NHTSA Complaint #10155212 — 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS

TWO SAFETY RELATED ISSUES WITH MY 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS CXL. THE FRONT HUB ABS SENSORS FAILED AT 51,000 MILES (LEFT SIDE) AND 58,500 MILES (RIGHT SIDE). DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNTIL ACTUAL FAILURE AND ERROR CODE. MEANWHILE, THE BRAKES ARE VERY ERRATIC AT LOW SPEEDS. OFTEN LONG STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE THE PEDAL PULSATES SEVERELY. VEHICLE PULLS SEVERELY TO ONE SIDE. DEALER REPLACED A WHEEL HUB THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. THEY REWIRED THE ABS SENSOR ON THE OTHER FRONT WHEEL THE SECOND TIME. IT WAS CORRECTED WHEN FINALLY DIAGNOSED BUT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE FIRST INCIDENT, WE HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH UNSAFE BRAKES UNTIL THE ERROR CODE WOULD REGISTER AND THE DEALER WOULD PERFORM THE REPAIRS. SECOND ISSUE INVOLVES THE AWD REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. MOANING NOISES START IN THE REAR END, ESPECIALLY IN LOW SPEED TURNS SUCH AS PARKING LOT MANEUVERS. OCCURRENCE INCREASES IN SEVERITY AND FREQUENCY FAIRLY QUICKLY. THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER. ONCE AT 27,000 MILES AND ONCE AT 55,000 MILES. THIS IS A $3,000+ REPAIR AND IS NO LONGER COVERED BY WARRANTY. WHY DOES THE REAR DRIVE AXLE CONTINUE TO FAIL? IF IT SHOULD FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY, IT WILL POSE A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF HIGHWAY SPEEDS ARE INVOLVED AND THE VEHICLE BECOMES UNSTABLE. NOT ONLY IS SAFETY INVOLVED BUT THE VERY HIGH COST OF REPLACEMENT IS UNACCEPTABLE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *JB