10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,807 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2004 Buick Rendezvous:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #47

Jan 032023

Rendezvous

  • miles
Upon arriving at my destination and after i put my in park i was UNABLE to turn my engine off because the ignition was stuck in that position. I ultimately had no choice but to unhook the battery cables along with disconnecting the alternator to get my engine to turn off. Prior to this incident occasionally upon starting my car the ignition would not disengage immediately upon the engine turning over which ultimately resulted in having to replace the starter on this vehicle. I am a single parent and only have one vehicle so this is a major issue for my family. Furthermore the fan speed control knob doesnt work properly because when it is put in position 3 it shuts the fan motor off completely. So there CLEAR to me that there seems to be a MAJOR electrical issue. The suspension on this vehicle is horrendous. I cannot go above 45mph without by car wanting to go into on-coming traffic or off of the road or trying to flip over on its side because the shocks/struts on the passenger side are not working properly. I have not used this vehicle for any other purpose then to transport myself and children to and from work/school/appointments. Everyone i spoke to about this particular vehicle has said that these vehicles were manufactured poorly and repairs come at a high cost.

- Union City , MI, USA

problem #46

Aug 262022

Rendezvous

  • miles
Electrical problems, manifold gone, ants under my battery the whole vehicle was infected with them, battery wouldn't unbolt tailgate wouldn't open, it overheated

- Galax, VA, USA

problem #45

Jul 012019

Rendezvous

  • 173,551 miles
I can be on the street driving and my vehicle just stalls out and I have to get it restarted and pulling the side of the road to restart it that's the first issue the second one is my check engine light keeps coming on and off and my traction system light stays on had it looked at it was fine system light remains on.

- Bath, MI, USA

problem #44

Jun 042019

Rendezvous

  • 195,000 miles
No acceleration, when I go up a hill no acceleration, or when I go to get on the highway no acceleration, and very dangerous. I went to dealership for a diagnostic test and I replaced fuel tank pressure sensor and vent solenoid, no acceleration. I went to another dealership for diagnostic. They recommended that I replace 3 electrical harnesses and connectors $1350 dollars parts and labor too much for me and that may not solve my problem. I told them the problem was corrosion in the connectors to the fuel pump $160 dollars later they agreed with me. Still dangerous.

- St Paul, MN, USA

problem #43

Mar 172017

Rendezvous

  • 200,000 miles
Dash gauges, warning lights, & alarms, bells flash on & off and vehicle suddenly runs rough. Dash codes of all sorts blink on & off. New battery and new altenator installed, problem still exists. This happened first when driving on hiway. After vehicle pulled off road and engine turned off. The dash code then read battery issue. We tried to drive again but now vehicle operated roughly and there was no more daylight. We had vehicle towed 100 miles. Then paid for new battery problem did not change so we had a new altenator installed after having a diagnostic test advising the need for a new altenator. I am quite upset becaus ei feel that there is fraud on part of sears autorepair. Diagnostic said altenator was the problem. I paid over $450 for that service and another $150 for the battery.

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #42

Mar 042017

Rendezvous

  • 24,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Buick Rendezvous. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power while traveling various speeds. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently restarted after a manual restart attempt was made. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but it could not be replicated. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V171000 (air bags, electrical system) as a possible solution; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.

- Georgetown, SC, USA

problem #41

Dec 142015

Rendezvous

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Buick Rendezvous. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 mph, the vehicle stalled as the battery warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

- Cordova, TN, USA

problem #40

Mar 122014

Rendezvous

  • 126,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Buick Rendezvous. When attempting to operate the vehicle, it failed to start. The contact was able to start the vehicle after numerous attempts. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 05V157000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

- Everett, WA, USA

problem #39

Jul 042012

Rendezvous

  • 70,000 miles
Engine stops working with loss of all control, battery turns over but vehicle will not start. After approximately 1/2 hour engine starts. Drove to mechanic and no information availoable in computer. All data removed.. problem repeated at 70,00 miles 90,000 miles and at 150,000 miles. No mechanic could find any pronlem. First occurred when parking after a 50 mile drive. Next appeared at a stop light. Last apperared while slowing down at an intersection. Took vehicle off the road after the last incident. Feared for my life.

- Shrewsbury, MA, USA

problem #38

Apr 102015

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
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.

- Howell, NJ, USA

problem #37

Jun 092014

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
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.

- East Stroudsburg, PA, USA

problem #36

Sep 022014

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 194,000 miles
I bought my Rendezvous on 9/2/14 with 193,960 miles on it. On the way home from the dealership, the instrument cluster started acting up. All of the readings of gauges are accurate, however most of the lights on the cluster do not work. The turn signal lights, check engine light, etc. Don't work, however the lights on the speedometer, gas gauge, and as of recently the temperature gauge work. The Rendezvous has experienced no other issues. I haven't contacted GM because I assumed I'd get shrugged off due to the age and mileage of the vehicle.

