2002 Buick Rendezvous: won't start

Filed Apr 15, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 70,000 miles · OH

Had battery replaced during routine maintenance. After two days the car would not start battery was dead. After the 3rd battery we took the cat to the dealer. Thet checked everything said it was the battery again!!! So we had it replaced at that time. We also had them fix the ABS for the 3rd time in 5 years. The car was at home two days later would not start! Had it checked this time it was a module and then the dash cluster wnet out while they were fixing the car. Still same problems took the car out again this time after gm called us. They kept the car for three weeks, said it was a short in the stereo. Now 1 week later car is dead again!!!!!

Filed Apr 17, 2012 · Electrical · 49,000 miles · VA

I had the car 2 weeks & the window regulator/motor in my drivers window stopped working. But was told it was not covered. I only had about 49,000 miles on it. At 75,000 my fuel gauge went out, that was replaced, but was told that my gas tank had been leaking. Which explains the gas smell when I filled my tank up. I thought it was just where some might have gotten on the outside. Then I read there is a recall, however, buick told me that they were not going to replace mine. A new one is 1,800. I can't afford that. At 80,000 1 of my back wheel hubs & assembly went out & I needed a new universal belt, so both were replaced.85,000 the second wheel hub & assembly went out. That too replaced. At 101,000 my transmission started slipping a little. Had it flushed & filter changed, helped for about a day, then started again. Awd light started coming on & going off, coming on & going off. Blew 2 fuses in my car, nothing would work. At 101,000 car went from a normal temp.(just got off work, had not even drove 2 miles) to hot, pulled over, oh guess what thermostat stopped working, it was leaking coolant, cracked a header. That too replaced. Check engine light came on around 108,000, now what, o2 censor, fuel pump, intake manifold, and catylic converter. All replaced too. When I start my car, sometimes it won't start. So I have to pop the hood & move wires around and play with the battery post to get it to start. I thought it was the battery but its not, because I have replaced that too. When your driving down the road at about 60, and turn the wheel either right or left, the steering wheel will shake, & you can feel something that feels like a rattle under your feet. I want to get rid of it so bad, but I have finally got it down to where hopefully I can trade it in, because the extra money I was planning on using to pay it off, has had to go into it to fix it.

Filed Mar 8, 2011 · Electrical · 60,000 miles · GA

The vehicle experienced total electrical failure and would not start. The car radio, door locks, and instrument panel would repeatedly light up and turn off even with the key out of the ignition. The body control module had to be replaced. Buick refused to honor the warranty on this part. As a result, I paid $575 for the repair.

Filed Mar 16, 2009 · Electrical, Fuel system · FL

Car just shuts off will not start for 15 min. Then runs ruff after 30 min will start and run fine up to a week or a month no will not run at all. It is the wiring from bcm to fuel tank and now bcm is bad reading some foreign language also smell gas after fill up.

Filed May 28, 2008 · Engine · 90,000 miles · NH

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. On at least 50 occasions, the vehicle just completely shut down and lost power without warning. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle would "buck" and stall as if it were out of gas. Within the last six months, the vehicle would not start for approximately thirty minutes, even after refueling. When the vehicle would completely shut off, the contact would have to wait between thirty minutes and two hours before it would restart. He also noticed that the amount of time it would take the vehicle to restart would coincide with how hot it was outside. Many times when the vehicle shut off, the air conditioning was activated. Both the dealer and a local garage were unable to duplicate the failure. The current mileage was approximately 150,000 and failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Filed Feb 18, 2008 · Electrical, Engine · 68,000 miles · PA

2002 buick rendezvous, - sold by gm s "gm certified".. Only must have been a joke. From the onset, solenoid difficulties created dangerous situation on highway, called them and spoke rather bluntly... That was after many, many calls. Wipers didn't work in the rain... Would stick.. Very dangerous while driving. Intake manifold gasket - cost one thousand dollars.. Fuel gauge does not work. Car does not run.. Get stuck for the past two months, at least three times per week. Paid four hundred dollars to replace "things".. Still gets stuck.. Now car won't start. Sometimes, windows don't work, car won't lock or unlock, car won't start. At this point, car is dead. Bcm? Who knows. Disaster car. It's a gift from god that we're not dead.

Filed Oct 30, 2007 · Electrical · 56,000 miles · SC

My 2002 rendezvous was purchased mid-year 2005. At first there were only small flickers in the headlights, like blinking quickly. The auto electrician said our battery was overcharging and replaced it. About 6 months ago,my car wouldn't start, no sound at all like the battery was dead. Bought another battery and two days later it wouldn't start again. Again electrician looked it over, could find nothing. Soon my door locks began to lock and unlock by themselves even when the car was off and no one was in it. Coming home one night on a very dark road, all of my lights went out, inside and out. There was no where to pull over and no outside lights. It scared me bad. The weather sensor would say there was ice on the road when it was 95 degrees outside. When it was really hot one day some kind of lock was put on my air conditioner ,power door locks and windows and I thought I'd suffocate before I got to work. The car did the sensor lock by itself. I have paid another 145 dollars to the auto electrician to try and trace what we thought was a ground fault. He ordered the electrical schematics and traced all grounds and could find nothing. The only way we could reset the computer was to unhook the battery, then hook it back up. I haven't driven this car in 6 weeks because it is so unreliable and dangerous to drive. I can't afford to keep paying people to fix something that we're not sure is the problem. From reading complaints on the internet, I'm not the only one dealing with this. Someone needs to do something before there is a bad accident stemming from this.

Filed Nov 16, 2006 · Electrical · WA

Car's electrical system turns on and off while driving. Car will not start.

