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2003 Buick Rendezvous Steering problems

Owners have filed 17 complaints about the 2003 Buick Rendezvous's steering with NHTSA - 6% of all its complaints, most recently on February 12, 2018. They describe 4 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries. Loss of power steering, stiff or loose steering, wandering, column and rack problems.

Complaints
17
Recalls
1
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Deaths
0

Steering recalls for the 2003 Buick Rendezvous

Steering

03V0520004,512 vehicles affected

The problem
In some of these sport utility vehicles, the diameter of the steering column intermediate shaft is too small.
The risk
This condition could allow the intermediate shaft to spin inside the steering column coupling, resulting in loss of steering control of the vehicle. If this were to happen while the vehicle is moving, a crash could resulting without prior warning.
The fix
Dealers will inspect, and replace if necessary, the steering column intermediate shaft. Owners were notified by telephone on february 7, 2003, with a follow-up letter on february 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact buick at 1-800-521-7300 or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.

Steering complaints

SteeringElectrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 buick rendezvous. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the steering wheel was difficult to turn. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000. *Tt *tr

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical systemNHTSA 11072271
SteeringBrakesCrash

I purchased a used 2003 buick rendezvous several years ago for my daughter. Since the purchase, she has had issues with traction warning light coming on, accompanied by a loud grinding noise, difficulty with braking and steering, especially when applying the brakes. She has had the car repaired several times, each time the issue recurs. On 9/28 she was in an accident, she could not get the car to brake effectively, hitting car in front of her. The traction light had recently come on again, and the grinding noise resurfaced. *Tr

Filed Incident Steering · Service brakesNHTSA 10637611
SteeringEngine & coolingTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

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

Filed Incident Steering · Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Electrical systemNHTSA 10594452
SteeringBrakesEngine & cooling

When first accelerating, the car stalled out and the battery died. After braking to shift back into park and restarting, I was able to move again. Besides the acceleration issue, when driving and then braking when coming to a stop, it feels as if something is preventing the car from braking creating a grinding sensation. After the initial "grinding", awd is disabled along with the anti-lock braking system. This happens just about every time the rendezvous is driven. *Tr

Filed Incident Steering · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 10519298
SteeringSuspension

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 buick rendezvous which was purchased new in 2003. She stated that the power steering failed on the vehicle and over time it developed a slow leak. There were repairs made to the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. It became extremely hard to utilize the steering wheel and when attempting to put power steering fluid in the vehicle, it would leak back out. The hub bearings also failed causing the brakes to function improperly when attempting to stop and early wear and tear on her tires. No additional repairs made to the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were under 90,000.

Filed Incident Steering · SuspensionNHTSA 10292832
Steering

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 buick rendezvous. While driving less than 50 mph, the contact heard snapping and clicking noises coming from the steering wheel. Later, the keys became locked in the ignition and he was unable to start the vehicle or turn the keys. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the steering shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under warranty, but the failures continued. The steering shaft was replaced a total of three times, but the steering wheel continued...

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to make clicking, grinding, and snapping noises. The dealer informed the contact not to bring the vehicle back for service because they could not remedy the failures. They stated that they did everything possible to make the necessary repairs, but were unsuccessful. The current and failure mileages were less than 55,937. Updated 5/20/2010 *cn the steering rack and pinion was also replaced. Updated 08/18/10*jb

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10272977
SteeringBrakesElectrical systemVisibility & wipers

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 buick rendezvous. Two weeks after the vehicle was purchased in december of 2007, the contact noticed a loud noise when making left turns. The dealer stated that the power steering pump was defective and was repaired for free. Two months after the repair, the windshield wipers stopped working and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The mechanic informed her that the windshield wiper box failed and was repaired. While driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle stopped...

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accelerating. The contact smelled a burning odor coming from the front driver's side wheel well. She pulled the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle would shift gears, but it would not move forward or backwards. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the brake oil was contaminated and the master cylinder was defective. The vehicle has not been repaired since the last incident. The current mileage was 70,874 and failure mileage was 60,300.

Filed Incident Steering · Service brakes, hydraulic · Electrical system · VisibilityNHTSA 10242488
SteeringSuspensionCrash1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 buick rendezvous. On june 22, 2004, while driving between 5 and 15 mph, the front end of the vehicle began wobbling from side to side. The vehicle flipped over two or three times. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. The rear and a side window were shattered. The vehicle was destroyed according to the insurance company. A police report was filed. The contact had been driving for thirty minutes before the crash occurred. Gm serviced the headlights and performed an oil...

