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2003 Buick Rendezvous

The Verdict

45 Proceed with Caution

The 2003 Buick Rendezvous has 284 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (146 complaints) and body (52 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 45/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Buick Rendezvous, consider the 2001 model year which has 98% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2001 has 98% fewer complaints

View the 2001 Buick Rendezvous dashboard →

45

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 4

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

03V051000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INFLATOR COULD RUPTURE.

Risk

THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED CAPABILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. ALSO IF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR RUPTURED, PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A NEW DRIVER'S AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 11, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERV...

Reported Apr 10, 2026

03V052000 STEERING

IN SOME OF THESE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DIAMETER OF THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS TOO SMALL.

Risk

THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO SPIN INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN COUPLING, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOV...

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY, THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON FEBRUARY 7, 2003, WITH A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON FEBRUARY 11, 2003. OWNERS...

Reported Apr 10, 2026

03V250000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL...

Risk

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS SUPPLEMENT DESCRIBES AND SHOWS THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE AND ON ...

Reported Apr 10, 2026

04V150000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A STRUCTURAL SUPPORT AT THE LATCH ATTACHMENT IN THE REAR LIFTGATE MAY BE INADEQUATE TO RETAIN THE LATCH TO THE LIFTGATE IN CERTAIN SEVERE VEHICLE CRASH EVENTS.

Risk

IF THE LIFTGATE WERE TO OPEN IN A VEHICLE CRASH, AN OCCUPANT COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL ADD STRUCTURAL REINFORCEMENTS TO THE LIFTGATE IN THE AREA ADJOINING THE LATCH ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE BEGAN ON JUNE 21, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-60...

Reported Apr 10, 2026

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200120200
200293499822335
200352343414618
2004371171738
20053310324914
200621323329
200713212124

By Category

Engine
146
Body
52
Brakes
34
Electrical
34
Transmission
18

By Severity

1
126
2
132
3
1
4
25

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 1

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.

52mo ago
Engine 1

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.

53mo ago
Engine 2

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.

58mo ago
Engine 2

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.

63mo ago
Engine 1

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.

69mo ago
Engine 1

GAS TANK LEAKS SOMETIMES... WHEN IN MOTION AND WHEN STATIONARY

72mo ago
Engine 1

FUEL DRIPPING FROM TANK DUE TO CRACK AROUND INLET

75mo ago
Engine 1

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.

79mo ago
Engine 2

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.

90mo ago
Engine 1

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

95mo ago
Engine 1

VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE GAS TANK SEAM. THE AMOUNT OF FUEL BEING LOST IS SIGNIFICANT.

102mo ago
Body 2

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.

102mo ago
Electrical 2

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

102mo ago
Electrical 1

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

102mo ago
Engine 1

CAR SHUTS DOWN. FUEL GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY. LOSES POWER IN THE STEERING. HAVE TO PUMP GAS INTO THE TANK SLOW. TAKES FOREVER.

106mo ago
Transmission 2

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

106mo ago
Engine 1

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

113mo ago
Engine 2

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

118mo ago
Engine 1

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.

118mo ago
Brakes 2

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.

118mo ago

284 total

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