Problems · by component

2003 Buick Rendezvous engine and engine cooling problems

55 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Buick Rendezvous cite engine and engine cooling, 19% of all 284 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
55
19% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 29, 2019Engine and engine coolingODI 11172955
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND RESUMED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A FOURTH TIME TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, AND SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2016Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10865901
“ENGINE COMPLETELY DIES MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. IT WILLL TURN ON RIGHT AWAY, GO A FEW MILES AND THEN DIES AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED, THE TROTTLE HAS BEEN CLEAN, FUEL FILTER REPLACED, SPARK PLUG WIRES AND SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TO NO AVAIL. WE'VE EVEN CHANGED TRAMISSION FLUID AND FILTERED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2014Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical systemODI 10594452
“CRANK SEALS, OIL PAN SEAL, HEAD GASKET CORROSION AND POTENTIAL FAILURE. MECHANIC FOUND THESE LEAKS WHICH WILL LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE. REPORTED TO BUICK, EXAMINED BY DEALERSHIP. BUICK SAID ESSENTIALLY, "TOO BAD, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN." THE CAR IS WELL-MAINTAINED, LOW MILES, MALE SENIOR DRIVER. THIS SHOULD NOT OCCUR ON A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION. GM SHOULD TAKE CARE OF SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS SUCH AS THESE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10457514
“THE CAR OVER HEATED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO BE SEEN BY A MECHANIC AND HE SAID MY ANTIFREEZE MIXED WITH ENGINE OIL. MY HEAD GASKET BLEW, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10450121
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10441635

Showing 6 of 55 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.