2002 Buick Rendezvous: engine overheating

Filed May 15, 2018 · Engine · 169,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started to overheat and the temperature gauge started to flash. The vehicle was taken to an unknown independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the intake manifold gaskets were damaged and it would be best to rebuild the engine. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 169,000.

Filed Mar 22, 2018 · Electrical · 126,000 miles · NY

My vehicle did not have heat. I was not able to determine if it was blowing cold air or not blowing at all. Before I had a chance to address the heating issue, the vehicle ran hot and continued to run hot until a mechanic replaced the thermostat and the coolant and cu at 2/3 slit in the rubber under the hood. It came to my attention that the vehicle had overheating problems before it was sold to me. I have since tried to sell it and found th st it was not accepted by two car buying/selling websites due to previous salvage. I purchased from a buy-here pay- here. It still has over heating issues and it still has not heat blowing inside. I want to know if repairs will help since it's regarded as a salvage. Is it lawful to sell a salvaged vehicle knowing the purchaser was putting the car on the road? I bought the car in ohio and I live in new york.

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 Oct 9, 2015 · Engine · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle overheated causing the engine to stall. The vehicle was unable to restart. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Aug 29, 2015 · OH

It started overheating , a very reputable mechanic checked it , said it was possible radiator , then said said may be gaskets . I saw where others had overheating problems on the internet . Will the company pay for this to be fixed and are their other safety issues with this car I have a disabled son and do not want to be out in it and have it catch fire or worse .a older lady owned it and her sister sold it to us when she had to go into the nursing home its been well taken of its a four door.

Filed Sep 3, 2014 · Engine · 100,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle overheated causing the check engine warning to illuminate and the temperature gauge to rise. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered a leak coming from under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the manifold intake gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not been notified. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed May 8, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · 158,633 miles · FL

5 minutes after being on the highway at 70 miles per hour the vehicle started dropping speed and message center started showing low battery, lights problem, service engine soon, brake fluid low, windshield wiper fluid low, low tire pressure, security service. Also, when I come to a stop the engine shuts off by itself as a low power, few minutes later, starts back up and can keep driving but hitting the gas pedal and releasing it after a few seconds at a time to recharge the battery so it would not shut off again. Also, after this happened the emergency lights began to come on and off by themselves. Took to a mechanic to have it serviced they said to replace the battery and alternator and if problems continued the starter. Few months later after replacing these parts, it started giving me problems with low fan as if the relays were bad but they are in good condition, low battery fuel and had to be changed again because the battery was not retaining charge. The vehicle still has all the messages in the message center, they never went away. Then within the last month I wanted to have the radio replaced, but I found out the speakers have power coming straight from the battery to the radio that causes it to overheat and makes static when the radio is on while driving. Also, the neutral safety switch for the ignition key got burned so now it is not working but still has allowed for the car to turn on and off and dry. A week ago, 04/28/14 the vehicle has been showing an error message in the message center, every light possible in the message center about the services that need to be done come on, which I assume now is the body control module that has gone bad. Most frequent message is security. Gas gauge goes up and down and never gives an accurate reading of how much is in the vehicle.

Filed Dec 5, 2013 · Engine, Visibility · 75,000 miles · KY

Bought used in 2004 with 45k miles. In 2006 I had to have the window control replaced. In 2009 at 70k miles I had to have main gasket on engine replaced (was told buick knew of problem but refused recall) and 2 heads replaced as kept losing coolant & overheating. The very next year the body control module went out & had to be replaced. The ABS light has been on for years & no body, not even the dealer who replaced the control module, can get it to go out. Last year the fuel gauge quit working. This year the left front hub has gone bad at 170k so I can't say it wasn't due, but the overheating gauge keeps going into the red & the overheat light comes. Had it check and the thermostat is working fine, I am not losing coolant and the coolant is good, & there is no water in my oil. I can't drive more than 2 miles without the overheating light coming on & the gauge going into the red.

Filed Jun 11, 2013 · Engine · PA

We begin experiencing overheating and took the car to the manufacturer; $5000 plus later we are still having the same problem. More recently we replaced the radiator and it continues to overheat.

Filed Jan 26, 2013 · Engine · 100,300 miles · IL

My vehicle warms up fine and as I start to drive the engine temp rises to a hot condition and the heater starts to blow cold air. The system has been flushed, the heater core has been flushed, thermostat has been changed. I've been doing alot of research on these problems and there are thousands of overheating problems that never go away. It doesn't matter what you fix the problem reoccurs. I flushed the system and couldnt get it to repeat until a couple days later, then I changed the thermostat with the same result. I never get a warning light for coolant temp but engine temp increases and car will stall and wont restart until it cools down. After 2 weeks of working with this I have the vehicle parked and trying to figure out why gm does not recall these cars and fix them. I was told the only way to completely fix this problem is a new 3.4l engine from gm. Who can afford that, not me. I have contacted buick but nothing but a report was filed and added to the pile of other complaints. If this happened at 70 MPH on a highway it could be very dangerous.

Filed Nov 2, 2012 · Engine · 166,885 miles · OR

I purchased this vehicle used and days later it was overheating. The man I bought it from said that it just needed a thermostat, approx. $300. Repair. Took it to my mechanic and turns out it needed an entire head gasket. It was a $1,500 repair. I am seeking a recall be issues since this is a common issue on this year, make and model.

Filed Apr 11, 2012 · Engine · 166,000 miles · OR

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle overheated and leaked coolant. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic and the mechanic stated that the thermostat needed to be replaced. The contact did not notify the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 166,000.