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2002 Buick RendezvousProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 486 owner complaints about the 2002 Buick Rendezvous, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

2002 Buick Rendezvous
27
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid2.6× the Rendezvous median · #1 of 6 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints48641 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage65kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 6, 2021. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2002 Buick Rendezvous has problems

486 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling1151
Electrical system1036
Fuel system, gasoline652
Suspension452
Service brakes, hydraulic410
Power train403
Equipment400
Fuel/propulsion system331
Air bags2414
19 other systems15012

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2002 Buick Rendezvous recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Fuel system, gasoline: storage

Recall 07V-349 · Aug 8, 2007 · 20,594 vehicles

Risk. A FRACTURE MAY ALLOW FUEL VAPORS TO PASS THROUGH AND ALLOW DROPLETS OF FUEL TO ACCUMULATE ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Air bags: frontal

Recall 02V-222 · Aug 9, 2002 · 133,221 vehicles

Risk. PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Buick.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

65kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 96 engine and engine cooling complaints. 79% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
11under 30k miles76under 100k miles20100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

11 owners mentioned a cost

$1,500median

Middle half: $824 – $2,650

Fuel system, gasoline

8 owners mentioned a cost

$775median

Middle half: $599 – $1,028

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2002 vs. every other Rendezvous year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Rendezvous median. How we score

'02'03'04'05'06'07
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2002 Buick Rendezvous safety ratings

2002 Buick Rendezvous 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2002 Buick Rendezvous frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2002 Buick Rendezvous side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Rollover: 3 stars (0.0% risk)
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2002 Buick Rendezvous, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FUEL TANK LEAKAGEEA07006 · closed Sep 13, 2007
    Led to recall 07V-349
  2. FUEL TANK LEAKAGERQ06009 · closed Apr 18, 2007
    No recall
In owners' words

What Rendezvous owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I HAVE REPLACED THE AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR MULTIPLE TIMES AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO IT CONTINUES TO BLOW AND FALL OFF. THIS MEANS THERE IS SOME TYPE OF MALFUNCTION WITH THIS VEHICLE. I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Complaint 10626920 · Aug 20, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND LEAKED COOLANT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE…
Complaint 10454839 · Apr 11, 2012 · 166,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM, AIR CONDITIONING AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD NOT INDICATE WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL OR EMPTY. THE AIR CONDITIONING WOULD NOT BLOW COOL AIR AND THE ENGINE WAS EXHIBITING AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING…
Complaint 10454803 · Apr 11, 2012 · 200 miles

Own a 2002 Rendezvous?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.