Most common 2002 Buick Rendezvous problems
Share of the 486 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Buick Rendezvous complaints by model year
Best Rendezvous years: 2007, 2006, 2005. Years to avoid: 2002, 2003. Compare all years →
2002 Buick Rendezvous recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage
On certain vehicles, variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high ambient temperatures May lead to fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve (icv).
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank. The recall will be mailed in two phases with the first phase beginning on December 4, 2007. The second phase will be mailed on December 13, 2007.
Air bags › Frontal
Certain passenger, Mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2002 Buick Rendezvous:
Fuel tank leakage
Certain subject vehicles May exhibit leakage of odor and/or fuelfrom the lower portion of the fuel tank inlet filler pipe (inlet check valve).the inlet check valve (icv) and the fuel tank are joined together using a hot plate welding process for plastic parts.GM reports that its analysis of field returned parts show evidence of process variations for different manufacturing periods.these variations produced some icv…
Fuel tank leakage
GM is recalling (NHTSA recall no. 07v-349) certain model year (my) 2002-2004 Buick rendezvous, Chevrolet venture (regular wheelbase) and 2001-2004 Pontiac aztek and montana (regular wheelbase) vehicles to replace fuel tanks and correct a defect that May allow fuel leakage.the vehicle recall population is rendezvous and aztek vehicles built in May 2003, venture and montana vehicle built in June through August 2002…
What 2002 Buick Rendezvous owners say
Engine & cooling all 129 →
The vehicle was running for 45 minutes on two-lane paved country roads. I drove the first 15 minutes, with one of my sons driving the other 30 minutes while I was a front seat passenger. We pulled into a parking lot and switched drivers so another son could begin a driving lesson with me. When he began to back out of the parking space he said that the brakes did not feel right and noticed what I thought was steam coming from under the hood. I told him to pull back into the parking space and release the hood so I could check for an overheating engine, even though there were no warning lights on the dashboard and the temperature gauge was in the center of the visible range. When I opened the hood I saw a six-inch wide area of flames to the right of the alternator. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Buick Rendezvous. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started to overheat and the temperature gauge started to flash. The vehicle was taken to an unknown independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the intake manifold gaskets were damaged and it would be best to rebuild the engine. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 169,000.
Fuel & propulsion system all 103 →
Noticed smell of gas by the 2002 Buick Rendezvous. Mechanic verified there was a leak near filling point of car. Said would be expensive to fix this, thought he saw something about GM recalling gas tanks on some vehicles. Looked it up and saw many complaints about this issue and there was a recall. This was my parents car, now being used by my teenage son, so I looked in their file and found a letter sent from GM that a crack could occur in the tank due to a defective product and if it happened to the vehicle they would replace it. Wrong. Apparently a dangerous fire hazard doesn't matter after 10 years. GM said this replacement offer has expired. GM told me to make an appointment at a Buick dealer to have them verify the problem. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Buick Rendezvous. While driving at 5 MPH, the contact noticed a very strong fuel odor in the vehicle. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and noticed fuel was leaking very heavily from the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle to their residence, then to an independent mechanic where the technician informed the contact that the fuel tank needed replacement. The dealer was not contacted or made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 07V349000 (fuel system, gasoline) and offered no further assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 121,000.
Electrical system all 103 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Buick Rendezvous. While driving approximately 25 to 30 MPH, the vehicle filled with smoke from the front interior vents. The contact immediately turned the ignition off and vacated the vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic shop where it was diagnosed that the windshield wiper motor caught fire. The wire harness from the fuse box to the firewall was replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that there was a recall, but the VIN was excluded. The details of the recall were not provided. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Valet person was parking my Rendezvous in dec 2012 and said as he applied the brakes to stop he noticed flames coming from hood. 2,000 in damages. My biggest complaintis that I have had to replace the head gaskets twice in the past six years. I keep being told there should have been a recall because GM has been aware of this problem. I cannot afford to purchase a new car now with all the repairs ive put into this, and its probably not worth much. We have always bought GM vehicles but we May think long and hard because once their off the lot it seems no one cares and no one wants to back up their product.
2002 Buick Rendezvous engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Buick Rendezvous a good car?
Based on 486 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Rendezvous rates avoid: 3.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Rendezvous at the same age. It is one of the Rendezvous years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Buick Rendezvous?
The engine & cooling — 129 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (103) and electrical system (103).
How many recalls does the 2002 Buick Rendezvous have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2002 Buick Rendezvous, the most recent from August 8, 2007 (storage). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Buick Rendezvous?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007, 2006 and 2005. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002 and 2003. See the full Buick Rendezvous years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Buick Rendezvous problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 29% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.