- Mount Pleasant, MI, USA

problem #35

Dec 162013

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 63,000 miles
The speedometer stops working correctly. While traveling at highway speeds the speedometer will read anywhere between below 0 mph and 30 mph. It happens regardless of the weather. There have been multiple occurrences that the speedometer is working correctly, (confirmed by calculations using time, mile markers & odometer readings, ) and at any point during travel it will stop and the needle is observed to gradually drop below the 0 mph mark. Sometimes restarting, whether by turning off the ignition or using the autostart to remove the key while leaving the vehicle running, will temporarily correct the problem. The problem was noted by an independent mechanic at the end of September while addressing potential transmission issues. (which also has not been resolved. The mechanic was unable to find a cause to "hard shift" problem that began several months ago.) the currently mileage on the vehicle is approximately 81,200 miles. It is being taken to a mechanic this week to address the issue.

- Palmer, AK, USA

problem #34

Nov 302014

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
Looked down to check my speed and it registered 30 mph. I know I was going faster than that as I was driving on a 55 mph highway. From that time it varied considerably, at times showing 0 mph when going down the road. Today it seems to be working again. In researching I've discovered that this is a known problem but if your vehicle has more than 70,000 miles it was not covered in a recall for the problem. Also when searching for recalls on this year and model it shows several but I have never been notified of any recalls.

- Letts, IA, USA

problem #33

Aug 152014

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
This has happened quite a few times when I am traveling. The ignition sticks when I try to start the car, when I turn the key on to start it, the ignition sticks and it won't start it just keeps turning over. It's very scary, it has even happened when I am not traveling, when the car is just sitting in my driveway and I am going somewhere try to start it and the ignition sticks.

- Mercer, PA, USA

problem #32

Jun 272014

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 240,000 miles
There has been a recall for various different GM models on ignition coils(but the 2004 Buick Rendezvous is not listed as one of them. The housing around my ignition coil has unraveled, and needs to be repaired. I do not want any concerns with this. Can GM send me a voucher to have it repaired in order for me to have a piece of mind? [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #31

Mar 052014

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 128,050 miles
I had a transmission repair at an ammco transmission outlet. As a result of the repair my instrument cluster was not working the first day the car was declared repaired. I left the car with the repairer who told me a second transmission would be installed. I was told approximately ten days later my car was repaired. When the car was picked up a second the time the problem was not resolved. I was told it needed to time for the computer to reset itself. That never happened since I found out later that the computer was in default mode and was not communicating with the transmission. Aamco pretended to tell me my car was safe to drive throughout this ordeal. The same night I received the car back my exterior lights went when my car glitched again. I almost hit the side of the mountain because there was total darkness. My complaint is that there is no oversight of secondary repair shops. I have tried hard. No one should go through what I have been through. This mechanics used many excuses but in the end it was a pinched (best word I can utilized) wire that caused the problem. After being turned down by four local mechanics the problem was fixed by the dealer. No one was wants to step forward to explain my problem. However I have documents to show that my electrical system was working fine prior to this repair. The attorney generals office in pa has limited authority on this issue and cannot help me. These people need oversight someone will be killed or already has.

- Mountain Top, PA, USA

problem #30

Mar 282014

Rendezvous

  • 131,000 miles
One day I woke up got in my car started driving and it wouldn't go past 55mph I took it to East detroit auto on gratiot in detroit mi and they kept my car for over 30 days saying they don't know what's wrong with it. They changed the fuel pump and gave me my car back not working. I just recently brought this car and its a huge hassle.

- Detroit , MI, USA

problem #29

Apr 052013

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 121,735 miles
I purchased a used car from jim doran auto center3075 N hwy 99W po box 598 mc minngville, or 97128 503-472-3131 this vehicle was advertised as a "cream puff" meaning the vehicle was in excellent condition and after I received it in California it cost me over $3,000 in repairs. Please remember that even know the SUV sold to me by this dealership was sold (as-is) but advertised and a car in excellent condition. I have paid over $3,000 in repairs to this car just to bring it up to pass a dmv vehicle inspection for California. Some kind of resolution to satisfy me momentarily for the repairs for the false advertising that this dealership posted online for the sale of the vehicle. The car sold to me: 2004 Buick Rendezvous sold (as-is) but the SUV was advertised as a "cream puff" being in excellent condition and it's been anything but! the value of the vehicle is just under $6,000 in excellent condition and this vehicle was not even in fair condition.

- Studio City, CA, USA

problem #28

Dec 092013

Rendezvous

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Buick Rendezvous. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact was also informed that her vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number 05V157000 (electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.

- Bel Air, MD, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »