2002 Buick Rendezvous CXL from North America - Comments

Wow I was thinking of buying a Rendezvous until I read all these comments. To think I was going out this afternoon to put a deposit down (not anymore)

Thanks for the imput and sorry you had to be a victim.

Well, I hope that I didn't fall victim. I just purchased a 2002 CXL last night. When we were about to leave the lot, we had no interior lights. The car salesman tried for about 10 minutes to fix the problem without it getting resolved. He even tried having another salesman fix it. I have been reading all of these comments and I have to admit, I am a little scared now even though we purchased an extended warranty. Did I make a grave mistake in purchasing one of these vehicles? Can I do anything about it now since the paperwork has been signed?

Oh No!! Did I make a mistake??

I thought I got a 'steal' when last Monday night, I drove home my 2002 Rendezvous, at a price of $9999.00. (My research suggested that I might expect to pay about $1000 more in my neck of New Jersey woods). In my head, I was comparing my ride to the much more expensive Lexus or Acura MDX. Then, Wed. nite - just as I was about to go food shopping for my Thanksgiving meal (!!!), the car overheated so badly that it took me more than hour to travel about a mile (in between letting the engine cool down), back to the dealer!! They kept it over the holiday period, and yesterday, replaced the radiator, only to discover the busted gasket on the intake manifold! I then searched the 'net and found this site. I guess a carfax report - which recorded several general maintenance activities - just wasn't enough. I was wondering why I didn't see more of these seemingly wonderful vehicles on the road!! I'm guessing now that they stay in the repair shop more than they stay on the road! I'm heart-broken! I was really falling in love with the thought of driving this fully-loaded vehicle, complete with heated seats and a back-up buzzer instead of those annoying alarms. I'll buy the extended warranty and hope for the best.

Wow.. I just traded in my 10 yr 100000 mile certified Toyota Camry for a 2002 Rendezvous with 51K miles on saturday! I just had twins and I needed something with lots of room... its been 4 days and I haven't encountered any problems yet, but I'm getting alittle nervous after reading these comments. I'm extremely happy that I went for the best extended warranty! My husband took a look at the engine though and noticed some black oil resisdue around the valve cover.. were getting the car fully inspected at a certified place to make sure theres no major problems - hopefully the pervious owner had most of the "problems" resolved... or maybe that's why they traded it in... I guess were in for a surpise!

You're having your car inspected AFTER you bought it?

Well, let's hope there's nothing wrong because you're going to encounter a ton of trouble getting any "repairs" paid for via the extended warranty.

I have a 2002 Buick Rendezvous. Overall, we have been please with the car and love the way it rides, but the problems are mounting. First major problem was the air conditioning condenser at 52,400 miles. I read various places on the Internet about the poorly designed mounting bracket for the condenser. I complained with the dealership for a while and they finally agreed to split the cost of the repair with me. That got me for $310. Just recently, the intake manifold gasket went at 60,800 miles. I read on the Internet again about numerous cases of the same problem happening. I complained once again and managed to get the work done for a "$300 deductible." I paid $300 plus another $150 for an oil change and a coolant system flush and fill. I'm happy that I got some of it paid for, but I just can't stop thinking that it is just not right. Why should I have to pay for anything that is a well-know factory defect? Poor production and parts are steering me away from GM products all together. I hope others are having better luck than I am. I hope to be unloading this time bomb soon.

I own a 2002 Buick Rendevou... the AC Condensore needs replaced, problems with the security system locking up, front wheel bearing, anti lock brakes, WE NEED TI FILE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WITH AGAINST BUICK!

I have a 2002 buick rndz and all the interior lights went off and the headlights went off and on and the now the horn started honking while driving down the road. Now when I turn the vehicle off the lights won't go off at all, the doors won't lock and the radio says locked and won't turn on. The light inside says service engine soon and security. My wife got locked inside the car and had to manually unlock it herself. I tried to trade it in and all they said they will give me is $5000 for it when blue book is $7000 when I paid $15000 for it two years ago.

My next vehicle WILL NOT BE A GM ONE.

We have a 2002 Buick Rendezvous and wish we didn't! We started looking TODAY for another car and after reading all these comments, we need to do it fast!

