NHTSA Complaint #10182723 — 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS

2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS @ 59000 MILES NEEDS REAR HEAD GASKET REPLACED. FIRST NOTICED AN OVERHEATED CONDITION. TOOK IT TO A MONROE SHOP AND WAS TOLD RADIATOR CAP WAS BAD. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND TOOK IT TO GM DEALERSHIP 2-02-07. TOLD THAT IT HELD PRESSURE AND NO LEAKS. FOUND ORANGE SNOW UNDER CAR 2-14-07. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AND TOLD IT IS LEAKING AT REAR HEAD GASKET. COST FOR REPLACEMENT IS $1500. CALLED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY ARE HELPING. FOUND THAT CANADIANS ARE SUING GM FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE GASKET MATERIAL BREAKS DOWN WHEN DEX-COOL IS USED. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES COOLANT LEAK. ENGINE SEIZURE, GELLED OIL AND POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE CAN BE POSSIBLE RESULTS. I WOULD HATE TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED UP. COULD BE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. GM CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WILL COVER SOME OF THE COST OF THE REPAIR AND I WILL PAY A DEDUCTIBLE AMOUNT. I AM TAKING IT IN TO BE FIXED 2-16-07. *NM