Filed Aug 27, 2006 · Body, Brakes · 60,000 miles · MD

I own a 2002 buick rendezvous. This vehicle has been nothing but trouble for me since the get go (2004). I have numerous amount of problems that are going on with my vehicle as other owners. All of these problems started at or around 70000 miles. The exterior lights and interior lights go off with out warning and for no reason for sometimes up to a minute (and this has happened at nightime) "major saftey issue" no one can tell us why the vehicle does this. The noise that comes from the front of the vehicle when driven at 45 MPH or more is outragious...it makes an awful humming sound so loud that the radio can't be heard. The vehicle also will not start at times as well...for no particular reason at all...nothing can be found wrong with it all!!! It will stall or will not start at all after several starts and turn offs. It has also done this on inclines or after filling at the gas station once as well. If you go back and try to start the vehicle in about a half hour it will start...I figured this out after calling a tow truck several times...and by the time they got to me..they tried to start the vehicle and it started. The vehicle burns a qurt of oil every 3000 miles or so. Now my brakes are to the floor which I have recently had it to the shop again and the mechanic has told me that my brakes are fine that I need my ABS pump (master cylinder) replaced it is leaking 800.00 +++ just for the part alone hmmmmm??? Just another issue reported like all the above from other buick rendezvous 2002 owners. Oh and also my driver side window regulator has broke and that will be costing me 450.00. Passenger side door does not shut correctly now at all the hinges are messed up on these models. The door gets stuck all the time. All of these problems are problems that other buick rendezvous owners of the 2002 models are having and something needs to be done about it asap.

Filed Aug 8, 2006 · Electrical · CA

I have been having so many problems with our 2002 buick rendezvous. Took it to the shop so many times but they can not find nor fix the problem. Had electrical problems just couple of months after purchasing. Right now of 8/8/06 its currently in the shop for: 1. All external and internal lights including headlights and back lights turn off even while car is in drive. Turns off for about 6 seconds. Drove couple of nights when this occurred 1 incident on major highway while merging, almost an accident. Left in pure darkness. Happens anytime of the day. Safety issue that gm service has not yet fixed. 2. Car goes on like a security mode. Service engine light soon indicator stays on, radio not work, AC not work, windows and doors lock, clock stops. Everything electrical locks up. Took this to the shop many times and still not fixed. Bcm changed in 2004 to try to fix the electrical problems but did not work. 3. 1st time only SUV completely won't start. Last driven was july 31st 06 and it worked fine, it sat in the garage after. Next day of wanting to use it was aug. 5th 06 would not start and tried to jump charge it but did not work. Had to get it towed out of our garage. My vehicle is currently being diagnosed for the electrical problems that it has been having. So far, no luck on what's the cause of it again. The internal and external light issue should really be addressed for this is something to be concerned about. Could possibly lead to an accident therefore it may be too late.

Filed Nov 9, 2005 · Electrical · 24,000 miles · NC

Our 2002 buick rendezvous began acting up shortly after purchase. Once when it happened, we called the buick hotline number on the window sticker & the onstar people. Buick guy said sorry not under warranty & a certified center would have to look at the problem as it was happening. Onstar couldn't offer any advice. When the vehicle was taken to buick for a recall/latch repair, we asked about this problem & were told unless they saw the problem right then they couldn't help. Obviously, I was driving the car & it was starting and running like it should. The problem: pulled into a non-buick garage to get vehicle inspected. When mechanic was done he pulled the car out of the bay & parked it turning off engine. I got in to leave & engine cranked but wouldn't start. This happened before in our driveway but we thought it was a fluke. The mechanics couldn't figure it out so we left it there for them to work on. When staff went to start the car an hour later it ran just fine. Another time, my finger slipped while turning the ignition key so I went to turn it a second time. The car would not start, or if it did it would stop, as if choking out & not getting gas to the engine. I tried several times then gave it 30 minutes to sit & it then started. Another time we pulled up to a gas pump, got gas, got back in, & the same problem...had to let vehicle sit where it was for 20 minutes without cranking the ignition then it started fine. Again: on a weekend while shopping, pulled into a parking space & cut off the engine; realized needed to go to the bank first & when attempted to restart the car, it kept shutting off. Now, finally, I am very lucky if this car will start at all. Took it to my friendly garage, thinking it needed a new starter, & they cannot find the problem. Am now on my way to a local buick service center, which will no doubt cost me an arm & a leg for something it seems like has been problematic with this vehicle since purchase!

Filed Oct 5, 2005 · Fuel system · 70,000 miles · GA

Safety hazard: cracked fuel tank leaking gasoline/gasoline vapors on 2002 buick rendezvous. The car is driven on city/highway pavement and has not been in any crash or driven on rough or offroad terrain. Note that on nov. 10, 2003 buick issued a recall on 2004 rendezvous for cracked fuel tanks. See the federal safety agency recall id number 03v454000. We noticed strong gasoline odors in our garage beginning in mid-september. On september 30, we could not start the car and had a buick dealer tow the car to dealership to identify the reason for the no start and check for gasoline fumes. The dealership identified a bad cell in the car's battery, worn fuel level sensors and a cracked fuel tank. This complaint only deals with the cracked fuel tank unless the federal safety agency's investigation identifies a link between the others. The vehicle was purchased from don stein buick in overland park, ks and towed to john bailey buick in buford, ga. On today, oct 5, 2005, I will be picking up the vehicle following replacement of the gas tank. I have asked the bailey dealership to make the cracked gas tank available for my review and transport. I intend to take pictures of the tank prior to accepting custody of it. The federal safety agency hotline representative was unable to determine if the federal safety agency has any chain of custory procedures for conveying the cracked tank to the federal safety agency custody. (note: I do not know the exact purchase date but do know the car was purchased in july 2002. I have listed july 15, 2002 as an approx. Date.).