2004 Buick Rendezvous Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PREMATURE FAILURE WITH THE RACK AND PINION, AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE CONCERNING THE STEERING COLUMN. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE PART AND, LESS THAN FIVE DAYS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT AND DIFFICULT TO TURN PROPERLY. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE PART WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER (SCHUMACHER BUICK GMC OF WEST PALM BEACH, 541 N LAKE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33408, (561)-842-1595) REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

ENGINE STOPS WORKING WITH LOSS OF ALL CONTROL, BATTERY TURNS OVER BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT START. WHEN I PRESS ON ACCELERATOR THE CAR WILL START BUT WHEN I STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT THE CAR WILL STOP. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT IN HIGHWAY. .

WHILE DRIVING AT APRX 60 MPH THE CAR JUST DIED STALLED NO POWER HAD TO MAN HANDLE CAR TO A STOP WITH OUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT ALMOST LIKE DRIVING A BAIT CAR THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME HAD TO GET TOWED CAR STILL WONT START PUT KEY IN ALL BELLS AND WHISTLES LIGHT UP AND SOUNDS THEN NOTHING AS IF ALARM CUT OFF . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE SHOULDERS AND THE CHEST DUE TO THE SEAT BELT BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. UPDATED 03/17/15*LJ UPDATED 9/18/2017*CN

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS VERY SCARY AND LIFE THREATENING EVENT HAS OCCURRED. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED IN 2009 IN MINNESOTA. I PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS WAS REPLACED AT A BUICK DEALERSHIP IN ROCHESTER, MN VIKING BUICK. THE SECOND TIME, IN JULY 2013 ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN CHICAGO GOING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH GOING IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC. THE SAME EVENT OCCURRED FOR THE THIRD TIME ON JULY 19 ,2014. THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING IN 2013 AND 2014. THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT MOVE. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES. THE KEY DID NOT MOVE NOR COULD IT BE RETRIEVED. THE BATTERY LIGHT THEN TURNED ON. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR BY TURNING THE IGNITION KEY. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON BUICK RENDEZVOUS 2004. I LEARNED ABOUT THESE FROM LISTENING TO THE NEWS. I HAVE CALLED BUICK IN JUNE 2014. I WAS TOLD THAT BASED ON MY VIN, THE CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR A RECALL AND THEY REFUSED TO HELP ME WITH EVALUATING THE CAR. I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED IN 2009. BUICK TELLS ME THAT THEY DO NOT SEE THIS ON THEIR SYSTEM. I HAVE THE RECEIPTS, PAYMENTS AND INFORMATION FROM THE BUICK DEALERSHIP THAT COMPLETED THIS AS WELL AS FROM THE TOWING COMPANY THAT TOWED THE CAR THERE.THIS EVENT OCCURRED AGAIN ON JULY 19, 2014 WHILE I WAS IN A SHOPPING MALL PARKING. AN ADDITIONAL EVENT THAT I NOTICED THIS THIRD TIME WAS THAT I COULD NOT EVEN GET OUT OF THE CAR AS IT REMAINED UNLOCKED. I HAVE REVIEWED ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS RELATED TO THESE EVENTS AND OTHERS FOR WHICH I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY GM OR BUICK. I HAVE HAD THE CAR GO THROUGH DIAGNOSTICS SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS NOT IDENTIFIED AT THE CHECK UPS. *TR

HARNESS IN FRONT TOO SHORT CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH ABS /TRACTION SYSTEM TO NOT WORK CORRECTLY

MULTIPLE TIMES THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED RANDOMLY WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES I'VE LOST COUNT (AT LEAST 20). THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS (FROM 0 MPH TO 70 MPH). THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLS CAUSING THE STEERING AND BRAKES TO BE LESS EFFECTIVE. THIS COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO 2 DIFFERENT BUICK DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE IGNITION RELAY HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS HAVE BEEN CLEANED AND CHECKED. THESE REPAIRS HAVE NOT FIXED THE VEHICLE. I'VE CALLED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER WITHOUT ADDITIONAL CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE OWNER WILL NOT BE MAKING FURTHER REPAIRS. *TR

