Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 281 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Buick Rendezvous. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 281 · page 1 of 12
The gas gage has been off since I bought it in September 2018. I run out of gas right before 1/4 of a tank and when I fill it it goes about 1/4 over the full line. The passenger seat side airbag went off closing the door May 2019.
After filling the fuel tank there is a strong gas odor that is present until the tank is almost empty. When walking around the vehicle or loading/unloading the vehicle, the strong gas odor is always present. This vehicle was at a dealership and they took it to the local personal auction company where i bid on it and bought it along with household items.
I purchased this vehicle in 2013, and a few years later, I began smelling gas. After doing my due diligence, I found out that there is a recall for this issue, because the check inlet valve at the top of the tank where the filler neck connects to the tank is cracked. Great, NO, only CERTAIN Rendezvous were covered, and even though mine has the exact same issue, they refuse to cover it and replace the tank. Well, apparently, there were SO MANY complaints by other Rendezvous owners that were also not "included" in the recall, the recall was expanded to ALL Rendezvous', BUT with the stipulation that it had to have less than 150,000 miles on it, which by THAT TIME, my car WAS over that mileage. So now I'm still driving with gas leaking out of my car, A KNOWN AND ADMITTEDLY UNSAFE DEFECT, because just to purchase that gas tank is over $1,000, not including the labor to drop the tank and replace it, approximately 3-4 hours labor. My disability check cannot afford that, so I have been FORCED to continue driving an unsafe car because they are refusing to repair THEIR DEFECT. And I'm not the only one. I've seen NUMEROUS videos of mechanic's shops BEGGING GM to cover this. And I take my grandchildren to school in this car. At least if the car does blow up one day because they wont' fix THEIR OWN SAFETY issue, I'll have ONE more record of trying to get it fixed and the request being ignored. I'm putting all this information in a file that will go to my daughter and attorney, as well as anyone else's attorney that is injured or killed because of not being repaired. All I was is to drive a car with gas not leaking out of my tank as I drive. I cover ALL the other repairs that it needs. I don't think this is too much to ask, especially since it won't cost the dealership anywhere near $1500 to fix, and any price would be far less than it will cost GM in a wrongful death suit.
HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT FUEL IS LEAKING WHERE THE FUEL FILLER NECK CONNECTS TO THE PLASTIC GAS TANK AT THE CHECK INLET VALVE. I'VE SEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE FROM OTHER RENDEZVOUS OWNERS, AS WELL AS THE SAME PROBLEM OF GM AND/OR BUICK REFUSING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, (POSSIBLE FUEL IGNITION OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE USUALLY IS). I LIVE OFF A VERY MODEST DISABILITY CHECK AND A NEW TANK IS OVER $1,000, NOT INCLUDING ANOTHER 4-5 HOURS OF LABOR. THAT'S MORE THAN I GET IN A MONTH. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND HONOR THE RECALL AND FIX THESE VEHICLES. IT'S COMPLETE BS THAT THEY ARE LIMITING IT TO VEHICLES WITH LESS THAN 150,000 MILES ON THEM. AND MY VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN THAT THE FIRST TIME I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THEY SO GRACIOUSLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO ALL RENDEZVOUS' WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT ADDING THE MILEAGE RESTRICTION EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATING ANY OTHER VEHICLES ACTUALLY QUALIFYING TO BE REPAIRED. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN 2013, AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN LEGALLY REGISTERED, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ANY COMMUNICATIONS FROM GM ABOUT THIS RECALL. THAT, AND THE REFUSAL TO REPAIR A RECALL SAFETY ISSUE, IS, OR SHOULD BE CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT.I REALLY FEEL LIKE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS WHAT WILL HAVE TO HAPPEN. MAYBE SINCE I HAVE SO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS, THAT IS SOMETHING I SHOULD LOOK INTO.
OUR RENDEVOUZ PLASTIC FUEL TANK STARTED SEEPING FUEL AT THE FILLER NECK YESTERDAY. AFTER DOING SOME READING, I SAW THERE WAS A RECALL AND THEN A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT. THE ONE LISTED ON JULY 21, 2008 SAID THE TANK WOULD BE REPLACED REGARDLESS OF AGE AND MILEAGE. THEN, GM CHANGED THEIR MIND ON AUGUST 8, 2008 AND LIMITED MILEAGE AND AGE TO 150,000 MILES AND 10 YEARS. I AM VERY DISTURBED ABOUT THIS AND THINK THAT THIS TANK NEEDS REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS AT MINIMUM. THE FUEL TANK IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM ANY AFTERMARKET SOURCE AND PURCHASING IT FROM GM IS $1590. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT PURCHASING A USED TANK WOULD BE SAFE DUE TO THE ISSUE GM HAS MENTIONED.
