2002 Buick RENDEZVOUS: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001131 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE. CONSUMER LOOK THROW THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, AND NOTICE THAT THE REAR WINDSHIELD HAD SEVERAL CRACKS IN IT, WITHOUT ANYTHING OBJECT IMPACTING THE GLASS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 7,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001131 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 10003682 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED MOTOR HEATER WILL NOT BLOW OUT HOT AIR. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004981 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
ON FLORIDA TPKE. I WAS CUT OFF WHILE TRAVELLING IN MIDDLE LANE. I EVADED A CRASH BY PULLING TO RIGHT AND MY VEHILCE SPUN180 DEGREES AND THEN FLIPPED OVER 360 DEGREES COMING TO REST RIGHT SODE UP. MY VEHICLE WAS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS WHICH WAS TOTALLED.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,905 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006147 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
WINDSHIELD HAS TWO SMALL CHIPS THAT DEVELOPED INTO A LARGE CRACK ON LEFT SIDE. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007785 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS VERY LOW PASSENGER HEAT, TROUBLE DEFROSTING WINDSHEILD. CAR TAKEN IN TO DOBLES BUICK IN MANCHESTER, NH THREE TIMES THEN TULLEY BUICK OF NASHUA, NH. INFORMED, WILL NOT PUT OUT MORE HEAT. DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER A BLANKET IS USED. SOME TIMES TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT A BLAST OF HOT AIR COMES OUT OF VENTS. MORE HOT AIR COMES OUT OF TOP VENTS THAN FLOOR VENTS. BOTH DEALERS TESTED CAR AND INFORMED IT WAS WORKING TO FACTORY SPECS. WE HAVE ASKED TO HAVE THE BUICK AREA REPRESENTIVE CONTACT US ON THIS MATTER. THIS CAR PURCH…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009920 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
THE TAILGATE HATCH OPENED WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE OR A BUY BACK. THE LEFT FRONT DOOR HAD A WINDING SOUND, CAN SEE A GAP, AND DID NOT OPEN PROPERLY. THE HINGES WERE ADJUSTED. THE HEATED SEAT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE REAR HATCH LIGHT HAD COME ON WHEN GOING OVER BUMPY ROADS, AND THE REAR HATCH SWITCH WAS STICKING. THE REAR HATCH SWITCH WAS REPLACED, AND THE LIFTGATE LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015902 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED PREMATURELY. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015902 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V222000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2002-08-09 (August 9, 2002)
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
NHTSA campaign record ↗07V349000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage
Reported: 2007-08-08 (August 8, 2007)
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, VARIATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR EXPOSURE TO HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES MAY LEAD TO FRACTURE OF THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE (ICV).
Consequence: A FRACTURE MAY ALLOW FUEL VAPORS TO PASS THROUGH AND ALLOW DROPLETS OF FUEL TO ACCUMULATE ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN TWO PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 4, 2007. THE SECOND PHASE WILL BE MAILED ON DECEMBER 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668. THE VEHICLE POPULATION INCLUDES BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND PONTIAC AZTEK VEHICLE BUILT IN MAY 2003; CHEVROLET VENTURE AND PONTIAC MONTANA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST 2002; AND ALL VEHICLES REGISTERED IN NEVADA, ARIZONA, VIRGIN ISLANDS, PUERTO RICO, AND HAWAII.
NHTSA campaign record ↗