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change approximately five months prior to the crash. The contact is still under a doctor's care and has carphal tunnel in both arms due to the crash. The current and failure mileages were 1,000. Updated 05/05/08 *bf updated 05/05/08

Filed Incident Steering · SuspensionNHTSA 10225411
Steering

THE POWER STEERING IS GOING-MAKES A LOUD NOISE. *NM

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10171531
SteeringEngine & coolingVisibility & wipers

Within the last seven months we have had to replace the window motor on the drivers sie,blower motor, load leveler. Now the power steering is going and the 02 sensor has to be replaced. *Nm

Filed Incident Steering · Engine and engine cooling · VisibilityNHTSA 10171530
SteeringSuspensionTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemVisibility & wipers

I have had so many problems with my rendezvous I feel like the dealership has had my car more than I have. For starters, the front and rear hub failed four times, with the fourth one still needing to be repaired and gm refusing to address the problem because of the number of miles on the car, the check engine light stays on intermittently, the rear wiper stays on and I had to remove the fuse, I have replaced the tires three times with no explaination on the uneven excessive wear, the power steering pump makes loud...

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whining noise and leaks power steering fluid with no explaination, windshield wipers catch on each other and I have on numerous occassions had to stop the car, get out and untangle them, however, the dealer cannot duplicate the problem, the rear air compressor still does not work after being repaired twice, fuses blow for no reason. *Nm

Filed Incident Steering · Suspension · Power train · Electrical system · VisibilityNHTSA 10150005
SteeringCrash1 injury

Dt*: the contact stated that the vehicle rolled over while attempting to merge onto the highway. This occurred after depressing the brake. The vehicle began to shimmy because of loss of steering and it veered to the right and turned over. The dealership has been contacted and was unable to determine why the failure occurred. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance agency. The police were not alerted. There is a nhtsa recall, # 03v052000 regarding the steering. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however the recall letter was not received until after the incident updated 2/27/2006 - *nm

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 10148868
SteeringSuspension

2003 Buick rendezvous left front hub and bearing assembly was replaced at 36606 miles. Power steering pump replaced at 39933 miles. *Ts a leak was coming from the main seal on the power steering pump therefore it needed to be replaced. In 4/05 one of the front tire hubs was defective causing a loud noise. On 11/10/05 the consumer had to take the buick in for a variety of reasons. Again the consumer was hearing a noise because both front tire hubs needed to be replaced. Due to the fact that one was replaced in...

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4/05, it would be covered under the parts warranty. The consumer incur the cost of replacing one hub. The consumer contacted other local general motor dealers to find out if they had seen similar repairs with this vehicle. The consumes was told that there have been a lot of buick rendezvous and pontiac aztec's coming in for repair and needing front and rear tire hubs replaced. The consumer was told that gm was was going to change hub manufacturer to alleviate the problem. *Nm

Filed Incident Steering · SuspensionNHTSA 10146413
SteeringSuspension

Dt: the contact stated in april 2004,she heard a loud roaring noise as vehicle accelerated. It seemed to be louder as she turned the steering wheel to either the left or right. The dealership replaced one of the front tire hubs under warranty. She was not sure if it was the left or the right. Just recently she heard the same noise, and was told that both front tire hubs needed to be replaced. Also, the power steering pump was replaced in july 2005. After having the power steering pump replaced she was...

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hearing the same noise . The dealership told her the pump they had originally put on was bad, and they were going to replace it. Then, she was told they would have to replace it again because the pump was leaking fluid.*Ak

Filed Incident Steering · SuspensionNHTSA 10142313
SteeringBrakesElectrical system

2003 Buick rendezvous experiencing problems with the battery, steering and the automatic brake system.***No answer required***. *Mr the consumer felt vibrations in the steering wheel and vehicle which lasted anywhere from 10-30 seconds. The noise of vibration happened intermittently when the key was turned off. The dealer was notified but was unable to rectify the problem. The brake pedal went to the floor once. The battery went dead. The consumer believes this may be the result of other problems. *Nm

Filed Incident Steering · Service brakes, hydraulic · Electrical systemNHTSA 10124727
SteeringWheels & tires

While driving vehicle swayed all over the road, making it hard to control the vehicle. Swaying occurred because the tie rod was loose, and the right rear tire almost fell off. Dealership indicated that the tie rod came loose from the factory. *Ak

Filed Incident Steering · TiresNHTSA 10066793
SteeringAirbagsCrash1 injury

While driving at 35 mph consumer lost the ability to steer the vehicle. Then, consumer lost control of the vehicle and collided with a median divider. Consumer was wearing a seat belt, but the air bags did not deploy. Consumer sustained minor injuries. *Ak

Filed Incident Steering · Air bagsNHTSA 10053840

Buick Rendezvous steering complaints by year

Rendezvous steering problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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