Total Complaints
407 filings
BUICK RENDEZVOUS · model year
407 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash reports, and 7 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003BUICKRENDEZVOUS carries 407 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 18 crashes, 17 fires, 17 injuries, and 0 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 2003 RENDEZVOUS is fuel/propulsion system with 43 filings, followed by electrical system (31) and engine and engine cooling (23). 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 7 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 2003 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
407 filings
Crashes Reported
18 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 43 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 31 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 23 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 16 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 14 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 13 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 13 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 12 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 11 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE | 10 |
| STEERING | 10 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 10 |
| ENGINE | 9 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 8 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 8 |
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
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.
STEERING
IN SOME OF THESE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DIAMETER OF THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS TOO SMALL.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
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
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
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).
The gas gage has been off since I bought it in September 2018. I run out of gas right before 1/4 of a tank and when I fill it it goes about 1/4 over the full line. The passenger seat side airbag went off closing the door May 2019.
After filling the fuel tank there is a strong gas odor that is present until the tank is almost empty. When walking around the vehicle or loading/unloading the vehicle, the strong gas odor is always present. This vehicle was at a dealership and they took it to the local personal auction company where i bid on it and bought it along with household items.
I purchased this vehicle in 2013, and a few years later, I began smelling gas. After doing my due diligence, I found out that there is a recall for this issue, because the check inlet valve at the top of the tank where the filler neck connects to the tank is cracked. Great, NO, only CERTAIN Rendezvous were covered, and even though mine has the exact same issue, they refuse to cover it and replace the tank. Well, apparently, there were SO MANY complaints by other Rendezvous owners that were also not "included" in the recall, the recall was expanded to ALL Rendezvous', BUT with the stipulation that it had to have less than 150,000 miles on it, which by THAT TIME, my car WAS over that mileage. So now I'm still driving with gas leaking out of my car, A KNOWN AND ADMITTEDLY UNSAFE DEFECT, because just to purchase that gas tank is over $1,000, not including the labor to drop the tank and replace it, approximately 3-4 hours labor. My disability check cannot afford that, so I have been FORCED
HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT FUEL IS LEAKING WHERE THE FUEL FILLER NECK CONNECTS TO THE PLASTIC GAS TANK AT THE CHECK INLET VALVE. I'VE SEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE FROM OTHER RENDEZVOUS OWNERS, AS WELL AS THE SAME PROBLEM OF GM AND/OR BUICK REFUSING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, (POSSIBLE FUEL IGNITION OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE USUALLY IS). I LIVE OFF A VERY MODEST DISABILITY CHECK AND A NEW TANK IS OVER $1,000, NOT INCLUDING ANOTHER 4-5 HOURS OF LABOR. THAT'S MORE THAN I GET IN A MONTH. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP AND HONOR THE RECALL AND FIX THESE VEHICLES. IT'S COMPLETE BS THAT THEY ARE LIMITING IT TO VEHICLES WITH LESS THAN 150,000 MILES ON THEM. AND MY VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN THAT THE FIRST TIME I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THEY SO GRACIOUSLY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO ALL RENDEZVOUS' WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT ADDING THE MILEAGE RESTRICTION EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATING ANY OTHER VEHICLES ACTUALLY QUALIFYING TO BE REPAIRED.
Mileage: 135,724
OUR RENDEVOUZ PLASTIC FUEL TANK STARTED SEEPING FUEL AT THE FILLER NECK YESTERDAY. AFTER DOING SOME READING, I SAW THERE WAS A RECALL AND THEN A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT. THE ONE LISTED ON JULY 21, 2008 SAID THE TANK WOULD BE REPLACED REGARDLESS OF AGE AND MILEAGE. THEN, GM CHANGED THEIR MIND ON AUGUST 8, 2008 AND LIMITED MILEAGE AND AGE TO 150,000 MILES AND 10 YEARS. I AM VERY DISTURBED ABOUT THIS AND THINK THAT THIS TANK NEEDS REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS AT MINIMUM. THE FUEL TANK IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM ANY AFTERMARKET SOURCE AND PURCHASING IT FROM GM IS $1590. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT PURCHASING A USED TANK WOULD BE SAFE DUE TO THE ISSUE GM HAS MENTIONED.
