2006 Buick Rendezvous: sudden loss of power

Filed Oct 27, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 128,000 miles · IL

I've had so many problems with this vehicle. Spent over $4000 in repairs in the last 6 months. The first problem I had was while driving on the highway the reduced engine power light and traction system light would come on and the vehicle would just decelerate and wouldn't go over 15mph. I had it repaired once and was told it was the wiring harness and then 2 months later the same thing happened again had it repaired and was told it was the wiring harness and computer that needed replaced. And now I'm having a similar issue but this time the service engine soon light is flashing but the car doesn't want to accelerate and takes several seconds to even get up to 35 MPH. I had this repaired once and was told it was a wiring/fuse issue and that the car was only running on 3 cylinders and literally 2 days after the repair it started happening again. This is ridiculous. My mechanic even told me I should just get rid of the vehicle because it obviously has major wiring issues. It only has 130,000 miles.

Filed Nov 18, 2014 · Engine · OH

Driving down the road when the reduced engine power light came on the service traction control light come on the service engine light came on and the trac off light came on. Couldn't drive faster then 20mph.

Filed May 20, 2014 · Engine · 81,000 miles · NE

The problem happened while driving, the engine shut off without warning. The 'reduced power engine' light came on. I coasted to side of road to let folks get by and sat and waited for about 5 minutes and tried the key and the engine started. No codes stored. No check engine light. I still had power windows, radio, lights and horn. The silent engine happens at least twice every other day. Noone has a sense of what is happening and the safety issue is when I am on the interstate and the engine suddenly dies out. I am a little worried since this is the only car I have to drive to get me back and forth to work.

Filed Apr 8, 2014 · Engine · 100,000 miles · VA

Engine cut off and reduced engine power light came on while driving down road. Power steering, brakes and everything else completely quit unexpectedly. Could restart after letting sit for 10 minutes, but continued to do this all the way home. Took several more trips out around town and problem just got worse. Was a very dangerous situation, being as it would simply cut off in middle of road while going 55-60 MPH and almost unable to keep under control and keep from being hit by other drivers. Parked it at home and researched problem online. Everything I found stated others with same issue would take theirs in for testing and repair and could get no satisfaction, multiple and various parts would be replaced and problem continued. Have replaced alternator, spark plugs and wires, throttle body, ignition switch,cleaned wiring harness connection under drivers seat and checked for corrosion, cleaned mass air flow sensor, and ordered an engine control module, but just found out that it needs to be programmed to the vehicle to work (currently working on finding someone to do that, now). Cannot afford to take to dealership, and after reading all the other dissatisfied individuals info., I do not feel that it would do any good since no part replacement seems to work. Seems like this is becoming a common problem for buick rendezvous vehicles, from what I can see from the other recent complaints. It is also a very dangerous problem. Engines should not stall out while going down the road, thankfully I am just an experienced enough driver that no injuries occurred. Would not have been the same thing if my son or daughter had been driving. It will do no good to file this complaint and no investigation or recall will occur, I'm sure, but at least I can join the other listings showing this is a common problem. Love the vehicle, hate that for the price I paid, I only got 100,00 miles.

Filed Apr 2, 2014 · Engine, Steering · 89,756 miles · VA

I was traveling down the interstate doing the speed limit of 70mph. Out of nowhere, the car flashed "reduced engine power" light and would not accelerate. Then the "service engine soon" light came on and a red battery light also. The car lost all power and power steering. I had to force the car into the emergency lane on the interstate without wrecking. I turned the ignition off and let the car sit for a couple of minutes and it started back up. I made it about 10 miles down the road and it did it again. Car will not run more than 10-15 mins without shutting off. Will not drive this car!!! Very dangerous for everybody!

Filed Dec 17, 2013 · Engine · 90,000 miles · VA

At any given speed the "reduced engine power" light comes on and the car comes to a complete stop. There is no power steering, etc. It's extremely dangerous because of being able to get the car off the road. I am reduced to driving on the service road and still do not feel safe. Interstate is out of the question. After reading many reviews regarding repairs, I am not inclined to spend a tremendous amount of money for repairing a car that obviously no one can repair. I believe the manufacturer should be responsible for recalling this car. It's extremely dangerous and I cannot believe there have been no fatalities due to the fact at any given time the vehicle loses power. I noticed there was a recall on seat belts, believe me that is minor compared to the terror of being on an interstate or secondary road with grandchildren and the engine on your car completely stops. Please intervene on behalf of myself and countless others. Obviously this vehicle is not safe for anyone to drive. I will be parking mine because from what I have read it appears this problem is a factory one and the mechanics cannot repair these cars. Thank you for your time and consideration and hopefully with enough input the manufacturer will begin recalling the rendezvous and make it a safe vehicle. By the way, on one occasion I started the car, and while still in our garage, "reduced engine power" light came on. Thankful I was still in my garage that day. Shortly after trying a few times, the car started, then on the way to pick up grandchildren, died again on a two-lane road and had to find a tiny area to pull off. I am not in a position to buy another car. I haven't been able to read where anyone has actually had their car repaired. I bought this car especially for driving my 4 grandchildren. I'm 72 and now unable to have that pleasure due to the danger of stopping.

Filed Apr 10, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 51,000 miles · WI

I own a 2006 buick rendezvous SUV. This SUV has 59,000 miles. In november a sensor light came on that states "reduce engine speed" while driving and you lose all power. This includes steering, brakes, speed and the engine stalls. However the radio stays on. I was traveling on a hwy with a speed limit of 45 MPH.I lose control of steering, brakes and speed control. The SUV stalled and I had to change three lanes to get out of traffic. I was concerned about getting hit or hitting another car. This has happened frequently. Two separate mechanics had recommend replacing the throttle body but one said there was no guarantee this would solve my problem. We replaced this part in december at a cost of $400 and now I still lose power and am afraid of being hit or causing an accident. As this week this problem has occurred every day I drove it. Buick insists there are no recalls regarding this issue for my 2006 however there is a bulletin for gmc but different models/years. This is dangerous and I am afraid to drive this vehicle. I cannot sell or trade this in with this type of defect. I feel gm should fix this dangerous defect. Please investigate.

Filed Jan 15, 2010 · Electrical · 51,000 miles · OH

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH the vehicle lost power. The contact had difficulty driving onto the emergency lane. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer stated that the body modular which is a part of the computer failed. The dealer replaced the body modular at the owners expense since there were no recalls or warranties related to the failure. The buick manufacturer advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired. The failure mileage was 51,000.