2002 Buick Rendezvous CXL from North America - Comments

2002 Buick Rendezvous owner. Same song, brakes, wheel bearings, a/c, passenger door misaligned, driver door doesn't shut and the passenger window fell.

Brakes and bearings not covered under warranty, even the extended one mentioned in the other emails.

A/C repairs started in April, Body Control Module $500, three months later a/c blowing hot air again, this time Shrader valve $120, 3 weeks later a/c blowing hot air again, hose to Shrader valve bad, $188.

Got it out of the shop Friday. Saturday morning found a puddle of antifreeze on the garage floor, the AWD disable light on, CD player changing CD's when only the radio is on and the dealership wants me to bring it back in.

I called GM this morning not knowing about all of the others having the same issues. GM was nice and called the dealership, but of course, it got me no where. Just offered to make the service appointment for me.

Did anyone ever do anything about a class action?

2002 FWD CL - Purchased new Oct. 2005 - have since:

Replaced intake manifiold - twice - warranty

Replace radio - 3 times - warranty

Now experiencing slow speed intermittent shuddering while braking - feels like trying to stop on a gravel road - this occurs on dry pavement in stop & go driving. (ABS wheel speed sensor?)

Traction Active lamp turns on at random times, again on dry pavement at low speeds.

Have taken to local GM dealership 3 times to address brakes and traction control - "They are unable to duplicate".

I purchased the extended warranty - 5 years/100,000 miles, which has paid, less deductible, for most repairs to date.

Warranty expires next month - Oct. 2007.

The ride and size and cabin noise level are excellent, but the time cost to manage repairs is frustrating.

Issaquah, WA

September 10, 2007

95,600 miles.

The Rendezvous is not indicative of Buick reliability. Most people know that Buick is known for manufacturing cars of which many are better than your Toyota. The Rendezvous was an effort to attract younger buyers which it did, but unfortunately due to poor quality and engineering few of them will return to Buick. However, those of us traditionalists that still purchase Buick cars get a more attractive package that is a better value than Toyota will ever offer.

2002 CXL owner... bought new in August 2001...

I love my car, but have had several problems...

-BRAKES and ROTORS went out in two years, the CHEVY dealer friend replaced them for cost..

-A/C went out at 42000 miles and don't want to pay 1000 to fix... I tried fixing myself.. tried to inject stop leak, then refill the refrigerant.. when I did this, filling it in the lo pressure line, I saw at the bottom of the car somwhere, the freon blowing right back out.

DOES THIS MEAN MY CONDENSER IS CRACKED? Someone please advise.

Bought our 2002 Rendezvous CXL when it was one year old with approximately 20,000 miles on it. My wife is disabled and needs to have a lift in the back so the high rear was important to us. It now has 33,000 miles on it and we have replaced the drivers seat control which cost $1200 and just two days ago the drivers side window fell down inside the door. I will have to find out the cost tomorrow. I drive my diesel F-250 Ford truck because it gets better mileage than the Rendezvous. With all the other problems I have read about, I wish I had sold it right after the seat problem. It appears to be worthless now.

Yes I also own a 2002 CXL Rendezvous with 67K miles on it. I bought it in 04' with 27K on it. Have had all of the above problems.

The latest being electrical problems, and a groaning in the rear-end. BCM module replaced, and ignition replaced solved the electrical. Guess what the groaning was?!! The rear differential. The solution? Drain the rear differential fluid and add 4 quarts of "re-engineered" synthetic GM fluid... and yes it gets better... drive in circles for 20 minutes alternating directions every 5 minutes. When this is complete add the final 4 quarts to top it off. Final cost for BCM module, ignition, rear diff fluid another $ 1313.00. Bought with 27K miles on it -- over 5K in repairs in 3 years. Run from this vehicle!! Am probably going to trade it in!

It makes me sick that American made is such junk. Will never buy GM again. My brother owns Hondas and never has a problem! Class action? I'm in!

In all fairness the Rendezvous is not American made; they were manufactured in Mexico. Most Buicks are very reliable and all around great cars. That is why they are currently tied with Lexus for 1st place in long-term reliability (J.D. Power).

I purchased my 2002 Rendezvous used 2 1/2 years ago for $10K with 35,000 miles. On the way home from picking it up the cruise control stopped working. Had it fixed for $80 and everything was great for the next year and a half. It now has 75,000 miles. Since then I have had the same problems as everyone else. A/C condenser shot, overheating which was supposedly fixed in May for $100 is as of this morning a $1700 head gasket problem, bushings are going out and there is carbon buildup. There is a reason Buick no longer sells the Rendezvous. Stay away from this vehicle.

As with so many others, my wife fell in love with the vehicle the moment she drove it. I had previously had a Buick (a Lesabre that was quirky as all get out) and wasn't particularly impressed with it, so I had reservations about the Rendezvous. In order to keep peace in the house though I agreed. I should have known.

