BUICK RENDEZVOUS · model year

2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS

196 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005BUICKRENDEZVOUS carries 196 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 14 crashes, 1 fire, 15 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 2005 RENDEZVOUS is electrical system with 27 filings, followed by engine (18) and steering (17). 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 2 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 2005 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.

196
Complaints
14
Crashes
1
Fires
15
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

196 filings

Crashes Reported

14 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM27
ENGINE18
STEERING17
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING10
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM10
POWER TRAIN9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL8
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE8
SUSPENSION5
SERVICE BRAKES5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING3

Recalls (2)

06V41700031/10/2006

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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 SYST

07E02100012/03/2007

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.

Recent Complaints

20251007STEERING

My kids and I were driving down the road all of a sudden I heard this loud sound and then my car wouldn't turn left or right the steering wheel turned but not the car thank God I wasn't goin very fast I was able to slowly pull to the side of the rd then it started smoking like it was on fire my kids and I had to hurry and jump out an the carlot I got it from is picking it up to be looked at.

20230828ENGINE

I bought my car from a used car lot. I had it about 3-4 months and out of the blue it overheated very quickly, the warning light was on, some type of loud buzzer was going off so I pulled over and let it cool off, it took about 45 minutes but it started back up. I checked all the fluids and coolant levels and everything was ok. This continued to happen for about 3 weeks, quickly overheat, lights, alarms pulled over, checked fluids over and over. After about 3 weeks it would quickly overheat and then shut off on its own and several times it happened so fast I barely got off the road.i took it to a mechanic that drove it around a little until it overheated which at this point only took about 3 minutes to happen. He said there was air in my radiator and he released it and it was fixed, I drove about 3 miles and it overheated again so I returned to the same mechanic and after about 6 minutes he came and told me it was a head gasket but they didn't repair those there so I called the next cl

20230828ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I bought my car from a used car lot. I had it about 3-4 months and out of the blue it overheated very quickly, the warning light was on, some type of loud buzzer was going off so I pulled over and let it cool off, it took about 45 minutes but it started back up. I checked all the fluids and coolant levels and everything was ok. This continued to happen for about 3 weeks, quickly overheat, lights, alarms pulled over, checked fluids over and over. After about 3 weeks it would quickly overheat and then shut off on its own and several times it happened so fast I barely got off the road.i took it to a mechanic that drove it around a little until it overheated which at this point only took about 3 minutes to happen. He said there was air in my radiator and he released it and it was fixed, I drove about 3 miles and it overheated again so I returned to the same mechanic and after about 6 minutes he came and told me it was a head gasket but they didn't repair those there so I called the next cl

20230828UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I bought my car from a used car lot. I had it about 3-4 months and out of the blue it overheated very quickly, the warning light was on, some type of loud buzzer was going off so I pulled over and let it cool off, it took about 45 minutes but it started back up. I checked all the fluids and coolant levels and everything was ok. This continued to happen for about 3 weeks, quickly overheat, lights, alarms pulled over, checked fluids over and over. After about 3 weeks it would quickly overheat and then shut off on its own and several times it happened so fast I barely got off the road.i took it to a mechanic that drove it around a little until it overheated which at this point only took about 3 minutes to happen. He said there was air in my radiator and he released it and it was fixed, I drove about 3 miles and it overheated again so I returned to the same mechanic and after about 6 minutes he came and told me it was a head gasket but they didn't repair those there so I called the next cl

20220413POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2005 Buick Rendezvous. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power and was shuddering while shifting gear. The “Service Engine Now” warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to side of the roadway, turn off and restart the vehicle and drove to her residence safely. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 175,000.

Mileage: 175,000

20220413ENGINE

The contact owns a 2005 Buick Rendezvous. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power and was shuddering while shifting gear. The “Service Engine Now” warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to side of the roadway, turn off and restart the vehicle and drove to her residence safely. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 175,000.

Mileage: 175,000

20200914STEERING

STEERING FEELS LIKE IT GETS TIGHT AND STICKS WHEN TURNING WHILE MOVING

Mileage: 160,105

20200709FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CAR WAS SOLD TO ME IN 2018. FIRST DAY DRIVING AFTER PURCHASE, OVERHEATED AFTER GOING MAYBE A MILE DOWN THE ROAD. HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND SEVERAL DIFFERENT PARTS REPLACED. HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR FLUSHED/FILLED, MOTOR MOUNT AND LEFT STRANDED SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. TWICE HAVING TO WALK IN THE WINTER WITH MY DAUGHTER. VEHICLE OVERHEATS IN MOTION, STATIONARY AND REGARDLESS OF CITY OR HIGHWAY.

