AI DamageBuick Rendezvous: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Buick Rendezvous across 8 model years: 1,242 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 24% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 13% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 10% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 8% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 295 complaints (24% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 206 complaints (17% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel system: 161 complaints (13% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 137 complaints (11% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 120 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2002–2005named in 6 complaints
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2006–2007
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2004–2006named in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed 2002–2007
Drive: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 1,242 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 295 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 206 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 161 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 137 | 9 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 120 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 113 | 5 | 0 |
| Suspension | 103 | 8 | 0 |
| Steering | 79 | 9 | 0 |
| Engine | 70 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 68 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 65 | 33 | 0 |
| Equipment | 54 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 46 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 38 | 3 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My air bag did not deploy and I ended up with a broken back in 2 places. I had 2 have 2 surgery's thus far. I had my seat belt on. The impact was hard enough for the bags to deploy but they didn't. The doctor said if my air bags would of deployed I would not have suffered a broken back.
"takata recall" was in a rollover and the airbags didn't deploy not one vin# [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Air bags did not deploy during and accident with damage to the drivers side front area by the wheel, the impact caused the drivers head to break the windshield and the passenger hurt her legs real bad. Why didn't the air bags deploy?
This suv was purchased at the end of august 2016 and once in the car and driving down the road we realized the vehicle power steering was hard to turn and the brakes were going all the way down.
Model buick, year 2003 type rendezvous and unable type above. No repairs prior except repair on accident in arlington tx early 2005 no receipts fix g m c auto repair off cooper rd.
The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained minor cuts to both arms, which required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vin was invalid. The failure mileage was 140,000. Updated 06/14/16
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.