WHEN PULLING INTO OR OUT OF PARKING SPOT YOU GET A HUMMING SOUND AT SLOW SPEED SEEMS TO BE IN THE REAR OF CAR I THINK DOES NOT SOUND LIKE POWER STEERING WHINE CK THE FLUID IN POWER STEERING IT IS FINE NO LEAKS. *TR

THE STEERING GRINDS AND THE POWER BRAKES DON'T STOP UNLESS YOU PUMP THEM WHEN THIS HAPPENS,ITS NOT ALL THE TIME,AND THE SHIFTING GEAR BROKE WHILE I WAS PARKED TRYING TO PUT IT INTO REVERSE. MY NAME IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

REAR DIFFERENTIAL WILL NOT STOP GROANING ON ANY TURN. REAR DIFFERENTIAL NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. WE ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION. THE TOTAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH THESE WILL BE WELL OVER $5,000. IT IS EFFECTING THE TURNING PROCESS WHEN I NEED TO TURN THE CAR. ALSO HAVE A RACK AND PINION FAILURE. THE STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND THE TOWING COMPANY HAD TO PUT OIL ALL OVER WHERE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND SLIDE IT UP TO THE CABLE TO TOW THE CAR. ENTIRE STEERING MECHANISM REPLACED BUT NOW THE RACK AND PINION HAS TO BE REPLACED. I THINK IT IS DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN ISSUE. THAT IS WHEN IT STARTED. *TR

WE HAVE A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS THAT DOES NOT KEEP ACCURATE SPEEDOMETER READINGS AND IT JUMPS LANES OR SEVERELY PULLS TO THE LEFT. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS REPAIRED BUT IT DOES NOT DO THESE THINGS WHEN THE DEALER DRIVES IT. THIS HAS GONE ON OVER 3 MONTHS. THE SPEEDOMETER READS EXCESSIVE SPEEDS OVER 100 MPH OR IT READS 20 MPH SITTING IN THE DRIVE. WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE SPEEDOMETER READING 100+ MILES PER HOUR BUT THEY WONT TAKE THOSE. THE DEALER CAN NOT GET THE NAC WARRANTY DEPARTMENT TO COVER OR REPLACE THE CLUSTER BECAUSE THEY CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I RECENTLY READ WHERE THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST GM DUE TO THE SAME SPEEDOMETER ISSUES. *JB

I HAVE A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS THAT I BOUGHT IN 2004 WITH 9000 MILES ON IT. AT 32000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER SAID THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER WAS MISFIRING. HE RESET THE THE CYLINDER AND 10000 MILES LATER IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. ALSO AT 42000 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT AND REAR BREAKS ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE MASTER CYLINDER. I THINK THESE ARE EXCESSIVE BREAKDOWNS FOR A VEHICLE THIS AGE AND MILAGE. SO FAR REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE IN THE LAST MONTH HAVE EXCEEDED $1000.00. LUCKLY I WASN'T IN AND ACCIDENT WHEN THE STEERING AND BREAKS FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNIGN CHIRP OR DASH INDICATOR SHOWING THE STEERING AND BREAKS WERE FAILING. *NM

