2002 Buick Rendezvous: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Sep 3, 2016 · Brakes, Engine · 165,000 miles · NE · fire

The vehicle was running for 45 minutes on two-lane paved country roads. I drove the first 15 minutes, with one of my sons driving the other 30 minutes while I was a front seat passenger. We pulled into a parking lot and switched drivers so another son could begin a driving lesson with me. When he began to back out of the parking space he said that the brakes did not feel right and noticed what I thought was steam coming from under the hood. I told him to pull back into the parking space and release the hood so I could check for an overheating engine, even though there were no warning lights on the dashboard and the temperature gauge was in the center of the visible range. When I opened the hood I saw a six-inch wide area of flames to the right of the alternator. I told my sons to get out of the vehicle and asked one of them to call 911 on his cellphone and the other to go to the nearest building, about 75 yards away, and look for a fire extinguisher. In the meantime, I opened the rear vehicle hatch to look for something I could use to put out the fire. Finding nothing useful, I ran to the building my first son had approached for a fire extinguisher and found him inside the outer door of a locked lobby area. We both ran to the next building about 100 yards away where we located a fire extinguisher and returned to the vehicle. I estimate this took less than five minutes. When we returned to the vehicle the flames were about twelve inches wide, still only to the right of the alternator. I was able to quickly put out the fire, but had to aim much deeper into the engine compartment than the visible flame area to stop all flames. When the dealer later checked the vehicle I was told it appeared that a ruptured brake line had sprayed brake fluid on the exhaust manifold and started the fire. There had been no prior leaks or brake issues observed.

Filed Aug 1, 2016 · Brakes, Electrical · 15,500 miles · CT · fire

When driving the buick rendezvous 2002 home the brakes began to not respond. After arriving home and driving down our driveway, the SUV had smoke coming out of the engine. The buick rendezvous was turned off but continued to expelled large amounts of smoke under the engine area. Within 5 minutes the engine area caught on fire. The bozrah fire department was called and by the time they arrived within 15 minutes or so the entire vehicle was on fire.

Filed Jun 29, 2016 · Electrical, Visibility · 200,000 miles · VA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. While driving approximately 25 to 30 MPH, the vehicle filled with smoke from the front interior vents. The contact immediately turned the ignition off and vacated the vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic shop where it was diagnosed that the windshield wiper motor caught fire. The wire harness from the fuse box to the firewall was replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that there was a recall, but the VIN was excluded. The details of the recall were not provided. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Filed May 27, 2015 · Electrical · 98,000 miles · PA · fire

Valet person was parking my rendezvous in dec 2012 and said as he applied the brakes to stop he noticed flames coming from hood. 2,000 in damages. My biggest complaintis that I have had to replace the head gaskets twice in the past six years. I keep being told there should have been a recall because gm has been aware of this problem. I cannot afford to purchase a new car now with all the repairs ive put into this, and its probably not worth much. We have always bought gm vehicles but we may think long and hard because once their off the lot it seems no one cares and no one wants to back up their product.

Filed Mar 8, 2013 · Fuel system · 84,584 miles · MD

Inlet check valve iicv) on the fuel storage tank is cracked and is leaking fuel onto the fuel tank and onto the ground, this is the same problem listed in the federal safety agency campaign # 07v349000 and buick's, safety product bulletin 06230. On 12/04/2007 a recall was issued for replacement of the tank on the buick rendezvous, 2002 on only certain vehicles. When I called gm they said my vehicle was not covered under the recall, as they have done with numerous other owners who have to bear the cost of from $1,000.00 to $1,400.00 my estimate to replace the tank. First why isn't my vehicle part of the recall and second who decides what vehicles are eligible. This default is prevalent in all 2002 rendezvous and there should be no time limit restriction on failure of the fuel tank. This is a major fire safety hazard and needs to be corrected by gm. I never received the notice of the defect so I could have been driving the vehicle and it could have caught fire and who know what would have happened. A recall notice should be issued on all 2002 rendezvous before someone is seriously injured or their house burns down from the fumes be ignited by an ignition source where they park the vehicle. *tr ## VIN failed ##

Filed Dec 7, 2009 · Engine · 72,000 miles · FL · fire

Head gasket blew. Was fixed for $2000 then next day after I picked it up from the shop the engine caught on fire, they said brake lines leaked on manifold...

Filed Mar 13, 2007 · Engine, Suspension · 86,000 miles · DE

I purchased my 2002 buick rendezvous cxl in early 2003. By 2004 I had to have the A/C condenser replaced, the shocks & struts replaced and numerous problems with the A/C. Then in summer of 2006 the car engine started misfiring and the car stalled out with smoke coming out of the hood, etc. Had it towed to buick, they said the engine had a leak somewhere and water leaked into the oil...huh? Anyway, of course even though I had the extended warranty, I was just out of warranty and they refused to fix it. The option was to replace the engine for $6,000. This vehicle was already paid off and worth about $14k prior to the engine blowing up. I ended up selling it for $3k. Is this normal? I think not. I submitted my case to several "lawyer" claiming to specialize in this type of rip off activity by car manufacturers but they said it wasn't worth it to them to pursue it. Maybe if someone had died it would be worth more. I would like to see buick at least admit poor manufacturing and refund me some of my money. I took a loss of $11k on this vehicle.

Filed Apr 27, 2006 · Electrical · IL · fire

I have a 2002 buick rendezvous that had been having some electrical problems. Lights would shut off going down the road, security locking things up, doors locking and unlocking on its own. On april 6th, it caught on fire, causing a total loss. The insurance company has been dragging their feet and now tell me that there has been 232 reports of electrical problems causing fires in the same make and model as mine. Therefore they now are calling in a pyro team? I just wonder if buick should not be responsible for something is there has been so many problems.

Filed Jan 27, 2006 · Electrical · 49,500 miles · CA · fire

Dash instruments and remote access clicker failed. We had no speedometer or any other engine indicators and could only gain access with key in door lock. After one week delay waiting for a new cluster it was replaced. Two weeks later, same problem and dealer again replaced the instrument cluster. Upon picking car up from the dealer it was driven home and parked in front of garage. Next day same problem again but, when door was unlocked with the key, smoke was observed inside. As soon as 911 call was made, car burst into flames and blew out windows, and sunroof 10 feet into the air. By the time the fire department arrived (located only 1/4 mile away) car was fully engulfed in flames and subsequently totally destroyed. If it had not burned, we'd have returned it to the dealer for the third instrument cluster.