Vehicle showed check engine code for emissions for some time. Now smelling fuel from car. Mechanic diagnosed as cracked tank, same as recall number 06230a. Vin does not match recall. Dealership and buick were not helpful at providing alternatives to getting issue fixed. Upon more research there are many complaints online of this same issue. Cracked tank and VIN is not listed in recall. This provides very dangerous conditions. Car smells like fuel inside and out. Never been in an accident or had any issues that would cause this problem.
2002 Buick Rendezvous: gas smell in the cabin
25 of the 486 complaints about the 2002 Buick Rendezvous describe gas smell in the cabin.
- owner complaints
- 25
- of this car's complaints
- 5%
- typical mileage
- 80,000
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below
Gas smell in the cabin by model year
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. While driving at 5 MPH, the contact noticed a very strong fuel odor in the vehicle. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and noticed fuel was leaking very heavily from the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle to their residence, then to an independent mechanic where the technician informed the contact that the fuel tank needed replacement. The dealer was not contacted or made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline) and offered no further assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 121,000.
Noticed smell of gas by the 2002 buick rendezvous. Mechanic verified there was a leak near filling point of car. Said would be expensive to fix this, thought he saw something about gm recalling gas tanks on some vehicles. Looked it up and saw many complaints about this issue and there was a recall. This was my parents car, now being used by my teenage son, so I looked in their file and found a letter sent from gm that a crack could occur in the tank due to a defective product and if it happened to the vehicle they would replace it. Wrong. Apparently a dangerous fire hazard doesn't matter after 10 years. Gm said this replacement offer has expired. Gm told me to make an appointment at a buick dealer to have them verify the problem. The dealer I brought it to told me not to waste my money having it diagnosed by them, since my mechanic had already verified it was leaking in the defective spot, because gm never covers this previously offered repair anymore. The 2002 rendezvous has only approximately 45,000 miles on it!! Owned by my parents who took meticulous care of it. What was supposed to be a great car for my 16 year old son is now a fire hazard, and essentially unsellable if I have any conscience!! I cannot believe gm refuses to uphold their promise to repair this completely, dangerously unsafe defect, that they allotted replacement parts and money for, because they knew it was their defective part they put into these rendezvous. I guess they are waiting for someone to actually blow up to put this repair back into place.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. While driving various speeds, a fuel odor entered the vehicle. The contact noticed that there was a fuel leak around the rear of the vehicle. The dealer could not diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 07e021000 (fuel system) and 07v349000 (fuel system). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that the vehicle had an abnormal fuel odor. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that fuel was leaking from the fuel tank; however, the failure could not be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v349000(fuel/propulsion system); however, the VIN was excluded. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that that fuel fumes were emitting from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced and advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. After refueling the vehicle, fuel fumes emitted into the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was aware of the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 50,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. The contact noticed a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. Also, fuel would leak from the vehicle while parked. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed there was a crack or hole in the fuel tank. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,800.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, a strong smell of fuel emitted from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the fuel tank inlet was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000. ..updated 02/24/15*bf updated 9/13/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that fuel fumes were emitted around the vehicle. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered fuel leaking from the fuel tank. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that gasoline fumes were emitted around the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician stated that there was a fuel leak and as a result of the failure, the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline). However, the manufacturer indicated that it was never a recall but only a special coverage but the statute of limitations had passed. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that there was a gasoline odor inside and outside of the vehicle. The contact discovered fuel leaking from the fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the failure was caused by a fractured plastic weld on the fuel tank inlet valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was 98,000.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
- What is wrong
- On certain vehicles, variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high ambient temperatures may lead to fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve (icv).
- Risk
- A fracture may allow fuel vapors to pass through and allow droplets of fuel to accumulate on the side of the fuel tank. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fuel tank. The recall will be mailed in two phases with the first phase beginning on december 4, 2007. The second phase will be mailed on december 13, 2007. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080; chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438; or pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668. The vehicle population includes buick rendezvous and pontiac aztek vehicle built in may 2003; chevrolet venture and pontiac montana vehicles built from june through august 2002; and all vehicles registered in nevada, arizona, virgin islands, puerto rico, and hawaii.
Recall number 07V349000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2002 Buick Rendezvous fuel smell
Is gas smell in the cabin a common problem on the 2002 Buick Rendezvous?
25 of 486 owner complaints about the 2002 Buick Rendezvous (5%) mention gas smell in the cabin. The model year with the most reports is 2002.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2002 Buick Rendezvous?
There is 1 recall and 0 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2002 Buick Rendezvous
Overheating 44Fuel leak 39Fuel gauge 29Stalling 28ABS 23Check engine light 21Won't start 20Headlights 16Door locks 13Fuel pump 11Brake failure 10Transmission failure 10Grinding brakes 9Fire or smoke 9Loss of power 8Power windows 7Wipers 7Airbag light 6Engine failure 6Warning lights 6No deployment 5Jerking 5
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