2005 Buick RENDEZVOUS: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE BACKING OUR OF MY DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING DUE TO ENGINE IGNITION MALFUNCTION BUT DID NOT STALL. AT THE SAME TIME DASHBOARD LIGHT WENT ON INDICATING THAT ENGINE NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE THOUGH THE OIL WAS JUST CHANGED 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED AND ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY EXCEPT THE DASHBOARD LIGHT AGAIN INDICATED NEED FOR AN OIL CHANGE. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE IT WAS DECIDED TO INSTALL IGNITION RELAY PART FOR THE SE…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116661 at NHTSA ↗

I WRITE TO REPORT AN OCCURRENCE OF UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION IN A BUICK RENDEZVOUS. I RENTED THE CURRENT MODEL YEAR RENDEZVOUS FROM AVIS AT LAX AIRPORT ON 5/14/05. THAT EVENING AS I WAS ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, AND PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE, YET THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I NOTICED THAT EVEN WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND PRESSING AS HARD AS I COULD, THE SPEED WAS INCREASING. FORTUNATELY, AT THE ON-RAMP WHERE I GOT ON, THE TRAFFIC WAS L…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120964 at NHTSA ↗

2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS EXPERIENCED UNEXPECTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS PARKING HIS VEHICLE WHEN IT ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CHAIN, WHICH WAS STRUNG BETWEEN TWO POST, BEFORE THE CONSUMER COULD SLAM ON THE BRAKE AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10125828 at NHTSA ↗

ON MAY 27, 2005 MY HUSBAND PURCHASED A 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS CX PLUS. 3 TIMES SINCE THE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED DURING OUR RUSH HOUR TRIP TO WORK, 06/16, 06/20 & 06/27. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, ONCE WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY (ROUTE I-95 IN PA) AND TWICE WHEN COMING TO A STOP LIGHT ON NJ ROUTE 130. I WAS WITH HIM EACH TIME IT OCCURRED. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. MY HUSBAND HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, EXPLAINING THE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES BEFORE THE FAILURE. BECAUSE THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126766 at NHTSA ↗

I HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AT 43,000 MILES. I DID EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT SEEMS UNREASONABLE TO HAVE TO SPEND ALMOST $800 TO REPLACE BEARINGS WHICH SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 42,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131026 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE ON THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED FIVE TIMES SINCE SERVICE DATE OF 11/29/04. THE VEHICLE IS A 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING AND HAS ALWAYS QUIT AT SLOW TO IDLE SPEEDS. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED TO REPLACE A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS DUE TO THE SAME STALLING PROBLEM. DUE TO THE PROBLEM I HAVE BECOME SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. THE ENGINE HAS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON APRIL 20TH., MAY 5TH, MAY 8TH, AUGUST 13TH, AUGUST 18TH, AND I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP THIS COMING MONDAY ON AUGUST 2…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,368 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133337 at NHTSA ↗

DT: 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE HORN IS DIFFICULT AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BLOW. THE AREA IS SENSITIVE AND THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IS EXCESSIVE. THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND THEIR POSITION WAS IF THE HORN WORKS THEY HAVE NO SPECIFICATION ON HOW LIMITED THE AREA IS OR HOW EXCESSIVE THE PRESSURE IS TO BLOW THE HORN. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES PRESS NEAR THE HORN SYMBOL ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE HORN WILL SOUND. ONE INCH FROM THE HORN SYMBOL IS DEAD AREA. IF NOT DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW WHERE …

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133571 at NHTSA ↗

DT: 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CANNOT BE READ DURING CERTAIN DAY LIGHT CONDITIONS, PARTICULARLY THE SPEEDOMETER. CONSUMER CONTACTED GM, AND THEY TOLD HIM THERE WAS NOTHING ON FILE, AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133577 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-10-31 (October 31, 2006)

CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.

Consequence: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.

Remedy: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-877-477-1022 TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPURCHASING THEIR VEHICLE.