Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Buick Rendezvous submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 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.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY GOING 70 MILES PER HOUR AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY VEHICLE HAD PRETTY MUCH CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND IF I HADN'T HAD MY SEATBELT ON, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSE. THERE WERE CONSEQUENCES BUT THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY. WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE FOR APPROXIMATELY EVERY DAY FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
THE ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRE HARNESS HAS A FAILURE ISSUE. THIS LEADS TO THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATING WITHOUT A WARNING LIGHT TURNING ON AND CAN INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN NOT NECESSARY. THE TRANSMISSION MAY SEEM TO CLUNK WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AS THE COMPUTER DOESN'T READ THE CORRECT SPEED SENT FROM THE HUB ASSEMBLY TO THE COMPUTER. PREVIOUSLY, I HAD A HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTED. AFTER REPLACING THE WIRES THE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT RESURFACED.
DASH GAUGES, WARNING LIGHTS, & ALARMS, BELLS FLASH ON & OFF AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY RUNS ROUGH. DASH CODES OF ALL SORTS BLINK ON & OFF. NEW BATTERY AND NEW ALTENATOR INSTALLED, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THIS HAPPENED FIRST WHEN DRIVING ON HIWAY. AFTER VEHICLE PULLED OFF ROAD AND ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE DASH CODE THEN READ BATTERY ISSUE. WE TRIED TO DRIVE AGAIN BUT NOW VEHICLE OPERATED ROUGHLY AND THERE WAS NO MORE DAYLIGHT. WE HAD VEHICLE TOWED 100 MILES. THEN PAID FOR NEW BATTERY PROBLEM DID NOT CHANGE SO WE HAD A NEW ALTENATOR INSTALLED AFTER HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ADVISING THE NEED FOR A NEW ALTENATOR. I AM QUITE UPSET BECAUS EI FEEL THAT THERE IS FRAUD ON PART OF SEARS AUTOREPAIR. DIAGNOSTIC SAID ALTENATOR WAS THE PROBLEM. I PAID OVER $450 FOR THAT SERVICE AND ANOTHER $150 FOR THE BATTERY.
ENGINE STOPS WORKING WITH LOSS OF ALL CONTROL, BATTERY TURNS OVER BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT START. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HOUR ENGINE STARTS. DROVE TO MECHANIC AND NO INFORMATION AVAILOABLE IN COMPUTER. ALL DATA REMOVED.. PROBLEM REPEATED AT 70,00 MILES 90,000 MILES AND AT 150,000 MILES. NO MECHANIC COULD FIND ANY PRONLEM. FIRST OCCURRED WHEN PARKING AFTER A 50 MILE DRIVE. NEXT APPEARED AT A STOP LIGHT. LAST APPERARED WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT AN INTERSECTION. TOOK VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT. FEARED FOR MY LIFE.
I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON JUNE 23 AND THE NEXT DAY IT WOULDN'T START TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR SAID IT WAS FIXED BUT SEVERAL HOURS LATER THE CAR WOULDNT START AGAIN TOOK IT BACK THE NEXT DAY AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF DRAINING THE BATTERY SO THEY TOOK THE FUSE OUT AND SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT THE NEXT DAY BUT WHEN I CALLED TO TAKE MY CAR TO THEM I GOT NO ANSWER FROM THEM. THREE DAYS LATER THE CAR OVERHEATED AND I GOT IT COMPLETELY CHECKED BY A DIFFERENT MECHANIC TO SEE WHY MY CAR IS RUNNING HOT AND HE GAVE ME A LIST OF PROBLEMS EVERY HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN OUT AND THE MOTOR IS GONE. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A RECALL A FEW YEARS BACK ON THESE TYPES OF BUICK CARS FOR THE COOLANT AND THE WRONG COOLANT WAS PLACED IN THE CAR AND IT MESSED UP ALL HEAD GASKETS I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BUT AGAIN NO RESPONSE I CALLED THE BANK BECAUSE I STILL HAVE A 30 DAY TAG AND ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS BUT AGAIN NO RESPONSE I CALLED BUICK AND SPOKE WITH SOMEONE TO ASK ABOUT THE COOLANT RECALL AND HE SAID HE WOULD CALL ME BACK IN A HOUR AND AGAIN NO RESPONSE. I ASKED FOR A CARFAX REPORT AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ONE BUT GAVE THE COUPLE BEHIND ME A CARFAX FOR THEIR CAR THE BRAKES AND ROTORS ARE COMPLETELY GONE I CANNOT STOP WITH MY BRAKES I JUST HAVE TO COAST SO I WANT HIT ANYONE THIS CAR WILL STALL OUT ON ME WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTION TAKEN FROM THE BANK OR THE DEALERSHIP ON HOW WE CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM THEY HAVE ALL BEEN IGNORING AND NOT RESPONDING TO MY CALLS TEXTS OR ANYTHING.
