Total Complaints
690 filings
BUICK RENDEZVOUS · model year
690 NHTSA complaints, 24 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002BUICKRENDEZVOUS carries 690 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 24 crashes, 11 fires, 28 injuries, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 RENDEZVOUS is electrical system with 82 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (50) and fuel/propulsion system (33). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2002 RENDEZVOUS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
690 filings
Crashes Reported
24 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | 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 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 22 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 21 |
| AIR BAGS | 18 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 17 |
| ENGINE | 14 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE | 13 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 12 |
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
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).
MY CAR HAS A GAS TANK LEAK FROM THE INTAKE TUBE. IN 2007 I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT IT WASN'T A PROBLEM UNTIL NOW. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR HAS ONLY 130,000 MILES ON IT. CAN I GET HELP WITH THIS REPAIR? MY LOCAL DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
Mileage: 130,000
OVER HEATING FOR NO REASON. SOMETIMES THE FUEL LINE SEEMS CLOGGED OR FULL BUT WILL ACT AS IF IT OUT OF GAS. HAVE CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURING. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A RADIATOR BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. SOME DAYS IT WILL START TO RUN HOT AND IF YOU KEEP YOYR FOOT ON THE GAS THE HOT TEMP WILL GO DOWN. LEAKING OUT GAS FROM LEFT SIDE AS WELL AS BLOWING OUT WHITE SMOKE AS IF THE ENGINE IS BLOWN BUT I KNOW ITS A GOOD ENGINE. SOME DAYS THE CAR WILL RUN FINE BUT IT SEEMS TO.ME LIKE THE COLD WEATHER CAUSES MATBE SENSOR ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. ALSO THE GAS LIGHT WILL COME ON SPIRATICALLY LIKE WHEN YOU HIT A POT HOLE LIKE THERE IS AN SHORT
OVER HEATING FOR NO REASON. SOMETIMES THE FUEL LINE SEEMS CLOGGED OR FULL BUT WILL ACT AS IF IT OUT OF GAS. HAVE CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURING. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A RADIATOR BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. SOME DAYS IT WILL START TO RUN HOT AND IF YOU KEEP YOYR FOOT ON THE GAS THE HOT TEMP WILL GO DOWN. LEAKING OUT GAS FROM LEFT SIDE AS WELL AS BLOWING OUT WHITE SMOKE AS IF THE ENGINE IS BLOWN BUT I KNOW ITS A GOOD ENGINE. SOME DAYS THE CAR WILL RUN FINE BUT IT SEEMS TO.ME LIKE THE COLD WEATHER CAUSES MATBE SENSOR ISSUES WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. ALSO THE GAS LIGHT WILL COME ON SPIRATICALLY LIKE WHEN YOU HIT A POT HOLE LIKE THERE IS AN SHORT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND CLOSING THE DOOR, THE DRIVER SEAT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED VIOLENTLY ON THE DRIVERS HEAD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND FACE CAUSING UNCONSCIOUSNESS. IN ADDITION, LEFT ARM AND SHOULDER INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE CONTACT WENT TO URGENT CARE WHERE SHE WAS REJECTED DUE TO LIABILITY CONCERNS. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT BUT NOT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE WAS STORED IN THE CONTACT GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V222000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104.776.
Mileage: 104,776
I FIND THE 2002 RENDEZVOUS HAS A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK. WHEN THEY MAKE THE TANK THEY USE TWO DIFFERENT PLASTIC MATERIALS FOR THE TANK AND THE FILLER TUBE THAT RESULT ON THE WELD NOT HOLDING ON. AND DUE TO THE UNUSUAL POSITION OF THAT FILLER TUBE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAS TANK A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR EXPLOSION AND FIRE. THERE IS PLENTY OF REPORTS ON THE INTERNET PERTAINS ONLY TO THE 2002 MODEL. ACCORDING TO BUICK ITS NOT THEIR PROBLEM BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRE.
Mileage: 150,000
NO NOTICE FROM GM ON RECALL DATED 08/08/2007 FUEL TANK DEFECT. FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL TANK AT THIS SPECIFIC LOCATION. DEALERS WILL NOT REPAIR THIS DEFECT. I AM THE ORIG. OWNER.
Mileage: 20,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO FLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE DAMAGED AND IT WOULD BE BEST TO REBUILD THE ENGINE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
Mileage: 169,000
VEHICLE SHOWED CHECK ENGINE CODE FOR EMISSIONS FOR SOME TIME. NOW SMELLING FUEL FROM CAR. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS CRACKED TANK, SAME AS RECALL NUMBER 06230A. VIN DOES NOT MATCH RECALL. DEALERSHIP AND BUICK WERE NOT HELPFUL AT PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES TO GETTING ISSUE FIXED. UPON MORE RESEARCH THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF THIS SAME ISSUE. CRACKED TANK AND VIN IS NOT LISTED IN RECALL. THIS PROVIDES VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. CAR SMELLS LIKE FUEL INSIDE AND OUT. NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD ANY ISSUES THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM.
