The gas gage has been off since I bought it in September 2018. I run out of gas right before 1/4 of a tank and when I fill it it goes about 1/4 over the full line. The passenger seat side airbag went off closing the door May 2019.
The worst 2003 Buick Rendezvous problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Fuel system84
- Engine62
- Brakes45
- Electrical45
- Transmission25
- Visibility22
- Suspension21
- Steering17
- Body9
- Driver assistance8
- Airbags7
- Locks6
- Wheels6
- Acceleration5
- Lights4
- Tires3
- Seats2
- Seat belts1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Buick Rendezvous
Fuel leak 29Fuel smell 16Stalling 15Check engine light 14Brake failure 13ABS 11Grinding brakes 11Overheating 11Engine failure 8Fire or smoke 7Fuel pump 7Wipers 7Fuel gauge 6Power windows 6
Recalls 6
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
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock
- What is wrong
- On certain sport utility vehicles, a structural support at the latch attachment in the rear liftgate may be inadequate to retain the latch to the liftgate in certain severe vehicle crash events.
- Risk
- If the liftgate were to open in a vehicle crash, an occupant could be ejected from the vehicle resulting in increased risk of personal injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will add structural reinforcements to the liftgate in the area adjoining the latch assembly. Owner notification schedule began on june 21, 2004. Owners should contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080. This is an expansion to a previous recall (03v211).
Recall number 04V150000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual
- What is wrong
- Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage system." the owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchorage system.
- Risk
- This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
- Remedy
- Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on the child restraint or booster cushion. Owner notification began august 18, 2003. Owners should contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668, or oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537.
Recall number 03V250000 · Recall details
Steering
- What is wrong
- In some of these sport utility vehicles, the diameter of the steering column intermediate shaft is too small.
- Risk
- This condition could allow the intermediate shaft to spin inside the steering column coupling, resulting in loss of steering control of the vehicle. If this were to happen while the vehicle is moving, a crash could resulting without prior warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect, and replace if necessary, the steering column intermediate shaft. Owners were notified by telephone on february 7, 2003, with a follow-up letter on february 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1‑800‑521‑7300 or pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737.
Recall number 03V052000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- On certain mini vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that may not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.
- Risk
- This could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver. Also if the air bag inflator ruptured, pieces of the inflator could strike and injure the vehicle occupants.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on march 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1‑800‑521‑7300, cadillac at 1‑800‑458‑8006, chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, gmc at 1‑800‑462‑8782, or pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737.
Recall number 03V051000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
- Risk
- Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1‑800‑521‑7300, cadillac at 1‑800‑458‑8006, chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, gmc at 1‑800‑462‑8782, oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537, or pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737.
Recall number 02V222000 · Recall details
See all 6 recalls for the 2003 Buick Rendezvous
Defect investigations
Fuel tank leakage
Gm is recalling (the federal safety agency recall no. 07v‑349) certain model year (my) 2002-2004 buick rendezvous, chevrolet venture (regular wheelbase) and 2001-2004 pontiac aztek and montana (regular wheelbase) vehicles to replace fuel tanks and correct a defect that may allow fuel leakage.the vehicle recall population is rendezvous and aztek vehicles built in may 2003, venture and montana vehicle built in june through august 2002 and certain same model vehicles registered in nevada, arizona, virgin islands, puerto rico and hawaii that were built through nov/dec 2003 (depending on model).the total number of vehicles recalled is 20,594 (includes 15,196 subject aztek and rendezvous vehicles). In addition to the recall, gm will extend the warranty on my 2002-2004 rendezvous and regular wheel base venture vans and my 2001-2004 aztek and regular wheelbase montana vans not included in the recall to provide warranty coverage for a period of 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first.gm will begin notifying owners in december 2007.gm reports that the fuel inlet pipe containing the inlet check valve (icv) may fracture and allow fuel vapors or fuel to leak out.gm data revealed that elevated ambient temperatures, higher carbon content in the icv and variation in the manufacturing process were the contributing factors for potential cracks in the icv.beginning december 2003, gm built vehicles with a redesigned fuel tank/icv.subject vehicles not included in the recall or extended warranty did not show a failure trend similar to the above vehicles..for additional details, see recall 07v‑349.this investigation is closed.
EA07006
Fuel tank leakage
Certain subject vehicles may exhibit leakage of odor and/or fuelfrom the lower portion of the fuel tank inlet filler pipe (inlet check valve).the inlet check valve (icv) and the fuel tank are joined together using a hot plate welding process for plastic parts.gm reports that its analysis of field returned parts show evidence of process variations for different manufacturing periods.these variations produced some icv to fuel tank joints with poor melt flow lines.odi's analysis of gm's warranty claim data finds more frequent fuel tank replacements in the hotter climate states.this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea07-006) to further assess this matter.
RQ06009
Technical service bulletins for the 2003 Buick Rendezvous 447
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have...
- This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire...
- Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles
- GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities
- This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves...
- This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as...
- This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS)...
2003 Buick Rendezvous crash test ratings
Government 5-star crash tests. Higher is safer. Each row is a body style and drivetrain that was tested.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buick Rendezvous 4-DR. w/SAB | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms. | 3 |
2003 Buick Rendezvous fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 24 | 20 |
| 3.4L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 16 | 22 | 18 |
What 2003 Buick Rendezvous owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
After filling the fuel tank there is a strong gas odor that is present until the tank is almost empty. When walking around the vehicle or loading/unloading the vehicle, the strong gas odor is always present. This vehicle was at a dealership and they took it to the local personal auction company where i bid on it and bought it along with household items.
