2003 Buick Rendezvous Steering Problems

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

I PURCHASED A USED 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR MY DAUGHTER. SINCE THE PURCHASE, SHE HAS HAD ISSUES WITH TRACTION WARNING LIGHT COMING ON, ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, DIFFICULTY WITH BRAKING AND STEERING, ESPECIALLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. SHE HAS HAD THE CAR REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES, EACH TIME THE ISSUE RECURS. ON 9/28 SHE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, SHE COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO BRAKE EFFECTIVELY, HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THE TRACTION LIGHT HAD RECENTLY COME ON AGAIN, AND THE GRINDING NOISE RESURFACED. *TR

ENGINE COMPLETELY DIES MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. IT WILLL TURN ON RIGHT AWAY, GO A FEW MILES AND THEN DIES AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED, THE TROTTLE HAS BEEN CLEAN, FUEL FILTER REPLACED, SPARK PLUG WIRES AND SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. WE'VE EVEN CHANGED TRAMISSION FLUID AND FILTERED. *TR

WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING, THE CAR STALLED OUT AND THE BATTERY DIED. AFTER BRAKING TO SHIFT BACK INTO PARK AND RESTARTING, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN. BESIDES THE ACCELERATION ISSUE, WHEN DRIVING AND THEN BRAKING WHEN COMING TO A STOP, IT FEELS AS IF SOMETHING IS PREVENTING THE CAR FROM BRAKING CREATING A GRINDING SENSATION. AFTER THE INITIAL "GRINDING", AWD IS DISABLED ALONG WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENS JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME THE RENDEZVOUS IS DRIVEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. SHE STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON THE VEHICLE AND OVER TIME IT DEVELOPED A SLOW LEAK. THERE WERE REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IT BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO UTILIZE THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD LEAK BACK OUT. THE HUB BEARINGS ALSO FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FUNCTION IMPROPERLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP AND EARLY WEAR AND TEAR ON HER TIRES. NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 90,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD SNAPPING AND CLICKING NOISES COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. LATER, THE KEYS BECAME LOCKED IN THE IGNITION AND HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE OR TURN THE KEYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO MAKE CLICKING, GRINDING, AND SNAPPING NOISES. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT NOT TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURES. THEY STATED THAT THEY DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS, BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 55,937. UPDATED 5/20/2010 *CN THE STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS ALSO REPLACED. UPDATED 08/18/10*JB

WITHIN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDOW MOTOR ON THE DRIVERS SIE,BLOWER MOTOR, LOAD LEVELER. NOW THE POWER STEERING IS GOING AND THE 02 SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED. *NM

THE POWER STEERING IS GOING-MAKES A LOUD NOISE. *NM

2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS LEFT FRONT HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT 36606 MILES. POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AT 39933 MILES. *TS A LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE MAIN SEAL ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP THEREFORE IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN 4/05 ONE OF THE FRONT TIRE HUBS WAS DEFECTIVE CAUSING A LOUD NOISE. ON 11/10/05 THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE BUICK IN FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. AGAIN THE CONSUMER WAS HEARING A NOISE BECAUSE BOTH FRONT TIRE HUBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO THE FACT THAT ONE WAS REPLACED IN 4/05, IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE PARTS WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER INCUR THE COST OF REPLACING ONE HUB. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED OTHER LOCAL GENERAL MOTOR DEALERS TO FIND OUT IF THEY HAD SEEN SIMILAR REPAIRS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMES WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND PONTIAC AZTEC'S COMING IN FOR REPAIR AND NEEDING FRONT AND REAR TIRE HUBS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT GM WAS WAS GOING TO CHANGE HUB MANUFACTURER TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. *NM

2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY, STEERING AND THE AUTOMATIC BRAKE SYSTEM.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER FELT VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE WHICH LASTED ANYWHERE FROM 10-30 SECONDS. THE NOISE OF VIBRATION HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT WAS UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ONCE. THE BATTERY WENT DEAD. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS MAY BE THE RESULT OF OTHER PROBLEMS. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED IN APRIL 2004,SHE HEARD A LOUD ROARING NOISE AS VEHICLE ACCELERATED. IT SEEMED TO BE LOUDER AS SHE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ONE OF THE FRONT TIRE HUBS UNDER WARRANTY. SHE WAS NOT SURE IF IT WAS THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. JUST RECENTLY SHE HEARD THE SAME NOISE, AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH FRONT TIRE HUBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED IN JULY 2005. AFTER HAVING THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED SHE WAS HEARING THE SAME NOISE . THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THE PUMP THEY HAD ORIGINALLY PUT ON WAS BAD, AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE IT. THEN, SHE WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN BECAUSE THE PUMP WAS LEAKING FLUID.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. ON JUNE 22, 2004, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5 AND 15 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN WOBBLING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWO OR THREE TIMES. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. THE REAR AND A SIDE WINDOW WERE SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR THIRTY MINUTES BEFORE THE CRASH OCCURRED. GM SERVICED THE HEADLIGHTS AND PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE APPROXIMATELY FIVE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE CONTACT IS STILL UNDER A DOCTOR'S CARE AND HAS CARPHAL TUNNEL IN BOTH ARMS DUE TO THE CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,000. UPDATED 05/05/08 *BF UPDATED 05/05/08

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THIS OCCURRED AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY BECAUSE OF LOSS OF STEERING AND IT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND TURNED OVER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE AGENCY. THE POLICE WERE NOT ALERTED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V052000 REGARDING THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER THE RECALL LETTER WAS NOT RECEIVED UNTIL AFTER THE INCIDENT UPDATED 2/27/2006 - *NM

I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY RENDEZVOUS I FEEL LIKE THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY CAR MORE THAN I HAVE. FOR STARTERS, THE FRONT AND REAR HUB FAILED FOUR TIMES, WITH THE FOURTH ONE STILL NEEDING TO BE REPAIRED AND GM REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF MILES ON THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON INTERMITTENTLY, THE REAR WIPER STAYS ON AND I HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE, I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES THREE TIMES WITH NO EXPLAINATION ON THE UNEVEN EXCESSIVE WEAR, THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAKES LOUD WHINING NOISE AND LEAKS POWER STEERING FLUID WITH NO EXPLAINATION, WINDSHIELD WIPERS CATCH ON EACH OTHER AND I HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS HAD TO STOP THE CAR, GET OUT AND UNTANGLE THEM, HOWEVER, THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE REAR AIR COMPRESSOR STILL DOES NOT WORK AFTER BEING REPAIRED TWICE, FUSES BLOW FOR NO REASON. *NM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SWAYED ALL OVER THE ROAD, MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SWAYING OCCURRED BECAUSE THE TIE ROD WAS LOOSE, AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ALMOST FELL OFF. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE TIE ROD CAME LOOSE FROM THE FACTORY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THEN, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH A MEDIAN DIVIDER. CONSUMER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER OF 2007, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD NOISE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPAIRED FOR FREE. TWO MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOX FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT GEARS, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE OIL WAS CONTAMINATED AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED SINCE THE LAST INCIDENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,874 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,300.