2003 Buick Rendezvous Engine Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11172955

Incident

Jan 9, 2018

Mileage

154,200 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10865901

Incident

Apr 22, 2016

Mileage

215,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FUEL TANK LEAKED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LEAK WAS NEAR THE FILLER SPOUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10747127

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

THE CAR WOULD BUCK WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. DURING THESE TIMES THE WIPERS MIGHT COME ON AND BE INTERMITTENT. I TOOK THE CAT IN TO A GM DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, AND SO STATED ON MY INVOICE. I CALLED GM ON THIS FOR A REFUND AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL. ITS INTERESTING THAT THE 2003 SATURN, WHICH WAS A RECALL, HAD THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA ID

10733489

Incident

Jul 24, 2012

Mileage

93,092 mi

THE CAR HAS A NOISE AND IT LAGS AT 4K RPM. WE HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WHERE NO CODES. THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN WORSE. WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT STALED OUT ON US AND THEN AGAIN WHEN WE WERE PULLING IN OUR DRIVEWAY. I NEED IT FIXED AND I REFUSES TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WONT EVEN SHOW UP ON A SHOPS COMPUTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10692399

Incident

Feb 19, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE UP AN INCLINE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN TRAVELLING AT A STEADY SPEED, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID

10682246

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

117,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE HORN ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE PERSISTED UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ UPDATED 5/4/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10640842

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

93,000 mi

THE CAR WAS BUCKING AND STALING WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. I KEPT LOSING POWER STEERING AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COMING ON. THE GM DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM IN THE INVOICE REPORT AS " FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH" THE PART NUMBER GIVEN AS 15242754. *TR

NHTSA ID

10606655

Incident

Jul 24, 2012

Mileage

93,092 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED IT WOULD RESTART ON ITS ON WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,408. UPDATED 9/12/14-*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR, CAMSHAFT SENSOR, AND CRANK SENSOR WERE ALL REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE /STALL WALL BEING DRIVEN. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPDATED 2/5/2015*JS

NHTSA ID

10604767

Incident

Oct 8, 2013

Mileage

160,000 mi

ENGINE COMPLETELY DIES MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. IT WILLL TURN ON RIGHT AWAY, GO A FEW MILES AND THEN DIES AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED, THE TROTTLE HAS BEEN CLEAN, FUEL FILTER REPLACED, SPARK PLUG WIRES AND SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. WE'VE EVEN CHANGED TRAMISSION FLUID AND FILTERED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10594452

Incident

Feb 11, 2014

Mileage

165,000 mi

I WAS LOOKING UP INFO ON MY CAR FOUND THERE WAS RECALLS ON MY SPECIFIC PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD WITH POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE. IT IDLES HIGH AND AT TIMES IT SPUTTERS TAKING OFF FROM A STOP. I AM AFRAID ONE OF THESE TIMES IT WILL STALL AND WILL END UP IN AN ACCIDENT. WE HAD IT HOOKED UP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC IT CAME UP TROUBLE CODE P0742. THIS IS OUR MAIN TRANSPORTATION AND THE CAR USED TO TRANSPORT OUR SON. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET THIS FIXED BEFORE IT BECOMES A MAJOR ISSUE OR A PROBLEM RESULTING IN A NEW CAR OR ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10522158

Incident

May 12, 2013

Mileage

147,500 mi

WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING, THE CAR STALLED OUT AND THE BATTERY DIED. AFTER BRAKING TO SHIFT BACK INTO PARK AND RESTARTING, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN. BESIDES THE ACCELERATION ISSUE, WHEN DRIVING AND THEN BRAKING WHEN COMING TO A STOP, IT FEELS AS IF SOMETHING IS PREVENTING THE CAR FROM BRAKING CREATING A GRINDING SENSATION. AFTER THE INITIAL "GRINDING", AWD IS DISABLED ALONG WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENS JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME THE RENDEZVOUS IS DRIVEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10519298

Incident

May 8, 2013

Mileage

91,000 mi

CRANK SEALS, OIL PAN SEAL, HEAD GASKET CORROSION AND POTENTIAL FAILURE. MECHANIC FOUND THESE LEAKS WHICH WILL LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE. REPORTED TO BUICK, EXAMINED BY DEALERSHIP. BUICK SAID ESSENTIALLY, "TOO BAD, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN." THE CAR IS WELL-MAINTAINED, LOW MILES, MALE SENIOR DRIVER. THIS SHOULD NOT OCCUR ON A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION. GM SHOULD TAKE CARE OF SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS SUCH AS THESE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457514

Incident

May 1, 2012

Mileage

67,500 mi

THE CAR OVER HEATED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO BE SEEN BY A MECHANIC AND HE SAID MY ANTIFREEZE MIXED WITH ENGINE OIL. MY HEAD GASKET BLEW, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450121

