NHTSA Complaint #10172159 — 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS

FUEL GAUGE FOR 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS CXL WAS READING INCORRECTLY. THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS WHILE GAUGE INDICATED FULL TANK. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW FUEL KIT. DEALERSHIP (CERTIFIED BUICK DEALERSHIP) INSTALLED NEW FUEL KIT. NEXT DAY, THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE FROM FUEL TANK. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED AND ABLE TO CORRECT. DURING SAME TIME PERIOD, TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NEVER SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE AND WOULD SOMETIMES SHIFT ABRUPTLY OR VERY HARD (JERKS). DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION. DEALER CORRECTED. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, VEHICLE TURNING BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT AND POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP INDICATED NEEDED AN ENTIRE NEW RACK AND PINION. DEALER CORRECTED. CURRENT DEFECT INVOLVES COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE DUE TO A LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS OUT FOR SAME COMPONENT IN THIS AND OTHER GM VEHICLES. DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WILL CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE IF NOT CORRECTED. CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED IN 2 WEEKS. TOTAL REPAIRS FOR 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE ARE NOW OVER $8000. ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PAID BY OWNER AND NONE HAVE BEEN COVERED BY DEALERSHIP. *JB