2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TT *TR

I HAVE PROBLEMS TRYING TO GET THE DASH LIGHTS INCREASE IN BRIGHTNESS USING THE VARIIABLE CONTROL ON THE INTERIOR DURING A NORMAL DAYTIME ESPECIALLY WHEN I TRY TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER (DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE DASH WHICH CAN BLOCK EXTERIOR LIGHT FROM ILLUMINATING THE DIAL ESPECIALLY AROUND 10:45 AND 11:15 AM MST.) ESP. WHEN I'M DRIVING

I AM HAVING TROUBLE OUT OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACE SEVERAL PARTS AND STILL HAVE NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR AND CUT IT OFF I HAVE TO WAIT 30-45 MINS. BEFORE IT WILL START AGAIN. I HAVE CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR AND I HAVE NOT YET FOUND A SOLUTION TO MY PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK FOR A YEAR AND EIGHT MONTHS. THE VEHICLE IS MOTION BUT IT CUTS OFF AND I HAVE TO WAIT 30-45 MINS. BEFORE MY TRUCK CAN RESTART. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME MONTHS AND I HAVE CHANGED MANY PARTS AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. *TR

VEHICLE WILL GO A FEW MILES AND STALL ILLUMINATING BATTERY LIGHT.IF YOU LET VEHICLE SIT WILL RESTART ONLY GO A FEW MORE MILES. FINALLY CAR WILL TURN OVER FOR SPLIT SECOND AND RPM WILL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN AND CAR WILL STALL. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAD THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS LOOK AT VEHICLE CAN NOT DIAGNOSE CHANGED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING UNDER HOOD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND RESUMED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A FOURTH TIME TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE READING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 191,186.

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHITE/TERRIBLE SMELLING SMOKE CAME ROLLING OUT OF THE VENTS INSIDE MY VEHICLE. IT WAS SO BAD THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER, AS IT WAS BURNING MY THROAT/NOSE/EYES AND MADE ME DIZZY- THIS WAS IN A MATTER OF JUST A FEW SHORT MINUTES. NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS OR OTHER SIGNS OF VEHICLE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AT THAT TIME; HOWEVER, THIS WAS A VERY ALARMING SAFETY SITUATION FOR MY CHILDREN, WHO WERE ALSO IN THE VEHICLE...! THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, ALONG WITH THE POLICE AND A TOW TRUCK; AS I OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT WILLING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER! DISTURBINGLY, MY INSURANCE COMPANY (GE*CO) HAS BEEN VERY UNWILLING TO ASSIST ME THROUGH THIS DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE; NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WILL NO LONGER BE A CUSTOMER OF GE*CO'S EVER AGAIN- AND I WILL NEVER STOP WARNING MY FAMILY/FRIENDS/THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE DANGERS OF THIS TYPE OF SITUATION,...

THE CAR WOULD BUCK WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. DURING THESE TIMES THE WIPERS MIGHT COME ON AND BE INTERMITTENT. I TOOK THE CAT IN TO A GM DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, AND SO STATED ON MY INVOICE. I CALLED GM ON THIS FOR A REFUND AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL. ITS INTERESTING THAT THE 2003 SATURN, WHICH WAS A RECALL, HAD THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH.

AWD DISABLED ITSELF AND THE ANTILOCK CAME ON AND HAVE STARTED TO STAY ON THEN WHEN I MAKE TURNS THE CAR STARTS SCREACHING REALLY LOUD SO I JUST RECENTLY LEARNED OF A RECALL FOR THIS SO WHAT CAN I DO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

BOUGHT MY RENDEZVOUS A FEW MONTHS AGO AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS. MY SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER FOR UNKNOWN REASONS CAUSING HIM INJURY TO HIS RIBS. THEY WERE NEVER REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER. WHEN I FIRST GOT MY CAR I FILLED UP THE TANK. BAD IDEA! I CAME OUT THE NEXT MORNING AND SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GAS AND WAS MISSING A QUARTER TANK. MY BOYFRIEND LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAID IT WAS LEAKING BETWEEN THE FILL TUBE AND THE ACTUAL TANK. MY MECHANIC SAID THERE IS NO WAY TO PATCH THIS AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THING. APPROXIMATELY COSTING $1000. HE ALSO SAID CHANGES ARE THIS WILL BE RECURRING BECAUSE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL. SO NOW I ONLY PUT A HALF TANK IN MY GAS TANK BUT I'VE NOTICED A SMELL OF GAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE...