WHILE DRIVING AT APRX 60 MPH THE CAR JUST DIED STALLED NO POWER HAD TO MAN HANDLE CAR TO A STOP WITH OUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT ALMOST LIKE DRIVING A BAIT CAR THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME HAD TO GET TOWED CAR STILL WONT START PUT KEY IN ALL BELLS AND WHISTLES LIGHT UP AND SOUNDS THEN NOTHING AS IF ALARM CUT OFF . *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V157000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,500.
SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT MY USED BUICK RENDEZVOUS, IT STARTED STALLING. IT WAS A MONTHLY OCCURRENCE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN IT IS HAPPENING WEEKLY. ALTHOUGH THIS CAR WAS WITHIN THE VIN BREAKPOINTS OF A SAFETY RECALL IN 2005, BUICK TOLD ME THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN IN ITS ENTIRETY WASN'T AFFECTED AND EVEN IF IT WAS THAT THEY WOULDN'T COVER REPAIRS BECAUSE IT WAS TOO OLD. *TR
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO AN APPOINTMENT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT THUMBED WHEN I MOVED FROM THE LIGHT TAKING OFF NOT LIKE IT WAS SHIFTING BUT AS SOMETHING WAS KNOCKED IN, THEN THE LOWER LIGHT I TURN ON IN THE TRUCK STOPPED WORKING, THE INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS AS WELL STOPPED ON THE 11 OF MARCH ABOUT 6 PM I WAS HEADING BACK IN FROM OUT OF TOWN HAD TO POSITION MY CELL PHONE SO I COULD SEE WHAT SPEED I WAS GOING, THE TURNING TO THE RIGHT KNOCKS LIKE SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF, AND THE TO TOP IT OFF THE WIPER FROM THE BACK WINDOW LEAKS IN THE INSIDE WHEN I TRY TO CLEAN WITH FLUID, THE SEAT BELT AS WELL IS NOT LOCKING I AND MY ON STAR IT READS AND TALKS AS I TRIED TO SET UP AN ACCOUNT THE SYSTEM FAILED AND MY ENGINE STALLS AS WELL THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RUNS HOT IF I GO IN TOWN AND STOP AT THE LIGHTS I CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT IS IN THEIR I CALLED GM AND THEY QUOTE AND QUOTE SAY THEIR WAS NEVER A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE BUT I SEE ONLINE THAT THEIR WAS WHY IS IT THAT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO LOCATE ANY INFORMATION I HATE THAT I AM ALWAYS GETTING DUPED IN WITH THESE VEHICLES AND THEN I GET MORE DEPRESSED AND SHUT DOWN AND FEEL LIKE ALL MY FUNDS MEAN NOTHING TO ANY ONE. *TR
VEHICLE LOST COOLANT SECONDARY TO "BLOWN" LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. GASKET REPLACED, BY CERTIFIED GM DEALER SERVICE CENTER, ENGINE CONTINUES TO EXHIBIT OVERHEATING. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO 'PURGE' COOLING SYSTEM TO NO AVAIL. *TR VEHICLE IN DAY 8 OF "HOSPITAL STAY" AT THIS TIME.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE COOLANT BEGAN TO MIX WITH THE OIL AND DESTROYED THE HEAD GASKET. THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TWO HEAD GASKETS BLEW ON MY CAR AND I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH BUICK RENDEZVOUS 2004 MODEL OR OTHERS. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 67,000 MILES. I SEE A LIST OF RECALLS ON THIS MODEL AND WANT TO KNOW IF ONE OF THOSE COULD CAUSE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOSES BRAKING AND STEERING POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURES CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY CALLED AN EXPERT, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE ENGINE AND THE FUEL LINE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM/VALVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, FAILURE SPEED, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000.