VEHICLE'S MANUAL STATES 18/25 MPG, VEHICLE AVERAGE 13.0 MPG. SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT RYDELL (DEALERSHIP) STATED 18 MPG AFTER 40 MILES TEST DRIVE, SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT VERMONT CHEVY/BUICK (DEALERSHIP) STATED 27 MPG AFTER 25 (FREEWAY) MILES TEST DRIVE. BOTH SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE WRONG: VEHICLE AVERAGES 13.0 MPG UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS & NORMAL DRIVING HABITS ON CITY STREETS AND FREEWAY. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, I WAS ADVISED THAT VEHICLE CHECKED OK AFTER SCAN. PROBLEM PERSISTS. SERVICE ADVISOR/SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED THAT THIS HIGH MPG IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE: 3.6 L ENGINE. DOOR LOCKS SOMETIMES WORK, SOMETIMES DON'T. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. SCAN AND CHECK SYSTEM AFTER RECALL. PROBLEM PERSISTING. PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR MOVES INSIDE MIRRORS HOUSING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65 M/H) AND HAVE TO BE RE-SET UPON REACHING DESTINATION. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PROBLEM PERSISTING. AUDIO SYSTEM COULD NOT READ ALL CDS. DEALER REPLACED RADIO/CD PLAYER TWICE. PROBLEM PERSISTING. DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH. DEALER REPLACED SEAT ADJUSTER DUE TO EXCESSIVE LOOSENING. REPLACED SEAT TRACK ASSY. VEHICLE WENT TO RYDELL'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT THREE (3) TIMES DUE TO EXCESSIVE ALIGNMENT/STEERING ISSUES: VEHICLE CURRENTLY STILL PULLING TO RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD, STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTER. DEALER DID NOT RESOLVE ISSUES AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS, ALIGNMENT NOW OUT OF WARRANTY (7.5 K MILES ONLY), PROBLEM PERSISTING. *NM

2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS TILT STEERING BECAME SEMI LOCKED.*MR *NM

SEVERAL-FAILURES, BRAKING NOISE, FRONT/REAR TIRE WEAR, UNSECURED ROOF AND TOP TAIL LAMP. *BF STEERING WHEEL WAS NOISY ALONG WITH A THUMP ROAR AND GRINDING, THERE WAS POOR AIR FLOW CIRCULATION ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE, THE RACK ROOF WAS UNSECURED AND SIDE RAILS, POOR WEAR ON THE TIRES FRONT/REAR, REAR WHEEL RUBBING/GRINDING DURING NORMAL OPERATION, BRAKE NOISES, POOR IDLE AND SHUTS OFF THE ENGINE, LACK OF AIR FLOW FOR PASSENGERS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW BLACK RUBBER SEAM BUCKLED. *SC *JB

(1) I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON JULY 30,2004. THE PROBLEM SHOWED UP ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE SELLING DEALER, TEAM CHEV, BUICK, CADILLAC INC. WHEN I MADE A SHARP LEFT TURN FROM ONE ROAD TO ANOTHER. AFTER I MADE THE TURN THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RETURN TO CENTER POSITION,AND I CAME TO A STOP BECAUSE I WAS SURPRISED BY THE STRONG LEFT PULL. (2) THIS IS AS PLAIN AS I CAN DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM. WHEN YOU MAKE A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER EVEN IF YOU STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL IT WILL TILT LEFT, IF YOU CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WANTS TO PULL TO THE LEFT. DEPENDING ON HOW SHARP A TURN YOU MAKE,IE A VERY SHARP LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE PULLS SEVERELY TO THE LEFT. SOMETIMES IF YOU DRIVE SEVERAL MILES IT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN TO CENTER. I EXPERIENCE THE SAME STEERING PROBLEM AFTER A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE PULLS RIGHT, BUT THE RIGHT PULL DOES NOT SEEM AS SEVERE AS THE LEFT PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD BE THE RESULT. (3)NOTHING THE DEALER HAS DONE, REPLACED TIE ROD ENDS,CHECKED FOR BINDING ON STEERING, SUPPOSEDLY ALIGNED FRONT WHEELS, ROTATED TIRES, HAD ANY EFFECT ON PROBLEM. DEALER STATES THEY DROVE A 2002, 2003, 2004 RENDEZVOUS AND THEY ALL HAVE EXHIBITED THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THIS BEING THE CASE I THINK THIS NEEDS A VERY CAREFUL INVESTIGATION AS THERE ARE A LOT OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD THAT ARE A POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR HEAD ON COLLISIONS WITH THE STEERING PULLING TO THE LEFT AS IT DOES. *JB