NHTSA Complaint #10142261 — 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS

OUR 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS BEGAN ACTING UP SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. ONCE WHEN IT HAPPENED, WE CALLED THE BUICK HOTLINE NUMBER ON THE WINDOW STICKER & THE ONSTAR PEOPLE. BUICK GUY SAID SORRY NOT UNDER WARRANTY & A CERTIFIED CENTER WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AS IT WAS HAPPENING. ONSTAR COULDN'T OFFER ANY ADVICE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BUICK FOR A RECALL/LATCH REPAIR, WE ASKED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM & WERE TOLD UNLESS THEY SAW THE PROBLEM RIGHT THEN THEY COULDN'T HELP. OBVIOUSLY, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR & IT WAS STARTING AND RUNNING LIKE IT SHOULD. THE PROBLEM: PULLED INTO A NON-BUICK GARAGE TO GET VEHICLE INSPECTED. WHEN MECHANIC WAS DONE HE PULLED THE CAR OUT OF THE BAY & PARKED IT TURNING OFF ENGINE. I GOT IN TO LEAVE & ENGINE CRANKED BUT WOULDN'T START. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE IN OUR DRIVEWAY BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. THE MECHANICS COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT SO WE LEFT IT THERE FOR THEM TO WORK ON. WHEN STAFF WENT TO START THE CAR AN HOUR LATER IT RAN JUST FINE. ANOTHER TIME, MY FINGER SLIPPED WHILE TURNING THE IGNITION KEY SO I WENT TO TURN IT A SECOND TIME. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, OR IF IT DID IT WOULD STOP, AS IF CHOKING OUT & NOT GETTING GAS TO THE ENGINE. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES THEN GAVE IT 30 MINUTES TO SIT & IT THEN STARTED. ANOTHER TIME WE PULLED UP TO A GAS PUMP, GOT GAS, GOT BACK IN, & THE SAME PROBLEM...HAD TO LET VEHICLE SIT WHERE IT WAS FOR 20 MINUTES WITHOUT CRANKING THE IGNITION THEN IT STARTED FINE. AGAIN: ON A WEEKEND WHILE SHOPPING, PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE & CUT OFF THE ENGINE; REALIZED NEEDED TO GO TO THE BANK FIRST & WHEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR, IT KEPT SHUTTING OFF. NOW, FINALLY, I AM VERY LUCKY IF THIS CAR WILL START AT ALL. TOOK IT TO MY FRIENDLY GARAGE, THINKING IT NEEDED A NEW STARTER, & THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. AM NOW ON MY WAY TO A LOCAL BUICK SERVICE CENTER, WHICH WILL NO DOUBT COST ME AN ARM & A LEG FOR SOMETHING IT SEEMS LIKE HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE! *JB