Mileage: 110,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED FUEL WAS LEAKING VERY HEAVILY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THEIR RESIDENCE, THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
Mileage: 121,000
MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE HEAT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS BLOWING COLD AIR OR NOT BLOWING AT ALL. BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THE HEATING ISSUE, THE VEHICLE RAN HOT AND CONTINUED TO RUN HOT UNTIL A MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE COOLANT AND CU AT 2/3 SLIT IN THE RUBBER UNDER THE HOOD. IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATING PROBLEMS BEFORE IT WAS SOLD TO ME. I HAVE SINCE TRIED TO SELL IT AND FOUND TH ST IT WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY TWO CAR BUYING/SELLING WEBSITES DUE TO PREVIOUS SALVAGE. I PURCHASED FROM A BUY-HERE PAY- HERE. IT STILL HAS OVER HEATING ISSUES AND IT STILL HAS NOT HEAT BLOWING INSIDE. I WANT TO KNOW IF REPAIRS WILL HELP SINCE IT'S REGARDED AS A SALVAGE. IS IT LAWFUL TO SELL A SALVAGED VEHICLE KNOWING THE PURCHASER WAS PUTTING THE CAR ON THE ROAD? I BOUGHT THE CAR IN OHIO AND I LIVE IN NEW YORK.
Mileage: 126,000
MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE HEAT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS BLOWING COLD AIR OR NOT BLOWING AT ALL. BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THE HEATING ISSUE, THE VEHICLE RAN HOT AND CONTINUED TO RUN HOT UNTIL A MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE COOLANT AND CU AT 2/3 SLIT IN THE RUBBER UNDER THE HOOD. IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATING PROBLEMS BEFORE IT WAS SOLD TO ME. I HAVE SINCE TRIED TO SELL IT AND FOUND TH ST IT WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY TWO CAR BUYING/SELLING WEBSITES DUE TO PREVIOUS SALVAGE. I PURCHASED FROM A BUY-HERE PAY- HERE. IT STILL HAS OVER HEATING ISSUES AND IT STILL HAS NOT HEAT BLOWING INSIDE. I WANT TO KNOW IF REPAIRS WILL HELP SINCE IT'S REGARDED AS A SALVAGE. IS IT LAWFUL TO SELL A SALVAGED VEHICLE KNOWING THE PURCHASER WAS PUTTING THE CAR ON THE ROAD? I BOUGHT THE CAR IN OHIO AND I LIVE IN NEW YORK.
Mileage: 126,000
NOTICED SMELL OF GAS BY THE 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. MECHANIC VERIFIED THERE WAS A LEAK NEAR FILLING POINT OF CAR. SAID WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX THIS, THOUGHT HE SAW SOMETHING ABOUT GM RECALLING GAS TANKS ON SOME VEHICLES. LOOKED IT UP AND SAW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THERE WAS A RECALL. THIS WAS MY PARENTS CAR, NOW BEING USED BY MY TEENAGE SON, SO I LOOKED IN THEIR FILE AND FOUND A LETTER SENT FROM GM THAT A CRACK COULD OCCUR IN THE TANK DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND IF IT HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE THEY WOULD REPLACE IT. WRONG. APPARENTLY A DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD DOESN'T MATTER AFTER 10 YEARS. GM SAID THIS REPLACEMENT OFFER HAS EXPIRED. GM TOLD ME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT A BUICK DEALER TO HAVE THEM VERIFY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER I BROUGHT IT TO TOLD ME NOT TO WASTE MY MONEY HAVING IT DIAGNOSED BY THEM, SINCE MY MECHANIC HAD ALREADY VERIFIED IT WAS LEAKING IN THE DEFECTIVE SPOT, BECAUSE GM NEVER COVERS THIS PREVIOUSLY OFFERED REPAIR ANYMORE. THE 2002 RENDEZVOUS HAS ONLY
Mileage: 45,000
FUEL TANK IS DEFECTIVE, WITH THE CAR IN MOTION AND STATIONARY, WHEN I PUT MORE THAN A HALF TANK, GASOLINE WILL FIND A WAY OUT THE TANK, I ALREADY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK FOR ANOTHER ORIGINAL ONE AND IT WAS GOOD FOR ONLY 3 MONTHS. THE TRACTION SYSTEM WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY IS ALWAYS GIVING AN ERROR ON THE COMPUTER AND MAKING FUNNY NOISES AND SOMETIMES BRAKES MAKE A NOISE LIKE TA TA TA BECAUSE OF THE TRACTION SYSTEM. BATTERY SYSTEM IS A JOKE I HAD TO REPLACE AND PUT THE BATTERY TERMINALS ON THE TOP BECAUSE CABLES GET DISCONNECTED FROM THE ORIGINAL WAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE RECALLS ON THIS CAR, SO MANY PROBLEMS AND MY CAR HAVE A LITTLE OVER 80,000 MILES
Mileage: 40
FUEL TANK IS DEFECTIVE, WITH THE CAR IN MOTION AND STATIONARY, WHEN I PUT MORE THAN A HALF TANK, GASOLINE WILL FIND A WAY OUT THE TANK, I ALREADY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK FOR ANOTHER ORIGINAL ONE AND IT WAS GOOD FOR ONLY 3 MONTHS. THE TRACTION SYSTEM WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY IS ALWAYS GIVING AN ERROR ON THE COMPUTER AND MAKING FUNNY NOISES AND SOMETIMES BRAKES MAKE A NOISE LIKE TA TA TA BECAUSE OF THE TRACTION SYSTEM. BATTERY SYSTEM IS A JOKE I HAD TO REPLACE AND PUT THE BATTERY TERMINALS ON THE TOP BECAUSE CABLES GET DISCONNECTED FROM THE ORIGINAL WAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE RECALLS ON THIS CAR, SO MANY PROBLEMS AND MY CAR HAVE A LITTLE OVER 80,000 MILES
Mileage: 40
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A FUEL ODOR ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AROUND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM) AND 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Mileage: 70,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V349000(FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
Mileage: 90,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT OBSERVED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL AND THAT THE FUEL TANK HOUSING FRACTURED. THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.
