2003 Buick RENDEZVOUS: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012306 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE NOISE AND OVER HEATING, TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN 1-2. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,914 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017063 at NHTSA ↗

NAR 05/28/2003 *MR SERIOUS DEFECT SPEEDOMETER. *CB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021724 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE STARTED BLOWING FUSE AND THE HEADLIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027251 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARK IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027252 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027296 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027298 at NHTSA ↗

THE GAS TANK FILL HOSE ENTERS TANK IN A POORLY SITUATED LOCATION. THE HOSE ENTERS THE TANK ON THE SIDE, BOTTOM THROUGH A FLEXIBLE BOOT. THE BOOT/HOSE IN THIS LOCATION IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE FROM ROAD DEBRIS. THE BOOT WAS TORN OPEN BY A STONE THE SIZE OF A GOLF BALL HITTING THE VEHICLE WHILE MOVING AT 60MPH. THE TEAR WAS SIGNIFICANT (3/4" TEAR IN BOOT WHERE CONNECTED TO TANK). THE FILLER HOSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOCATED EITHER HIGHER ON SIDE OR ON TOP OF TANK. POTENTIAL OF FIRE OR EXPLOSION SEVERE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 6,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028690 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Reported: 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)

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.

Consequence: 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 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, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

Reported: 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)

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

Consequence: 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 MOVING, A CRASH COULD RESULTING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

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 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 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

Reported: 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)

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 DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.

Consequence: 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 THE CHILD RESTRAINT OR BOOSTER CUSHION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

Reported: 2004-03-29 (March 29, 2004)

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.

Consequence: 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 1-866-608-8080. THIS IS AN EXPANSION TO A PREVIOUS RECALL (03V211).

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.