I ID'd a bad brake right off the bat, and had the seller take off $500 from the purchase price. It had only 55k miles and $10000 didn't seem like a bad price.

I am now starting to see all the issues everyone else has. I had to replace the CV boots, plus the rear brakes I had previously identified. The rear end growls and the dealer says I need to replace it. I will try the flush repair and see if that works. Otherwise I intend to drive it until it fails completely.

The computer that controls the A/C stopped working, but has miraculously fixed itself. I now have to replace the condenser though. I refuse to pay $1400 to replace a $150 part, so I will do that myself.

It also seems to lose oil. I am not finding it in the coolant, there's no blue smoke, and garage floor is clean so I have no idea where it's going. If it is the intake manifold gasket I guess I will fix that too if I must.

My other vehicle is a BMW, and my previous vehicles (2 Hondas and 2 Dodge) were reliable and I only had one major repair in 15 years. (I broke a timing chain on a Daytona at 110k miles). I can truly say this is the last Buick I will ever own, and I will not shed a tear if GM doesn't survive. It's also the last time I let my wife chose the car. I wanted an X5 but was vetoed.

OK...Now I really feel bad. I did research on the 2002 before I bought it brand new. I was really proud of myself even though my husband was not 100% for purchasing a new line SUV. At least I waited till after the huge valve problem they had with the first bunch.

I have had the brake problems, mysterious oil leak?, ac/condenser leak, and now the wild security system problem. I wish there was a way to disconnect this and get rid of it, but it is paid off and we have one more child to get through college.

I really loved this vehicle, but the love is turning to hate. I guess I will have to suck it up and replace this strange BCM part for the time being. What really worries me is all the other problems everyone is having after they pass that 60,000 mile mark and there is no warranty or help.

Another thing that no one has mentioned: I have OnStar, but alas it is an analog system that will be obsolete in January when it all goes digital and the 2002 cannot be upgraded... so I will not be able to use it if I break down.

I will file a formal complaint with all.

I am a single mother and bought a 2002 (thinking gm was a good product). My Dad would have been proud. But, this has been the biggest piece of junk. At this point, I have replaced intake manifold gasket twice, A/C condenser, thermostat, cooling fan relay, valve cover gasket, rack and pinion steering, tires and rear brakes. I still have problems with overheating, my ac does not work on high, passenger window motor is blown and the window falls into the door constantly, round knob on driver seat falls off, cover on interior hatch will not stay put and rattles, triangle on exterior rear door thing is gone, lug nut covers are missing, and to top it all off the traction control light is on continuously and grinding at low speed; when turning and stopping it feels like the car is not going to stop. Very scary when toting my children. I do not feel safe in this vehicle, no money or desire to fix. This is a lemon! Ready to join class action. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Very disappointed GM! julie_p_donnelly@yahoo.com.

I have a 2003 Buick rendezvous CX.

I bought it 3 weeks ago and noticed the (driver window) would slide down every time I brake. Every time I shut the door it would do the same thing. I have to pay to get the inside of my car cleaned because it have been raining all week. I wish I had never bought this car.

I own a 2002 Buick Rendezvous (purchased it new) and I can honestly say this car has been the worst I have ever owned. To put it in perspective, I also own a 95 Pontiac with 220,000 miles and an 87 Dodge Truck with 165,000 miles. The Rendezvous has been in the shop for unscheduled repairs more than twice the times my other two OLDER vehicles combined with not even 1/3 of the mileage of my OLDER vehicles. I can honestly say the Rendezvous has removed what faith I had in GM products. The most costly have been: I have had to replace an A/C Condenser and Compressor ($1500), a wheel bearing ($1200), an AWD sensor and to top it off, my wife has just called informing me that the driver's power window motor is shot. I am going to call GM and provide them with a link to this site and the others I have seen like this one. If this is the product that they turn out nowadays, they need to leave making cars to the Japanese.

Own a 2002 Buick Rendezvous, too many problems to mention all. However, here are some, AC, AC condenser, wheel bearings, BCM module, rear lift gate, head gasket, intake manifold gasket, anti-lock brakes, All Wheel Drive, transmission, on and on. I agree with one of the previous writer, let’s all call customer service @ GM (BUICK) and remind them of this site. Aren't any lawyers out there willing to tackle this monster?

I submitted a Review and then found this comment thread. I too am a sucker... a 2002 RDVZ and to add to the list of repairs others have noted :

AC compressor, Brakes, Tires, Front Wheel Bearings, Head Gaskets, Intake Manifold Gasket, Rear Control Arm Bushings (Big$), Random Electrical Issues, Exterior Trim plate chrome peeling, Driver's Seat Lumbar Adj, Knob broken, Rear Coil Spring Failed... *Sigh* and GM doesn't give a hoot about marketing a lemon and will drive me away from ever spending money on their vehicles again. Too bad because my dealer has helped immensely. GM should be ashamed and held liable to boot!