THE CAR WAS BUCKING AND STALING WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. I KEPT LOSING POWER STEERING AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COMING ON. THE GM DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM IN THE INVOICE REPORT AS " FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH" THE PART NUMBER GIVEN AS 15242754. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS AND THE SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE FUEL GAUGE WAS GIVING INACCURATE READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE SEAT HAD CORRODED DUE TO THE INTERNAL LEAKAGE OF THE AC UNIT. AS A RESULT, THE CARPET CREATED MOLD DUE TO THE WETNESS AND THE FLOOR BOARD WAS CORRODED AS WELL. THE MECHANIC ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE WAS DISABLED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

ENGINE COMPLETELY DIES MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. IT WILLL TURN ON RIGHT AWAY, GO A FEW MILES AND THEN DIES AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED, THE TROTTLE HAS BEEN CLEAN, FUEL FILTER REPLACED, SPARK PLUG WIRES AND SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. WE'VE EVEN CHANGED TRAMISSION FLUID AND FILTERED. *TR

REAR LIFTGATE HANDLE SWITCH NO LONG WORKS TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR. KEY FOB STILL WORKS BUT CONCERNED THIS WILL FAIL ALSO FOR THE REAR LIFTGATE ACCESS AND EGRESS. *TR

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE IN 2004 FOR THE REAR HATCH. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE 2006. JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES AS I WAS TOLD BY SUTTLE MOTOR CORPORATION? *TR

WE DROVE 6.4 MILES FROM OUR RELATIVES HOUSE TO A RESTAURANT. WHEN I PARKED, MY WIFE NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSANGERS SIDE. I TOLD HER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND I RELEASED THE HOOD LATCH. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD THE FLAMES WERE VISIBLE. I CALLED 911, PRIOR TO FD ARRIVAL THE FLAMES WERE PUT OUT BY SOMEONE FROM THE RESTAURANT. THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED OUT AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CATCHING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON FIRE. THE RESPONSE FROM BUICK VIA CLAIMS ADMISINSTRATOR BRYAN SCHWARTZ THEY CLAIM NO LIABILITY DUE TO BRAACH OF WARRANTY. I CLAIM THIS BRAKE LINE SHOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED OUT AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. AT 59,411 MILES THIS VEHICLE WAS SERVICED @ VYLETEL BUICK INCLUDED IN THIS SERVICE WAS A MULTI-POINT VEHICLE INSPECTION INCLUDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM (ALSO INCLUDING LINES,HOSES AND...

OPENED CAR AT END OF WORKDAY, AND FOUND AN ELECTRICAL FIRE HAD MELTED PART OF THE DASHBOARD, PART OF DRIVER'S SEAT AND CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE ENTIRE CAR WAS COVERED IN SOOT AND SMELLED OF ELECTRICAL FIRE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM, NOR HAD THERE BEEN ANY RECENT REPAIRS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN EMITTING SMOKE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMOVED THE CONTROL BOX. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED WIRES MELTING INSIDE THE BOX WHICH STOPPED THE AIR CONDITIONER FAN FROM RUNNING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR $8200 ONE MONTH AGO. THE CAR HAD ONLY 78,000 BUT NOW HAS 81,000. IN ONE MONTH'S TIME AND 3000 MILES WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES, THE MUFFLER, THE PLUGS AND WIRES, AS WELL AS THE COIL PACK. NOW WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM! ANTIFREEZE SMELL, KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE... LIKE ALL OTHER COMPLAINTS, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER 2003 RENDEZVOUS WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND OVER 300 DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS FOR THE EXACT GASKET PROBLEM. WHAT CAN WE DO? THE FAILURE INFO: THE CAR IS JUMPING AT IDLE AND AT LOW SPEEDS EVERY TIME IT'S DRIVEN. IT'S NOW MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE THAT KNOCKS QUICKER THE MORE YOU SPEED UP. THE KNOCK IS SO LOUD NOW THAT THE ONLY PLACE IT IS BEING DRIVEN IS TO A REPAIR...

