Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Buick Rendezvous problems

Owners filed 200 complaints about the 2004 Buick Rendezvous with NHTSA between Jan 2004 and Jun 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (76).

Complaints
200
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system76
  2. Fuel system, gasoline23
  3. Engine and engine cooling21
  4. Fuel/propulsion system20
  5. Steering16
  6. Air bags14
  7. Power train12
  8. Service brakes11
  9. Engine10
  10. Service brakes, hydraulic10
  11. Suspension9
  12. Visibility9
  13. Vehicle speed control8
  14. Structure7

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200424
200533
200610
200712
20089
200913
201011
20118
20126
20135
201420
201518
20168
20175
20185
20193
20205
20212
20221
20231
20240
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

76 reports2 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“Upon arriving at my destination and after i put my in park i was UNABLE to turn my engine off because the ignition was stuck in that position. I ultimately had no choice but to unhook the battery cables along with disconnecting the alternator to get my engine to turn off. Prior to this incident occasionally upon starting my car the ignition would not disengage immediately upon the engine turning over which ultimately resulted in having to replace the starter on this vehicle. I am a single parent and only have one vehicle so this is a major issue for my family. Furthermore the fan speed control knob doesnt work properly because when it is put in position 3 it shuts the fan motor off completely. So there CLEAR to me that there seems to be a MAJOR electrical issue. The suspension on this vehicle is horrendous. I cannot go above 45mph without by car wanting to go into on-coming traffic or off of the road or trying to flip over on its side because the shocks/struts on the passenger side are not working properly. I have not used this vehicle for any other purpose then to transport myself and children to and from work/school/appointments. Everyone i spoke to about…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2023Suspension, Electrical systemODI 11499974

Fuel system, gasoline

23 reports2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, GASOLINE LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE GAS TANK WAS FRACTURED WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,694.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2020Fuel system, gasolineODI 11365623

Engine and engine cooling

21 reports1 fire
“SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT MY USED BUICK RENDEZVOUS, IT STARTED STALLING. IT WAS A MONTHLY OCCURRENCE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN IT IS HAPPENING WEEKLY. ALTHOUGH THIS CAR WAS WITHIN THE VIN BREAKPOINTS OF A SAFETY RECALL IN 2005, BUICK TOLD ME THAT MY PARTICULAR VIN IN ITS ENTIRETY WASN'T AFFECTED AND EVEN IF IT WAS THAT THEY WOULDN'T COVER REPAIRS BECAUSE IT WAS TOO OLD. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2013Engine and engine coolingODI 10505667

Fuel/propulsion system

20 reports
“THERE HAS BEEN A LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK SINCE 2006 WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT TO THE VEHICLE AND AM HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING ONE TO REPLACE IT. ONE CAR PARTS ATTENDANT INFORMED ME OF THE RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2021Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11403305

Steering

16 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PREMATURE FAILURE WITH THE RACK AND PINION, AND THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE CONCERNING THE STEERING COLUMN. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE PART AND, LESS THAN FIVE DAYS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT AND DIFFICULT TO TURN PROPERLY. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THAT THE PART WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER (SCHUMACHER BUICK GMC OF WEST PALM BEACH, 541 N LAKE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33408, (561)-842-1595) REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2017SteeringODI 11052295

Air bags

14 reports10 crashes
“TRAC LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES. EVENTUALLY THE TRAC OFF, AND ABS LIGHT STAY ON. IT OCCURS AT RANDOM MOMENTS WHILE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. DISABLING THE TRACTION CONTROL. THIS IS HAZARDOUS WHEN IT IS ON AND IN MOTION WITH NOT FAVORABLE WEATHER IE RAIN OR SNOW. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME, DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITH THE ABS DISABLED, I HAD TO APPLY MY BRAKES HARD TO AVOID REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHO HAD HIT THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AS WELL. I HAVE REPLACED HUB ASSEMBLY, ROTORS BRAKES, BRAKE CALIPERS, BRAKE HOSES THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. WAS TOLD BY ONE MECHANIC THAT WHEN THE TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHTS ARE ON AND ABS IS DISENGAGED THIS CAUSES HIGHER WEAR AND TEAR ON THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE ABS WIRING HARNESS IS TOO SHORT, SO IT GETS PULLED WHEN MAKING TURNS. THIS ISSUE WILL ALSO HAPPEN IF I GO OVER BUMPS, LIKE RAILROAD TRACKS, THE SMALL STREET DITCH FOR RAIN AT THE END OF A DRIVEWAY. SOMETIMES I JUST START THE CAR UP AND IT WILL IMMEDIATELY COME ON. I ALSO HAD THE SIDE SEAR FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOY WHEN A FRIEND CLOSED THE SEATBELT IN THE DOOR. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT IN MOTION. THE BUCKLE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2016Air bags, Service brakesODI 10899395
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

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