Incident

Jul 20, 2009

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10441635

Incident

Oct 20, 2009

Mileage

46,000 mi

MECHANIC STATED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD FAILED. THIS CAUSED ENGINE OIL TO FLOOD COOLANT SYSTEM AND COOLANT TO FLOOD ENGINE. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, COSTING ~$3600. MECHANIC STATED THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN-PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. AFTER RESEARCHING AND SEEING NO REMEDIATION BY GM, THIS COMPLAINT WAS FILED BASED ON THE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS REPORTED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10406107

Incident

Jan 11, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ROCKER ARM BOLTS FRACTURED FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK WHICH CAUSED THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10397523

Incident

Feb 1, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE BOLT THAT HOLDS DOWN THE DOHC ROD BACKED OUT, AND RESULTED IN SEVERE ENGINE FAILURE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT RESULTS FROM HEAT OVER TIME. BUICK HAS FAILED TO EVER ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS VERY EXPENSIVE PREVENTIVE REPAIR ISSUE. HOW CAN A MANUFACTURER NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. ?? *TR

NHTSA ID

10392707

Incident

Mar 19, 2010

Mileage

135,000 mi

I JUST FOUND THIS LINK TODAY. I HAVE BEEN HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS OUT OF MY 03 RENDEZVOUS. I HAD MY BRAKES CHANGED, AND EVERYTHING HAS WENT TO HELL. THE BRAKES RATTLE, MY AWD DISABLED, AND MY ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON. I HAD THIS PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY LOOKED AT IN AUGUST 2010. ONCE THE ROTORS WERE TURNED IT SEEMED TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEMS. SINCE THE WARM WEATHER HAS RETURNED, THE PROBLEMS HAS STARTED BACK. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEMS, I AM LOOKING INTO POSSIBLE INTAKE MANIFOLD BEING REPLACED OR REPAIRED DUE TO ANTIFREEZE LEAKAGE. ANY HELP WILL BE USEFUL. THANKS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10384677

Incident

Sep 15, 2010

Mileage

129,000 mi

OCTOBER 21, 2010, WILLIAMSTOWN, NJ- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM AT 51,000 MILES HAD TO CONSTANTLY ADD COOLANT EVERY WEEK; NEVER SAW ANY LEAKS IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. SUV NOW HAS 87,000 MILES, COOLING SYSTEM CONTINUES TO GET VERY HOT, HAD THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED OCT. 8, 2010, ENGINES CONTINUES TO GET VERY HOT IN JUST A 8 MILE DRIVE. ALSO, MOTOR OIL CONTINUES TO SHOW UP IN THE OVERFLOW/COOLANT ADDING CONTAINER. CHECKED COOLING FAN OPERATION AND BOTH FANS ARE WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361659

Incident

May 13, 2010

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD THREE OF THE FOUR CYLINDER'S REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CARMAX DEALERSHIP WERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED HONORED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FIRST TWO CYLINDERS, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BUICK DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CYLINDER FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN GOING ON/OFF SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70311 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105000.

NHTSA ID

10353384

Incident

Dec 5, 2007

Mileage

70,311 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10335865

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

79,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CAR BUCKS, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON....EITHER FLASHING OR SOLID. 1) CYLINDER BOLT ON ROCKER #3 PULLED OUT 01/29/2009; 2) LIFTERS FOR CYLINDER #1 COLLAPSED 02/25/2009. TODAY (04/28/2010) CAR IS BACK IN SHOP. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY LAST NIGHT, SAME SYMPTOM. DEALER OFFERED TENTATIVE DIAGNOSIS OF PULLED ROCKER ARM IN REAR OF ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10327841

Incident

Jan 29, 2009

Mileage

54,355 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED WITH A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A MELTED CABLE CONNECTED TO THE HEATER AND THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE HEATER MODULE AND CABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,373.

NHTSA ID

10324292

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

65,373 mi

1ST TIME: DRIVING INTO PORTLAND, OR. WHEN ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A AWFUL NOISE BY THE TIME I FOUND A DEALER THE SOUND WAS AWFUL. THE DEALER SAID THAT I HAD 1 PUSH ROD JAMMED AND LOCKED UP. IT WAS REPLACED. 2ND.TIME 1 YEAR TO THE MONTH IT HAPPENED AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER AND #4 LOCKED UP AND BENT. THE DEALER SAID THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON ITEM WITH THIS CAR. IT SEEMS THAT BECAUSE OF THE ALUMINUM BLOCK EXPANDS AND RETRACKS WHEN IT IS HOT THAT THE BOLT USED TO PUSH THE ROD COMES LOOSE AND CAUSES THE ROD THE FINELLY BEND. I CHECK WITH ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAD, HAD 2 IN THE LAST YEAR. I WAS TOLD THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN UNTIL I REPLACE ALL RODS. AT WHICH TIME THEY WILL PUT IN NEW BOLTS WITH LOCK TIGHT SO THEY WILL NOT COME LOOSE.SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THAT ONLY ONE AT A TIME HAS GOOD. IF TWO HAD GONE OUT THEY SAID I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. AS IT WOULD LOCK UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311660

Incident

Feb 4, 2010