUB BEARING FAILURE ON ALL FOUR TIRES.
(1)LOUD ROAD NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, WHEEL BEARING FAILURE, DEALER REPAIR-VERY EXPENSIVE! (2)AC NO LONGER WORKED - AC CONDENSER FAILURE. DEALER REPAIR ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE!! (3) GAS GAUGE QUIT WORKING , MISC ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS- AT DEALER RIGHT NOW PROBABLY EXPENSIVE!!!
VEHICLE HAS 24,200 MILES. DEALER SAYS REAR (AWD) DIFFERENTIAL IS RUINED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. DEALER WON'T TELL ME IF CONDITION IS DANGEROUS. ODD NOISES NOTED FIVE MONTHS AGO. SECOND TIME TO DEALER. FIRST TIME - NO PROBLEMS NOTED. NOW TELL ME DIFFERENTIAL RUINED BY BAD TIRES (MANUFACTURERS CHOICE) - THIS NOT NOTED BY DEALER IN JUNE. IF TIRES ARE NOT PROPER SIZE, ETC. "AWD DISABLED" LIGHT IS SUPPOSED TO ILLUMINATE. HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS LIGHT ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK
MY WIFE HAD A FLAT TIRE AND DESTROYED THE TIRE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE SOLD THE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM WITH THE CXL. IT IS ALSO CIRCLED IN OUR BROCHURE FROM THE SALESMAN. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE SYSTEM AND GM IS BLOWING US OFF! THIS IS FALSE ADVERTISING. *AK ALSO, THIS YEAR, BOTH REAR AXLE HUBS HAVE GONE BAD AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR DRIVE MODULE.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION JERKED HEAVILY, THE GEARS LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING 25 -30 MPH VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL DUE TO SPINDLE GEAR/RIGHT AXLE BREAKING WHILE DRIVING. DEAER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMNATION.*AK
1ST TIME/REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAK OVER 1-1/2 QUARTS OF REAR DIFF.GEAR OIL ALL OVER DRIVEWAY. DEALER REPLACED WITH COMPLETE NEW REAR HOUSING ASSY. 571 MILES LATER, WHICH WAS 05-20-02 REAR DIFF. LEAKING AGAIN. CAR IS AT DEALER, AND I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS, THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT THE CAR BACK. CALIF. HAS LEMON LAW 2 TIMES FOR SAME REPAIR, WHICH COULD CAUSE BODILY HARM OR DEATH WE ARE TO GET ANOTHER CAR. IF THE REAR END LOCKS UP AT 65 MPH AND I LIVE THRU IT THERE WILL BE A MAJOR LAW SUIT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROMBLEM WITH CHANGING ME OUT OF THAT LEMON, INTO ANOTHER BUICK RENDEZVOUS. PLEASE E-MAIL ME WITH ANY INFO. YOU HAVE ON THIS.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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