GAS TANK LEAKS SOMETIMES... WHEN IN MOTION AND WHEN STATIONARY
FUEL DRIPPING FROM TANK DUE TO CRACK AROUND INLET
STRONG SMELL OF GAS OUTSIDE THE RENDEZOUS AT FIRST AFTER FILLING CAR WHICH SEEM TO OCCUR ONLY WHEN NEWLY FILLED. NOW THE STRONG SMELL OUTSIDE OF CAR IS CONTINUOUS AND FUEL IS LEAKING. THIS IS A SUBJECT OF RECALL BUT DATE OF RECALL IS TOO OLD FOR GM TO HONOR THE RECALL. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE FUEL TANK HAS TO BE REPLACED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY. FURTHERMORE, THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,200.
TAKATA RECALL TRACTION CONTROL, ABS I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT HUBS BARINGS WITH ABS SENSORS TWICE IN 1 YEAR. STILL THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON WHEN IAM ABOUT TO STOP OR TURN
VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE GAS TANK SEAM. THE AMOUNT OF FUEL BEING LOST IS SIGNIFICANT.
GAS TANK STARTED LEAKING FROM CONNECTION WHERE FILLER TUBE MEETS THE GAS TANK. OTHER MODELS WERE INCLUDED IN A RECALL BUT NOT THE RENDEZVOUS MODEL I HAVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TT *TR
I HAVE PROBLEMS TRYING TO GET THE DASH LIGHTS INCREASE IN BRIGHTNESS USING THE VARIIABLE CONTROL ON THE INTERIOR DURING A NORMAL DAYTIME ESPECIALLY WHEN I TRY TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER (DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE DASH WHICH CAN BLOCK EXTERIOR LIGHT FROM ILLUMINATING THE DIAL ESPECIALLY AROUND 10:45 AND 11:15 AM MST.) ESP. WHEN I'M DRIVING
CAR SHUTS DOWN. FUEL GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY. LOSES POWER IN THE STEERING. HAVE TO PUMP GAS INTO THE TANK SLOW. TAKES FOREVER.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALL OF A SUDDEN NO MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU ARE DRIVING AND THE TEMPARTURE OF CAR IT SLIPS WHILE IN DRIVE OUT OF GEAR AND STARTS IN GEAR WHEN IT WANTS TO WHICH IS BAD ON HIGHWAY GOING 55-70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN CARS ARE BEHIND YOU AND YOU CAN NOT GO ANY SPEED BUT COAST AND IS GETTING WORSE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE PREMATURELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE FUEL TANK WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,529. *JS
I AM HAVING TROUBLE OUT OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACE SEVERAL PARTS AND STILL HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR AND CUT IT OFF I HAVE TO WAIT 30-45 MINS. BEFORE IT WILL START AGAIN. I HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR AND I HAVE NOT YET FOUND A SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK FOR A YEAR AND EIGHT MONTHS. THE VEHICLE IS MOTION BUT IT CUTS OFF AND I HAVE TO WAIT 30-45 MINS. BEFORE MY TRUCK CAN RESTART. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME MONTHS AND I HAVE CHANGED MANY PARTS AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AT THE RESIDENCE, THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AROUND THE INLET VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
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.
AS I PULLED UP TO MY HOME AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE; I SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL. I NOTICED DRIPPIN UNDER MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THIS WEEKEND. GASOLINE LEAKING THROUGH THE NECK OF THE TANK.
VEHICLE WILL GO A FEW MILES AND STALL ILLUMINATING BATTERY LIGHT.IF YOU LET VEHICLE SIT WILL RESTART ONLY GO A FEW MORE MILES. FINALLY CAR WILL TURN OVER FOR SPLIT SECOND AND RPM WILL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN AND CAR WILL STALL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAD THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS LOOK AT VEHICLE CAN NOT DIAGNOSE CHANGED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING UNDER HOOD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND RESUMED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A FOURTH TIME TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000.
THE SUV WAS PARKED. THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE: THE AREA WHERE THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE CONNECT IS SEEPING FUEL. AT FIRST I COULD SMELL THE GASOLINE FUMES AND IT CONTINUED THAT I HAD TO LOOK UNDER THE SUV. I SAW INDICATIONS OF GASOLINE DRIPPING FROM THE FUEL TANK. I LOOKED FOR INTERNET INFORMATION. I FOUND OTHER OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I SEARCHED FOR RECALLS USING THE MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. I DID FIND INFORMATION THAT INDICATED THAT I AND OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. RECALL IS THE NAME OF THE SITUATION. I HAVE PRINTED OUT THE INFORMATION. IF IT LOOKS LIKE A RECALL THEN I SHOULD GO AFTER THIS AS A RECALL ISSUE. I WILL MOST LIKELY GET PUSHED BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURE. I WILL MAKE CALLS TO BUICK AND NHTSA TO GET SOME HELP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 191,186.
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.
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