Mileage: 175,000

20191124FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FULE LEAKES FROM FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR.

20190913ENGINE

MY 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS ---HEADS WERE LEVELED AND COMPLETE VALVE JOB DONE WITH NEW WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, RELAY BELT,BYPASS HOSE, UPPER RADIATOR HOSE, AND COMPLETE COOLANT FLUSH. MY CAR KEEPS RUNNING HOT. PLEASE HELP!

Mileage: 1

20190516ENGINE

SUV WAS OVER HEATING , GOT TWO ESTAMINTS AND THY CONFIRMED IT IS THE HEAD GASKETS.

Mileage: 93,000

20190515CrashAIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" WAS IN A ROLLOVER AND THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY NOT ONE VIN# [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 196,869

20181201UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SPEED GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY CAR RUNS BOILING HOT WHILE TEMP GAUGE SAYS IT'S COOL, FUEL GUAGE GOES OUT LIKE I'M DUMPING FUEL ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGH SPEED,CAR SHUTS OFF, SO DANGEROUS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN.

Mileage: 10

20180626ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT BUT ONLY SOMETIMES. ON OCCASION IT WILL BE DRIVING FINE THEN I GO TO PULL OFF FROM A STOP AND IT JUST WONT REALLY GO LIKE MAYBE SKIPS 1ST GEAR OR AT LEAST PART OF IT. IT'S CRAZY AND DANGEROUS. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. ONLY HAPPENS FROM COMPLETE STOP, SOMETIMES. BUICK RENDEZVOUS 05

Mileage: 144,000

20180626POWER TRAIN

IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT BUT ONLY SOMETIMES. ON OCCASION IT WILL BE DRIVING FINE THEN I GO TO PULL OFF FROM A STOP AND IT JUST WONT REALLY GO LIKE MAYBE SKIPS 1ST GEAR OR AT LEAST PART OF IT. IT'S CRAZY AND DANGEROUS. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. ONLY HAPPENS FROM COMPLETE STOP, SOMETIMES. BUICK RENDEZVOUS 05

Mileage: 144,000

20180626SUSPENSION

IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT BUT ONLY SOMETIMES. ON OCCASION IT WILL BE DRIVING FINE THEN I GO TO PULL OFF FROM A STOP AND IT JUST WONT REALLY GO LIKE MAYBE SKIPS 1ST GEAR OR AT LEAST PART OF IT. IT'S CRAZY AND DANGEROUS. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. ONLY HAPPENS FROM COMPLETE STOP, SOMETIMES. BUICK RENDEZVOUS 05

Mileage: 144,000

20180512FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I HAVE A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR IS THE FUEL LINE AND EVERY YEAR I HAVE TO CHANGE MY POWER STEERING PUNK AND I GET REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MY TRANSMISSION STILL GOES SLOW AND MY CAR SMELLS LIKE FART I'M A TRUCK DRIVER SO I LEFT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO SO MY CAR BEEN SITTING I JUST GOT BACK HOME ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT I'M FACING NOW .WHY

Mileage: 191,623

20180512SUSPENSION

I HAVE A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR IS THE FUEL LINE AND EVERY YEAR I HAVE TO CHANGE MY POWER STEERING PUNK AND I GET REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MY TRANSMISSION STILL GOES SLOW AND MY CAR SMELLS LIKE FART I'M A TRUCK DRIVER SO I LEFT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO SO MY CAR BEEN SITTING I JUST GOT BACK HOME ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS THAT I'M FACING NOW .WHY

Mileage: 191,623

20180120FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

GAS SMELL IN CAR INTERIOR, BOTH WHEN STATIONARY AND WHEN IN MOTION. NOTICED A RUSTED FUEL LINE, APPROXIMATE LOCATION UNDER DRIVERS SEAT.

Mileage: 180,000

20171029ENGINE

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HEAD CASKETS TWO TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THIS NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH GAS SMELL WHEN I TURN ON HEATER WHATS NEXT ITS GOT ABOUT 51000 MILES ON IT

Mileage: 25,000

Compare 2005BUICKRENDEZVOUS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS have?
The 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS has 196 NHTSA complaints, 14 crashes, 1 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS?
Yes, the 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS?
The most-complained component for the 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 27 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and STEERING.
Is the 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.