NHTSA — Engine And Engine Cooling: Cooling System Problems

2002 Buick Rendezvous (Page 1 of 2)

2.2

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,920 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Buick Rendezvous cooling system problems

cooling system problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Buick Rendezvous:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2002 Buick Rendezvous Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #28

Jun 012005

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Water pump failed and cause the engine to overheat. Buick refused to honor the warranty on this part. As a result, I paid $575 for the repair.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #27

Jul 012005

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
The intake manifold gasket failed and resulted in coolant leaking and the engine overheated on multiple occasions. Buick refused to honor the warranty for the repair to the intake manifold gasket. As a result, I paid $950 for the repair to the vehicle.

- Canton, GA, USA

problem #26

Feb 092011

Rendezvous

  • 143,000 miles
We just bought a 2002 Buick Rendezvous. We were first told that we just needed our flushed. The vehicle's hot coolant light was coming on and the temp gauge was indicating that the vehicle was hot. We got this done and was driving it home and had the same issue. We are now being told that it has a blown head gasket. I decided to research online and am astounded by the amount of consumers that are having this same issue. Some of them are getting it fixed and having the same issue a few years later. I am really frustrated and feel that my hands are tied. What if I get it fixed this time and in a few years it does it again" I can not afford to keep putting huge amounts of money into this vehicle. If this is such a common issue why is there not a recall" this is not how GM should be treating consumers. They need to take responsibility for a bad product.

- Rossville, IN, USA

problem #25

Dec 242010

Rendezvous

  • 96,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2002 Buick Rendezvous. The contact started the ignition and the temperature gauge displayed a hot level reading with the illumination of the coolant warning indicator. The engine began to overheat. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they replaced the head gasket. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 96,000.

- Osceola , IN, USA

problem #24

Nov 182007

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
2002 Buick Rendezvous intake manifold gasket defective.

- Plantation, FL, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #23

Sep 032010

Rendezvous

  • 130,000 miles
I have a 2002 Buick Rendezvous with 130,000 miles. At 125,000 I had to replace the thermostat and now it is overheating again. I have done radiator flush, replaced temp sensor, checked relays and replaced fuses. Have now been informed the head gasket needs to be 2nd cooling fan is not coming on but will power up under direct power source. Also being informed it needs a power control module (PCM).

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #22

Jul 052009

Rendezvous

  • 123,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2002 Buick Rendezvous that has had its general maintenance kept up and then the antifreeze disappeared, the engine temp got extremely hot, and then the intake manifold and head gaskets had to be replaced now the A/C lines and compressor are leaking and who knows what the problem will be next.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #21

May 282010

Rendezvous

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Buick Rendezvous. While traveling at speeds of 35 mph, the radiator warning light illuminated on the dashboard and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that two of his head gaskets had failed and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The current and failure mileages were 100,000.

- Oxford, MA, USA

problem #20

Mar 012009

Rendezvous

  • 92,000 miles
2002 Buick rendevous, electrical and head gasket purchased this car over a year ago so far had to replace transmission and repair transmission X2, needs head gaskets due to my car overheating gradually, have to bleed the system for air pretty much every other day to get heat in the car. My computer has been replaced 6 months after purchasing it after being unable to clear itself of the codes. This last incident the battery died and since now the computer is running the car causing my car to run in park at 3 RPM's, in neutral it shoots up to 4500, it drives about 2-2.5 rpms. The computer was cleared and reset last night RPM's dropped to about 760 still elevated but ok, then started it this morning to take my daughter to school and it drove itself, stalling as I watched the computer run through as it was possessed, I have since called the car "christine". I can see the computer running the car, as the rpms elevate and then decrease, shutting the car down etc, I can not believe that there is no recalls as this is so dangerous. There are no codes relating to this issue, no transmission, engine issues, this is completely computer related. I had someone with a complex system delete all codes and have the computer relearn itself. It worked. Started it this morning and started all over. Between the computer and heating and cooling system, this car is a constant headache not to mention I have had this car in the repair shop more than I have been able to drive it especially since I'm still paying on it.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #19

Aug 012007

Rendezvous 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
I also have a 2002 Rendezvous that had the head gasket go out at about 40,000 miles and had to replace it myself as Buick denied this problem was rare and because of mileage before occurrence. The leak involved coolant loss. Also had to replace the control module. Have a 2001 Lesabre that also had a head gasket go out and is leaking oil; began at about 35,000 miles.

- Wenatchee, WA, USA

problem #18

Dec 012009

Rendezvous

  • 145,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 2002 Buick Rendezvous' temperature gauge continues to rise at low speeds and it is constantly low on radiator fluid. Was told that the head gasket would more than likely need to be replaced at a cost of about $1,000. This apparently has to do with the type of coolant that was used in this GM product, for which there was a recall notice for and that I was never notified of (bought the vehicle new in 2002). This is just one problem in a long list of problems that I have had with this vehicle. Would like to know if there is anything that can be done about this, as I am sure a lot of other people would like to know.

