There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2002 Buick Rendezvousin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
GM HAS RECALLED (FIRE HAZARD) 6 MODELS FOR A SMALL OIL LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THE BUICK RENDEZVOUS. MY RENDEZVOUS DOESN'T DRIP A 'FEW' DROPS ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IT 'COATS' THE WHOLE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ALL THE WAY TO THE REAR WHEELS. I HAVE TO CARRY A 5 QUART JUG OF OIL WITH ME TO RE-FILL. GOING TO THE DEALER INQUIRING ABOUT A FIX THEY ASKED ME IF I LIVED ON A DIRT ROAD. I'M TOTALLY CONFUSED AS TO WHAT THAT HAD TO DO WITH ANYTHING....BUT NO, I DON'T LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD. WITH THE SEVERITY OF THIS LEAK COMPARED TO THE 'RECALLS' IT SEEMS THAT GM SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE FIX. WITH THAT BEING SAID I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THE ENGINE IS RUNNING IT'S LEAKING, THE MOTION OF THE VEHICLE JUST PUSHES THE OIL FURTHER TO THE REAR. I DON'T HAVE PICTURES NOW BUT I CAN GET THEM.
I HAVE REPLACED THE AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR MULTIPLE TIMES AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO IT CONTINUES TO BLOW AND FALL OFF. THIS MEANS THERE IS SOME TYPE OF MALFUNCTION WITH THIS VEHICLE. I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE AWD AND SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING TO ILLUMINATE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO RISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A LEAK COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MANIFOLD INTAKE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
WE BEGIN EXPERIENCING OVERHEATING AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE MANUFACTURER; $5000 PLUS LATER WE ARE STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MORE RECENTLY WE REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND IT CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT. *TR
MY VEHICLE WARMS UP FINE AND AS I START TO DRIVE THE ENGINE TEMP RISES TO A HOT CONDITION AND THE HEATER STARTS TO BLOW COLD AIR. THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED, THE HEATER CORE HAS BEEN FLUSHED, THERMOSTAT HAS BEEN CHANGED. I'VE BEEN DOING ALOT OF RESEARCH ON THESE PROBLEMS AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OVERHEATING PROBLEMS THAT NEVER GO AWAY. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU FIX THE PROBLEM REOCCURS. I FLUSHED THE SYSTEM AND COULDNT GET IT TO REPEAT UNTIL A COUPLE DAYS LATER, THEN I CHANGED THE THERMOSTAT WITH THE SAME RESULT. I NEVER GET A WARNING LIGHT FOR COOLANT TEMP BUT ENGINE TEMP INCREASES AND CAR WILL STALL AND WONT RESTART UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN. AFTER 2 WEEKS OF WORKING WITH THIS I HAVE THE VEHICLE PARKED AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY GM DOES NOT RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THEM. I WAS TOLD THE ONLY WAY TO COMPLETELY FIX THIS PROBLEM IS A NEW 3.4L ENGINE FROM GM. WHO CAN AFFORD THAT, NOT ME. I HAVE CONTACTED BUICK BUT NOTHING BUT A REPORT WAS FILED AND ADDED TO THE PILE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS. IF THIS HAPPENED AT 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND DAYS LATER IT WAS OVERHEATING. THE MAN I BOUGHT IT FROM SAID THAT IT JUST NEEDED A THERMOSTAT, APPROX. $300. REPAIR. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND TURNS OUT IT NEEDED AN ENTIRE HEAD GASKET. IT WAS A $1,500 REPAIR. I AM SEEKING A RECALL BE ISSUES SINCE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ON THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND LEAKED COOLANT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE WAS LEAKING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM AROUND THE GASKETS AND THE FLY WHEEL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT WHILE IN MOTION. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS FAILING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,030.
I OWN A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE SPEEDOMETER GOING WELL OVER 100MPH WHEN I WAS ONLY DRIVING LIKE 20 OR 30. ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE FLASHES ON AND OFF. THE HEAT SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DONT IT OVERHEATS.NOW THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WENT ON ME. I CALLED GM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDNT SHOW ANY RECALLS NOR EVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. HOWEVER, I READ THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME VEHICLE THAT I HAVE AND CLEARLY HAVE ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS. SO THE QUESTION IS WHY DIDNT THIS VEHICLE IN NYS HAVE ANY RECALLS FOR THE MANIFOLD GASKET. IT'S WEIRD TO ME BECAUSE IN CANADA THEY HAD A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS ON THE 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. CAN SOMEONE GET SOME ANSWERS. IT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
WE JUST BOUGHT A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WE WERE FIRST TOLD THAT WE JUST NEEDED OUR FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE'S HOT COOLANT LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND THE TEMP GAUGE WAS INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HOT. WE GOT THIS DONE AND WAS DRIVING IT HOME AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD THAT IT HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I DECIDED TO RESEARCH ONLINE AND AM ASTOUNDED BY THE AMOUNT OF CONSUMERS THAT ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. SOME OF THEM ARE GETTING IT FIXED AND HAVING THE SAME ISSUE A FEW YEARS LATER. I AM REALLY FRUSTRATED AND FEEL THAT MY HANDS ARE TIED. WHAT IF I GET IT FIXED THIS TIME AND IN A FEW YEARS IT DOES IT AGAIN? I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP PUTTING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON ISSUE WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? THIS IS NOT HOW GM SHOULD BE TREATING CONSUMERS. THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A BAD PRODUCT. *TR
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM, AIR CONDITIONING AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD NOT INDICATE WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL OR EMPTY. THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NOT BLOW COOL AIR AND THE ENGINE WAS EXHIBITING AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,794.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED A HOT LEVEL READING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE COOLANT WARNING INDICATOR. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
I HAVE A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS WITH 130,000 MILES. AT 125,000 I HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT AND NOW IT IS OVERHEATING AGAIN. I HAVE DONE RADIATOR FLUSH, REPLACED TEMP SENSOR, CHECKED RELAYS AND REPLACED FUSES. HAVE NOW BEEN INFORMED THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS TO BE 2ND COOLING FAN IS NOT COMING ON BUT WILL POWER UP UNDER DIRECT POWER SOURCE. ALSO BEING INFORMED IT NEEDS A POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD AND HEAD GASKETS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AS A RESULT OF WATER LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,071.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH, THE RADIATOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT TWO OF HIS HEAD GASKETS HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026