I purchased this vehicle in 2013, and a few years later, I began smelling gas. After doing my due diligence, I found out that there is a recall for this issue, because the check inlet valve at the top of the tank where the filler neck connects to the tank is cracked. Great, NO, only CERTAIN Rendezvous were covered, and even though mine has the exact same issue, they refuse to cover it and replace the tank. Well, apparently, there were SO MANY complaints by other Rendezvous owners that were also not "included" in the recall, the recall was expanded to ALL Rendezvous', BUT with the stipulation that it had to have less than 150,000 miles on it, which by THAT TIME, my car WAS over that mileage. So now I'm still driving with gas leaking out of my car, A KNOWN AND ADMITTEDLY UNSAFE DEFECT, because just to purchase that gas tank is over $1,000, not including the labor to drop the tank and replace it, approximately 3-4 hours labor. My disability check cannot afford that, so I have been FORCED to continue driving an unsafe car because they are refusing to repair THEIR DEFECT. And I'm not the only one. I've seen NUMEROUS videos of mechanic's shops BEGGING GM to cover this. And I take my grandchildren to school in this car. At least if the car does blow up one day because they wont' fix THEIR OWN SAFETY issue, I'll have ONE more record of trying to get it fixed and the request being ignored. I'm putting all this information in a file that will go to my daughter and attorney, as well as anyone else's attorney that is injured or killed because of not being repaired. All I was is to drive a car with gas not leaking out of my tank as I drive. I cover ALL the other repairs that it needs. I don't think this is too much to ask, especially since it won't cost the dealership anywhere near $1500 to fix, and any price would be far less than it will cost GM in a wrongful death suit.
Have been told by several different mechanics that fuel is leaking where the fuel filler neck connects to the plastic gas tank at the check inlet valve. I've seen many, many complaints of this same issue from other rendezvous owners, as well as the same problem of gm and/or buick refusing to repair the vehicle, even though it is a safety issue, (possible fuel ignition outside of the engine usually is). I live off a very modest disability check and a new tank is over $1,000, not including another 4-5 hours of labor. That's more than I get in a month. Gm needs to step up and honor the recall and fix these vehicles. It's complete bs that they are limiting it to vehicles with less than 150,000 miles on them. And my vehicle had less than that the first time I contacted gm about this, but that was before they so graciously extended the warranty to all rendezvous' with this issue, but adding the mileage restriction effectively eliminating any other vehicles actually qualifying to be repaired. I bought this vehicle in 2013, and it has always been legally registered, but I never received any communications from gm about this recall. That, and the refusal to repair a recall safety issue, is, or should be criminally negligent.I really feel like a class action lawsuit is what will have to happen. Maybe since I have so much time on my hands, that is something I should look into.
Our rendevouz plastic fuel tank started seeping fuel at the filler neck yesterday. After doing some reading, I saw there was a recall and then a special coverage adjustment. The one listed on july 21, 2008 said the tank would be replaced regardless of age and mileage. Then, gm changed their mind on august 8, 2008 and limited mileage and age to 150,000 miles and 10 years. I am very disturbed about this and think that this tank needs replaced for safety reasons at minimum. The fuel tank is not available from any aftermarket source and purchasing it from gm is $1590. I cannot believe that purchasing a used tank would be safe due to the issue gm has mentioned.
Gas tank leaks sometimes... When in motion and when stationary
Fuel dripping from tank due to crack around inlet
Strong smell of gas outside the rendezous at first after filling car which seem to occur only when newly filled. Now the strong smell outside of car is continuous and fuel is leaking. This is a subject of recall but date of recall is too old for gm to honor the recall. Have been told that the fuel tank has to be replaced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick rendezvous. While driving, the vehicle failed to accelerate. In addition, while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle would jerk violently. Furthermore, the vehicle was leaking fluid and the check engine and brake warning indicators illuminated. The failures recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the intake manifold gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 154,200.
Takata recall traction control, ABS I have replaced both front hubs barings with ABS sensors twice in 1 year. Still the traction control comes on when iam about to stop or turn
Compare the 2003 Buick Rendezvous
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Questions about the 2003 Buick Rendezvous
Is the 2003 Buick Rendezvous reliable?
Owners have filed 281 complaints about the 2003 Buick Rendezvous, 2.0 times a typical Rendezvous model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2003 Buick Rendezvous year score?
The 2003 Buick Rendezvous scores 45 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Buick Rendezvous: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Buick Rendezvous?
Fuel and propulsion system, with 84 complaints, typically around 80,100 miles. Next is engine (62).
How many recalls does the 2003 Buick Rendezvous have?
6 recalls, covering fuel system, gasoline, latches/locks/linkages and equipment.
Is the 2003 Buick Rendezvous safe in a crash?
The 2003 Buick Rendezvous was crash tested, but no overall score was published. Partial scores: rollover 3 out of 5.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Buick Rendezvous get?
Official estimates for the 2003 Buick Rendezvous range from 18 to 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.4L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 17 city and 24 highway.
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