OK...where do I start? We replaced the A/C condenser at 50K miles. Sign me up for the class action suit! The car guzzles oil and we can't find the leak. Turning corners causes grunting and moaning and we want to sell it instead of spending money on repairs. On a minor, but irritating point, both drinks holders in the back have broke off, the knob to control the lumbar in the driver's seat falls off constantly and the cheap, plastic hinge on the glove compartment broke eons ago! Just how often does one use the glove compartment???!!! Hardly ever! The glove box is currently duct taped closed to keep it in place and to keep it from banging open and closed when braking or moving forward. The paint on most of the control knobs has chipped to the point you can't read what they are for and the leather seats are so wrinkled and cracked you'd think they were made out of cheap vinyl tablecloths.

Go today and trade in your car. Get something else now before the darn car decomposes right in front of your eyes!

My 2002 Rendezvous CXL P.O.S.-

We bought our Rendezvous in 2004 at 18000. After seeing this web-site it makes me sick. We have had it in the shop 5 times for the air conditioner and coolant system, 2 times for window gasket, 2 times for the steering system, 1 time for the head gasket. THIS CAR IS JUNK!!! There is no way Buick could deny it. It once spent a month straight at the shop for them to see if they could find the condenser problem. We complained and got a rental car for 3 out of the 32 days it was there. I would rather run this P.O.S. off a cliff than try to sell it to some poor family who has no idea what they are in for. I think GM should buy it from me!

I also have a 2002 Rendezvous and have nothing, but trouble. The A/C condenser went at about 50,000. Now the intake manifold valve is shot and since I'm out of warranty it is costing a fortune to fix. The left wheel bearing had to be replaced (I did get reimbursed from GM for that repair - they don't have a recall, but they have a technical bulletin and will pay for the repair if you have problems). Now the right wheel bearing is going. The security code comes up and everything locks up. This car is a real lemon and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I've never had a car with so many expensive repairs having to be made on it. GM knows about these problems and has ignored them. Count me in for a class action suit too!

We have a 2002 Rendevous. Our driver's side window dropped down and broke for no reason. Then we had a water leak, the dealer said it was the water barrier in the passenger door. They fixed that, but the problem came back within a month. Today they said is was the drains from the sunroof. If you have water on the floor of the driver's side check the sun roof drains! Don't get fooled into fixing the door.

I wish that I had found this web site before purchasing my 2002 Rendezvous CXL. It is at the dealers as I sit and write this. In the past 7 days it has had the BCM replaced for the 2nd time, thermostat replaced, outside temperature sensor replaced, radiator flushed (looking for a clog), they had to fix a cylinder problem, the engine was skipping and as of tonight they still have to fix the head gasket. Now mind you I will have this vehicle 2yrs this May and purchased the extended warranty. By my husbands estimation, this vehicle has been at the dealers on average for 9 days every 3 to 4 months. The second day after purchased I had to have the rear axle fluid flushed/changed, the A/C condenser replaced and the rear bearings replaced. That alone should have been the tip off that I had purchased a lemon disguised as an SUV. The rear hatch lock has been replaced, the drivers side window fell off track and into the door, and the sun roof window motor has been replaced as well. I love the look, love the space and the ride - but the warranty is up in May and I still owe on the car. I would be more than happy to participate in a class action lawsuit. I would not want to sell this vehicle to anyone and stick them with all these problems!

I'm afraid I'm joining the club. My 2002 Rendezvous has had the gamut of problems listed in these posts. Gasket, transmission, and most alarmingly was the electrical. I had electrical problems early on under warranty (twice to shop, major stuff). In '05 while on a night trip hours from home, the electrical system went crazy. All light came on in vehichle while driving then went out. They then started going on and off and then finally all lights, including headlights/taillights went off! After driving until I could find a spot to get safely stop, I switched headlights from auto to "on." The headlights alone came on and I made it home with my daughter and another friend. The problem pulled juice from battery and I often found myself with a dead battery. I could go on and on. Now, this week, I'm experiencing a fish tailing with the car. I have to get rid of this. What do we need to do to get a class action suit started?

I just paid $1600 to repair a cracked A/C condenser and replace rotors and pads on a 2002 Rendezvous with 52000 miles. What a shame GM won't take care of these known problems. I'm getting disgusted and I'm a 31 year employee of GM and they won't fix it for me.