HEADS UP DISPLAY FLICKERS ON AND OFF IN WINDSHIELD NON STOP, LIGHTER FUSE ALWAYS BLOWS EVERY 1-3 DAYS. AIR SUSPENSION PUMP MAKES LOUD VIBRATING NOISE DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER OF 2007, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD NOISE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPAIRED FOR FREE. TWO MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BOX FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT GEARS, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE OIL WAS CONTAMINATED AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED SINCE...

SMOKE BEGAN TO BILLOW INTO VEHICLE SHORTLY AFTER OUR BABYSITTER PULLED OUT FROM PARKING LOT. SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN FOR REPAIR, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INSULATION ON THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS HAD WORN THROUGH WHERE THE WIRES RUBBED AGAINST THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG. DEEMED BY MECHANIC TO HAVE BEEN A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEARLY RESULTED IN A FIRE. I HAVE THE REMAINS OF THE WIRING HARNESS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR INSPECTION IF NECESSARY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, SHE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT WHEN SHE ADJUSTED HER SEAT, THE TRACK RAN OVER A CORD IN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CREATED A FIRE. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE OPTIONAL HEAT/COOLER INTEGRATED SEATS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THE WIRING IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE CAUSES THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILS. ALSO, THE POWER SOURCE OUTLETS DO NOT WORK AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS MUST BE MADE IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. GENERAL MOTORS COULD NOT ASSIST HER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 100,000 MILES AND DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIR SERVICE. THE BUICK DEALER WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, THEREFORE SHE IS UNABLE TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE PAPERWORK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF UPDATED

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR DAYS. THE ALRM DIDN'T WORK, THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION, THE AC DID NOT COOL PROPERLY, THE ABS WOULD ENGAGE WHEN IT WAS NOT NEEDED, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULDN'T CANCEL, THE DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK. UPDATED 12/29/06. *JB

I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY RENDEZVOUS I FEEL LIKE THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY CAR MORE THAN I HAVE. FOR STARTERS, THE FRONT AND REAR HUB FAILED FOUR TIMES, WITH THE FOURTH ONE STILL NEEDING TO BE REPAIRED AND GM REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF MILES ON THE CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON INTERMITTENTLY, THE REAR WIPER STAYS ON AND I HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE, I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES THREE TIMES WITH NO EXPLAINATION ON THE UNEVEN EXCESSIVE WEAR, THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAKES LOUD WHINING NOISE AND LEAKS POWER STEERING FLUID WITH NO EXPLAINATION, WINDSHIELD WIPERS CATCH ON EACH OTHER AND I HAVE ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS HAD TO STOP THE CAR, GET OUT AND UNTANGLE THEM, HOWEVER, THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE REAR AIR COMPRESSOR STILL DOES NOT WORK AFTER BEING REPAIRED TWICE, FUSES BLOW...

2. A.HEATER DOES NOT WORK WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE 2. B. ABS STOPPED WORKING AFTER 38,000 MILES. ABS LIGHT IS ON 2. C. TRACTION CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS ON. SINCE, I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR FOR REPAIRS AND IT IS TURNING OUT TO BE A EXPENSIVE ONE. *NM

NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO EVENT. DASH FIRE. CAR IS TOTALED. WAITING ON INSURANCE PAY OFF. *JB

ELECTICAL FAILURE IN CAR CAUSED CATESTROPHIC FIRE WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF INITIAL INDICATIONS OF SMOKE.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK