2002 Buick RENDEZVOUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
486 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 378 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 82 of 486 complaints (16.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 80 | 16.5% |
| Braking behavior | 79 | 16.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 53 | 10.9% |
| Engine operation | 28 | 5.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 27 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 18 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 82 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 50 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 33 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 30 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 29 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 28 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 23 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 23 |
Electrical System: 82; Engine And Engine Cooling: 50; Fuel/Propulsion System: 33; Fuel System, Gasoline: 30; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 29; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 28; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 23; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 23
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 43 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 68 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 90 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 71 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 75 |
| 150,000 and above | 31 |
Under 25,000: 43; 25,000 to 49,999: 68; 50,000 to 74,999: 90; 75,000 to 99,999: 71; 100,000 to 149,999: 75; 150,000 and above: 31
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (90). 108 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 44 |
| 2004 | 43 |
| 2005 | 51 |
| 2006 | 40 |
| 2007 | 52 |
| 2008 | 48 |
| 2009 | 40 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 32 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2001: 4; 2002: 20; 2003: 44; 2004: 43; 2005: 51; 2006: 40; 2007: 52; 2008: 48; 2009: 40; 2010: 23; 2011: 32; 2012: 13; 2013: 11; 2014: 22; 2015: 18; 2016: 13; 2017: 2; 2018: 7; 2019: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 80 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 79 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 53 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10030900 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)
I HAVE 35,000 MILES ON MY 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND I AM HAVING THE SECOND FUEL PUMP INSTALLED. THE CAR STALLED OUT WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A BUSY ROAD WITH NO BREAKDOWN LANES. THE BRAKES AND STEARING WERE MINIMAL CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 21,940 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036967 · 2003-09-01 (September 1, 2003)
VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING IN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT WORKING. THERE WAS NO WARNING THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. VEHCILE STAYED IDLE FOR 8 DAYS BEFORE A FUEL PUMP COULD BE LOCATED! THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL MODELS OF GM VEHICLES. DEALER CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 27,396 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018408 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
AFTER STOPPING ON A HILL WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN 'D', AS SOON AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACK. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN CARS ARE BEHIND AND YOU COME TO A STOP ON A HILL AND THEN NEED TO GO. *NLM THE DEALER REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,432 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017489 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LOCKED UP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 22,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033516 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS SUDDEN ELECTRICAL FAILURES WHILE VEHICLE IN OPERATION. THE MOST RECENT EVENT OCCURRED ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 WHILE TRAVELING IN IDAHO SPRINGS, CO WHILE DRIVING ON STRAIGHT LEVEL ROAD AND NOT ACCELERATING NOR DECELERATING -- I WAS MAINTAINING A CONSTANT 40 MPH AND HAD THE VEHICLE SIMPLY CUT OFF AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL. FORTUNATELY, WE CAME TO STOP BEFORE CRASHING. THIS IS THE FOURTH INCIDENT OF THE TYPE SINCE WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP AND GENERAL MOTORS ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES AND HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033516 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001593 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020466 · 2003-05-23 (May 23, 2003)
WHILE THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO TURN A CORNER THE VEHICLE STALLED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017182 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION JERKED HEAVILY, THE GEARS LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024378 · 2003-06-18 (June 18, 2003)
AUTOMOBILE CUTS OFF AND DOES NOT WANT TO RESTART. THEN, STEERING LOCKS , AND SHE CANNOT GET IT TO UNLOCK UNTIL SHE BEATS ON IT FOR 5-10 MINUTES. THEN, IT RELEASES. SHE HAS HAD IT TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, AND THEY ALL TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036970 · 2003-09-01 (September 1, 2003)
STEERING RACK HAS LOOSE PLAY IN JOINTS. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE STEERING SHAFT AND RACK AND PINION. I WAS UNAWARE THIS WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL VEHICLE FAILED TO TO FUEL PUMP PROBLEM ON SAME DAY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 27,396 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036970 at NHTSA ↗