Mileage: 111,000
ONE DAY LAST WEEK, I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTING BEHIND MY GAUGES WAS OUT AND THE LIGHT ON THE RADIO IS DIM. THEN THE NEXT DAY NONE OF MY WINDOWS WORK, THEY ARE STUCK DOWN ABOUT 2 INCHES. AND THEN I GET ON THE HIGHWAY AND AT 60MPH THE FRONT END FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL OFF. AND WHEN IN THE DRIVE THROUGH THE ENGINE TEMP WAS HEADING FOR THE RED ZONE, I HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. AFTER COMING TO A STOP AND THEN ACCELERATING TO GO, THE FRONT WHEELS ACT LIKE THEY GRAB THE CAR JERKS THEN THE TIRES SQUEAL AND CAR MOVES. I HAVE A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON NOW, THAT IS SOME DEALER CODE :AUTOZONE DID A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK., BUT THE DEALER WOULDN'T TELL ME WHAT IT WAS WHEN I CALLED. I HAVE A LIGHT THAT CAME ON FOR THE BRAKES, AS WELL AS A LIGHT FOR SERVICING THE TRACTION SYSTEM?? ALL THIS HAPPENED WITH IN A COUPLE DAYS TIME. ITS VERY FRUSTRATING. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START FIRST, OR IF IT JUST NEEDS TO GO TO THE JUNK YARD. VERY DISAPPOINTED. I'M ON DISABILITY, THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A RELIABLE
Mileage: 187,000
THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR 45 MINUTES ON TWO-LANE PAVED COUNTRY ROADS. I DROVE THE FIRST 15 MINUTES, WITH ONE OF MY SONS DRIVING THE OTHER 30 MINUTES WHILE I WAS A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND SWITCHED DRIVERS SO ANOTHER SON COULD BEGIN A DRIVING LESSON WITH ME. WHEN HE BEGAN TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE HE SAID THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT FEEL RIGHT AND NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TOLD HIM TO PULL BACK INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND RELEASE THE HOOD SO I COULD CHECK FOR AN OVERHEATING ENGINE, EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS IN THE CENTER OF THE VISIBLE RANGE. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD I SAW A SIX-INCH WIDE AREA OF FLAMES TO THE RIGHT OF THE ALTERNATOR. I TOLD MY SONS TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND ASKED ONE OF THEM TO CALL 911 ON HIS CELLPHONE AND THE OTHER TO GO TO THE NEAREST BUILDING, ABOUT 75 YARDS AWAY, AND LOOK FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. IN THE MEANTIME, I OPENE
Mileage: 165,000
THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR 45 MINUTES ON TWO-LANE PAVED COUNTRY ROADS. I DROVE THE FIRST 15 MINUTES, WITH ONE OF MY SONS DRIVING THE OTHER 30 MINUTES WHILE I WAS A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND SWITCHED DRIVERS SO ANOTHER SON COULD BEGIN A DRIVING LESSON WITH ME. WHEN HE BEGAN TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE HE SAID THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT FEEL RIGHT AND NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS STEAM COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TOLD HIM TO PULL BACK INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND RELEASE THE HOOD SO I COULD CHECK FOR AN OVERHEATING ENGINE, EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS IN THE CENTER OF THE VISIBLE RANGE. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD I SAW A SIX-INCH WIDE AREA OF FLAMES TO THE RIGHT OF THE ALTERNATOR. I TOLD MY SONS TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND ASKED ONE OF THEM TO CALL 911 ON HIS CELLPHONE AND THE OTHER TO GO TO THE NEAREST BUILDING, ABOUT 75 YARDS AWAY, AND LOOK FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. IN THE MEANTIME, I OPENE
Mileage: 165,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.