TL*- THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE CAR SHUTS OFF WILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. THE CONTACT SAID THAT SHE AS HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALER HAS NOT GIVE THE CONTACT A REPAIR ORDER FOR A POSSIBLE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEED AT LAST FAILURE WAS 25 MPH.
I HAVE A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS THAT I BOUGHT IN 2004 WITH 9000 MILES ON IT. AT 32000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER SAID THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING. HE RESET THE THE CYLINDER AND 10000 MILES LATER IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. ALSO AT 42000 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT AND REAR BREAKS ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE MASTER CYLINDER. I THINK THESE ARE EXCESSIVE BREAKDOWNS FOR A VEHICLE THIS AGE AND MILAGE. SO FAR REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE IN THE LAST MONTH HAVE EXCEEDED $1000.00. LUCKLY I WASN'T IN AND ACCIDENT WHEN THE STEERING AND BREAKS FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNIGN CHIRP OR DASH INDICATOR SHOWING THE STEERING AND BREAKS WERE FAILING. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE CONTACT CONTINUES DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE OVERHEATING CAUSING DAMAGE. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM AND THERE ARE NO CODES ON THE COMPUTER. THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK AND THE GAS CAP WAS FAULTY WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. UPDATED 04/06/06. *JB
MY 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 8 TIMES IN 10 1/2 MONTHS. CURRENTLY I AM EXPERIENCING A LOUD NOISE (MUCH LIKE AN AIR RAID HORN) WHILE I AM STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WHEN I TURN MY VEHICLE OFF. IT STARTED BACK IN APRIL, THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT RECREATE THE NOISE, IN THE SHOP AGAIN 11/4/05 AND AGAIN 11/11/05. I JUST DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR. I IT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, LOUDER AND MORE FREQUENT, LASTING LONGER. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 17 DEC 04 AND THE VERY NEXT DAY HAD A BREAK PROBLEM. MY SERVICE RECORD IS AS FOLLOWS: 1) 12/20/04- ABS LIGHT ON - ALL WHEEL DRIVE DISABLED 2) 01/27/05 - ABS LIGHT ON - ALL WHEEL DRIVE DISABLED 3) 4/25/05 - ABS LIGHT ON ALL WHEEL DRIVE DISABLED WOULD NOT DRIVE OVER 40 MPH - 3) 4/25/05 - PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR CLICKING WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE 3) 4/25/05 VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD AIR HORN NOISE WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF 4) 5-19/05 - ABS LIGHT ON - ALL WHEEL DRIVE DISABLED 4) 5/19/05 - VEHICLE LOOSES POWER WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS OR ON INCLINE 4) 5/16/05 INSTALLED REAR LIFT GATE LATCH 5) 7/15/05 DRIVER SIDE MIRROR GLASS CAME LOOSE 6) 9/01/05 - DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW INOPERATIVE- 7) 11/4/05 - VERY LOUD ACCELERATION - EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKING RIGHT EXHAUST MANIFOLD 7) 11/4/05 LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, STOPPING IN TRAFFIC AND WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF 8) 11/11/05 WOBBLE IN LEFT FRONT TIRE- REFACE FRONT ROTORS OUT OF ROUND 8) 11/11/05 TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR THE LOUD AIR HORN NOISE WHILE DRIVING, STOPPING IN TRAFFIC AND TURNING VEHICLE OFF - HAD A 5 MINUTE DISCUSSION WITH SERVICE PERSON ABOUT THIS AND IT DID NOT EVEN MAKE IT ON THE INVOICE. *NM