- Waurika, OK, USA

problem #17

Oct 012009

Rendezvous

  • 140,000 miles
Intake manifold gasket is dangerous truck overheats and very expensive to fix I cant afford.

- Windsor Locks, CT, USA

problem #16

Jul 032009

Rendezvous

  • 46,000 miles
I purchased a 2002 Buick Rendezvous, less than 2 months ago. Within 2 wks of purchasing it the overheating light came on. We took it back to the dealership and they said it was a sensor and replaced it. 3 wks after that when the limited warranty was up it overheated again. The sensor was replaced thermostat, engine flushed, radiator cap, finally I came upon a discussion about the intake manifold and the class action suit against dexcool. The mechanic did a compression test and yes it is bad. I am a mother of 5 children and now I will owe over $2000 in repairs for a car less than 60 days old. There needed to be a recall!! if there was a suit why was it not put in the carfax for this make of car? the car still is not fixed I cannot afford it. Now I can't go places with all my children.

- Loveland, CO, USA

problem #15

Jan 152009

Rendezvous

  • miles
I have a 2002 Buick rened. I have had an on going problem with the car overheating and no ac. I have had the ac replaced on the vehicle, the temp gauge, the thermostat, the water-pump, 2 blown head gaskets, the fuel sensor, anti lock brake sensor and the fuel pump. I also have had to replace the window regulator on the passenger side window. I have receipts for all repairs but no I do not have the old parts. These repairs have costs me at least $5000K if not more.

- Waldorf, MD, USA

problem #14

Dec 212008

Rendezvous

  • 50,500 miles
Coolant leak found by vehicle inspection mechanic. A sealant was put in by dealership as a temporary fix, but due to estimate of $1800, work to permanently fix the problem has not been done yet. I did an internet search and found the problem is a common complaint in the 2002 Buick Rendezvous. I am driving the vehicle as little as possible until I decide on a course of action.

- Brewster, MA, USA

problem #13

Mar 022009

Rendezvous

  • 130,000 miles
I have owned my 2002 Buick Rendezvous for less than 2 yrs and I have had to replace 2 wheel bearings and now I have blown a head gasket. Less than a month ago I had to replace the alternator and battery. The driver side window fell in less than a yr ago and I have electrical problems with it constantly. Including the alarm and security going off for no reason at all.

- Norwood, NY, USA

problem #12

Dec 312008

Rendezvous

  • miles
After buying the car from a GM dealer in July 2004 one year later the ac system leaked and blowout the whole electrical board of ac which had to be replaced and never worked properly. Then in June of 2008 the thermostat needed to be replace. Then in August of 2008 a radiator hose needed to be replaced. Then in September of 2008 the intake manifold and gaskets had to be replaced. In November 2008 the Rendezvous is continuing to overheat. The car has been checked and the coolant pressure cap replaced but still the car continues to overheat the minute you start to drive it. I have had several mechanics check and they can not find anything wrong. In December of 2008 the Rendezvous continues to overheat. It is January 1, 2009 and I am taking it into the shop again. I have read that the A/C system on the 2002 Rendezvous is a major issue which GM is aware of but continues to ignore due to the fact that the car is no longer under warranty. I believe that they should be responsible for this. And if they do not want to take the responsibility on their own then someone should make them accountable.

- Fillmore, CA, USA

problem #11

Oct 282008

Rendezvous

  • 91,700 miles
Had to replace the intake manifold gasket due to dexcool antifreeze issues on the 3.4 L V-6 of my 2002 Buick Rendezvous. I saw where there had been a class action suit filed but I never received notification from GM or the dealer where I bought the car. According to the class action web-site, the date for filing a claim has expired. I have had the intake manifold gasket replaced at a cost of $747. According to several internet sites, this was a problem that GM was aware of but never notified their customers. The mechanic told me (substantiated by the internet sites) that dexcool destroyed the intake manifold gaskets and this problem could happen again. I plan to contact GM directly, but wanted to file this complaint first.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #10

Jul 152008

Rendezvous

  • 49,000 miles
Multiple issues with regard to 2002 Buick Rendezvous: With less than 50,000 miles, I have had to replace the onboard computer ($900), left front hub assembly ($1100) and A/C condenser ($1300). Among other issues related to design defects, the odometer is located inside the onboard computer, so the vehicle was in the repair shop for 5 days while the part was shipped to California (from Virginia) for repair. Recalls have not been issued for these parts, though there are numerous complaints on web forums (recommend initiating google search for "2002 Buick Rendezvous complaint").

- Chantilly, VA, USA

problem #9

Oct 132007

Rendezvous

  • 86,000 miles
We have a 2002 Buick Rendezvous and had to replace the wheel bearings at only 86K miles and now the air conditioning condenser has failed. These are expensive repairs and there seem to be many of the same complaints on this vehicle... Buick should fix these as they are a common occurrence!

- Holton, MI, USA

Read the next 8 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?