Mileage: 123,000
GAS TANK LEAKS SOMETIMES... WHEN IN MOTION AND WHEN STATIONARY
Mileage: 182,000
FUEL DRIPPING FROM TANK DUE TO CRACK AROUND INLET
Mileage: 126,000
STRONG SMELL OF GAS OUTSIDE THE RENDEZOUS AT FIRST AFTER FILLING CAR WHICH SEEM TO OCCUR ONLY WHEN NEWLY FILLED. NOW THE STRONG SMELL OUTSIDE OF CAR IS CONTINUOUS AND FUEL IS LEAKING. THIS IS A SUBJECT OF RECALL BUT DATE OF RECALL IS TOO OLD FOR GM TO HONOR THE RECALL. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE FUEL TANK HAS TO BE REPLACED.
Mileage: 136,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY. FURTHERMORE, THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,200.
Mileage: 154,200
TAKATA RECALL TRACTION CONTROL, ABS I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT HUBS BARINGS WITH ABS SENSORS TWICE IN 1 YEAR. STILL THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON WHEN IAM ABOUT TO STOP OR TURN
Mileage: 75,000
TAKATA RECALL TRACTION CONTROL, ABS I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT HUBS BARINGS WITH ABS SENSORS TWICE IN 1 YEAR. STILL THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON WHEN IAM ABOUT TO STOP OR TURN
Mileage: 75,000
TAKATA RECALL TRACTION CONTROL, ABS I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT HUBS BARINGS WITH ABS SENSORS TWICE IN 1 YEAR. STILL THE TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON WHEN IAM ABOUT TO STOP OR TURN
Mileage: 75,000
VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE GAS TANK SEAM. THE AMOUNT OF FUEL BEING LOST IS SIGNIFICANT.
Mileage: 225,000
GAS TANK STARTED LEAKING FROM CONNECTION WHERE FILLER TUBE MEETS THE GAS TANK. OTHER MODELS WERE INCLUDED IN A RECALL BUT NOT THE RENDEZVOUS MODEL I HAVE.
Mileage: 95,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TT *TR
Mileage: 160,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TT *TR
Mileage: 160,000
I HAVE PROBLEMS TRYING TO GET THE DASH LIGHTS INCREASE IN BRIGHTNESS USING THE VARIIABLE CONTROL ON THE INTERIOR DURING A NORMAL DAYTIME ESPECIALLY WHEN I TRY TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER (DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE DASH WHICH CAN BLOCK EXTERIOR LIGHT FROM ILLUMINATING THE DIAL ESPECIALLY AROUND 10:45 AND 11:15 AM MST.) ESP. WHEN I'M DRIVING
Mileage: 30,000
I HAVE PROBLEMS TRYING TO GET THE DASH LIGHTS INCREASE IN BRIGHTNESS USING THE VARIIABLE CONTROL ON THE INTERIOR DURING A NORMAL DAYTIME ESPECIALLY WHEN I TRY TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER (DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE DASH WHICH CAN BLOCK EXTERIOR LIGHT FROM ILLUMINATING THE DIAL ESPECIALLY AROUND 10:45 AND 11:15 AM MST.) ESP. WHEN I'M DRIVING
Mileage: 30,000
CAR SHUTS DOWN. FUEL GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY. LOSES POWER IN THE STEERING. HAVE TO PUMP GAS INTO THE TANK SLOW. TAKES FOREVER.
Mileage: 135,000
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALL OF A SUDDEN NO MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU ARE DRIVING AND THE TEMPARTURE OF CAR IT SLIPS WHILE IN DRIVE OUT OF GEAR AND STARTS IN GEAR WHEN IT WANTS TO WHICH IS BAD ON HIGHWAY GOING 55-70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN CARS ARE BEHIND YOU AND YOU CAN NOT GO ANY SPEED BUT COAST AND IS GETTING WORSE
Mileage: 125,000
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.