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS NOT PROPERLY CONNECTED AFTER THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS SERVICED. THE TECHNICIAN SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND THE FUEL TANK HARNESS WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED THAT THIS CONNECTOR WAS EXPOSED TO THE WEATHER ELEMENTS AND IF THE CONNECTOR FAILED THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IN MY OPINION. THE CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $199.50. *JB
DT: THE STARTER AND HORN DID NOT ALWAYS WORK. THERMOSTAT AND FUEL GAUGE WAS NOT ACCURATE. THERE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND IT WAS REPAIRED DUE TO A RECALL. THE PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER STARTED IN MARCH OF 2005. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD HER IT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. *JB
I BROUGHT A BUICK RENDEVOUZ ON JULY 17,2004. FROM THE VERY FIRST WEEK I HAD IT I TOLD THE DEALER THE GAS GAGE DOESNOT WORK PROPERLY. THEY CHECKED IT OVER AND STILL CANNOT FIND AHYTHING WRONG WITH IT. AND IT STILL NOT WORKING PROPERPLY NOW BUT THEAT IS NOT THE BIGGEST ISSU WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST INCIDENT 10.10.04. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO WORK WHEN THE VEHILCE JUST STALLS OUT. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE CAR GET ROLLING FOR A COUPLE OF SCEONDS AND THEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE PUT THE CAR IN PARK. A COUPLE OF SECONDS LATER I STARTED THE TRUCK UP AND BEGIN DRIVING. I DROPPED THE TRUCK OFF TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD OCCURRED. THEY REPLACED A APART AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. SINCE THEN THE VIDHILCE HASE STALLED OUT OVER 10 TIMES. AND SOMEDAY IT STALLS OUT TWICE A DAY. I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEEP CHANGEING AND REPLACING PARTS BUT ITS NOT FIXING THE STALLING OUT. I AM SCARED THAT ME AND MY DAUGHTER WILL KILLED FROM IT STALLING OUT. THEY JUST CHANGED SOMETHING WITHT THE TRANSMISSON AND NOW IT BACK IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
GAS MILEAGE- STICKER LISTING IS 18/28 FOR 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. HAS 7800 MILES. VEHICLE HAS NEVER EXCEEDED 18 MPH EVEN AT HIGHWAY DRIVING. DEALER HAS CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES, HAS DONE A ROAD TEST AND CAME UP WITH 17.4 MIXED HIGHWAY DRIVING. THEY STATE THAT IS WHAT TO EXPECT.*AK
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES CUT COMPLETELY OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK WHILE THE DEALER WAS TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM WITH THE STALLING, THEY FOUND THAT THE BRAKE MODULE LOST COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMPUTER. THE STALLING PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE: THE BATTERY LIGHT HAD COME ON FOLLOWED BY ENGINE STALLING, THE EBCM WAS INTERMITTENTLY DROPPING OUT THEREFORE THE IGNITION RELAY WAS REPLACED AND THE LIFTGATE DID NOT OPEN PROPERLY. *SC *JB
2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS HAS HAD ENGINE FAILURE 3 - 5 TIMES. AT LOW SPEEDS 0-15 MPH, CAR WILL WILL CUT OFF. THE CAR RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY ONCE YOU PUT IT BACK TO PARK OR NEUTRAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON ONE OCCASION BUT THEY WRE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. I WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND PROVIDE THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER CONSUMERS. *AK
THE CONSUMER STATED HIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS THAT VEHICLE SIMPLY STOPPED RUNNING FOR NO REASON. *BF *SC *JB
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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