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.
2003 Buick Rendezvous: fuel leak
29 of the 281 complaints about the 2003 Buick Rendezvous describe fuel leak.
- owner complaints
- 29
- of this car's complaints
- 10%
- typical mileage
- 93,737
- recalls
- 1
Fuel leak by model year
What owners say
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.
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.
Vehicle is leaking fuel from the gas tank seam. The amount of fuel being lost is significant.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that while parked at the residence, the vehicle had a strong odor. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was a fuel leak around the inlet valve. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 41,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that there was a strong odor of fuel coming from the fuel tank. In addition, there was fuel leaking from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the valve was cracked. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 171,000.
Fuel vapors inside car and fuel leakage on the ground.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the fuel tank leaked and there was an abnormal odor. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel leak was near the filler spout. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline) was related to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick rendezvous. After the vehicle was refueled, the contact discovered that fuel was leaking under the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 07v349000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was unknown.
The fuel inlet pipe containing the inlet check valve is fractured and fuel vapors and fuel is leaking out. Gm data previously revealed that elevated ambient temperatures, higher carbon content in the icv and variation in the manufacturing process were contributing factors for cracks in the icv. The car was located in southern florida for an extended period of time which has caused the fracture in the icv.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that fuel leaked from the fuel tank after getting the fuel pump replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician diagnosed the inlet valve was leaking. No repairs were made to the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,052.
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 2003 Buick Rendezvous fuel leak
Is fuel leak a common problem on the 2003 Buick Rendezvous?
29 of 281 owner complaints about the 2003 Buick Rendezvous (10%) mention fuel leak. The model year with the most reports is 2002.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2003 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 2003 Buick Rendezvous
Fuel smell 16Stalling 15Check engine light 14Brake failure 13ABS 11Grinding brakes 11Overheating 11Engine failure 8Fire or smoke 7Fuel pump 7Wipers 7Fuel gauge 6Power windows 6
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