Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Buick Rendezvous owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My wife was involved in a fatal accident on July 2, 2006. She was a promising micro-biologist whom worked on cures for ovarian cancer. She was ran off a road by another driver and sent into a line of trees in our Buick Rendezvous (2002 cx). The driver-side headlight made direct contact with one tree and the force opened the driver's side door allowing it to be "ripped" off the hinges. Thereby, exposing her to the natural elements and making her vulnerable to strike a second tree that broke every bone in her face and killed her. I am concerned because when the 2002 Rendezvous was tested, it received 3 to 4 stars and the consistent problem that arose, based upon the article that I read, the driver's side door opens during an offset frontal accident. …
I own a 2002 Buick Rendezvous and the "check engine soon" light came on. The car was taken to a garage on 8/19/05 and they fixed what they thought was the problem (r&r fuel tank connection to clean and re-secure, had water in connector). Total cost of repair was $145.07. On 8/26/05 the light came on again, we took the back to the same garage and they found water again in the connector and determined that the water was coming from the inside of the vehicle. They discovered the water was coming from the air conditioning drain tube. As long as the car was sitting still the A/C would drain properly, but at speed the force of air would force the water back into the interior underneath the seats where many of the electrical connectors are, therefore shorting them out. The seats had to taken out, the carpet had to be removed and dried out and a new A/C drain tube was installed. …
Three safety related issues with my 2002 Buick Rendezvous cxl. The ABS sensors failed which was a difficult problem to diagnose as the problem was actually caused by water in the insulation to the sensor wiring harnesses. I'm now being notified of a front wheel bearing problem that has not yet reached a formal recall. Second issue involves the AWD rear axle assembly (differential). Moaning noises start in the rear end, in low speed turns such as parking lot maneuvers. Occurrence increases in severity and frequency fairly quickly. The rear axle is to be replaced by the dealer under my extended warranty. But I notice that this is not a random or unusual problem with this year/model Buick. I would think that both of these issues due to their rate of occurrence would trigger a formal recall. Why does the rear drive axle continue to fail? …
The headlights, dashboard instrument cluster, and radio, cd player, interior lights, and tail lights on my 2002 Buick, Rendezvous kept going out for no apparent reason while driving on the freeway. I took the car to the shop and they said it is the body control module. It is my opinion that this malfunction is a very serious problem. In my situation the several times that the lights went out, I was in a dangerous place (on curvey highway between pennsylvania and ohio at speeds between 55-70mph) the situation when the headlights and dash lights were out could have had fatal consequences especially when tall hills surround curvey freeways and roads and such as a deer crossing the road or worse yet, a person on the side of the road. …
I took my car to the dealer complaining of a rubbing/clunking noise while driving. The diagnosis was the exhaust was bent and was rubbing on the driveshaft. Dealer replaced complete exhaust system and driveshaft. I was told this could only have happened due to rear end impact. No impact occurred that I am aware of and no visible damage to vehicle. I contacted my insurance company and they inspected the vehicle and did not find any evidence of rear end damage. They suspect design/safety defect and asked the dealer to provide them with the drive shaft. Dealer said they have seen this happen one other time. I am concerned about the safety of this vehicle
Just opening a Buick Rendezvous door caused a $900 dollars damage. We opened the driver side door of our new Buick Rendezvous 2002. It was a windy day and the door went too far bending the hinges and causing damage to the frontal body part of the vehicle. Apparently, the doors have no door brake and therefore, this type of damage could easily occur. (see www.Buick.8K.com) the dealer was all too familiar with the phenomena. In fact, he said, that morning he had the same problem with 3 other customers. Buick refused to fix our vehicle.
While driving transmission jerked and won't shift properly from second to third gear. Dealer replaced the transmission. Also, in the last past five months, the liftgate hinges/tie rod, and ignition switch had been replaced. Gears and tires were replaced, but problem still exists.
Driver door hinge weakened which caused the door to become sprung. It rubbed against the front fender and caused it to bend. Car had 25,109 miles on it and was under warranty. Buick refused to honor the warranty.
I own a 2002 Buick Rendezvous. This vehicle has been nothing but trouble for me since the get go (2004). I have numerous amount of problems that are going on with my vehicle as other owners. All of these problems started at or around 70000 miles. The exterior lights and interior lights go off with out warning and for no reason for sometimes up to a minute (and this has happened at nightime) "major saftey issue" no one can tell us why the vehicle does this. The noise that comes from the front of the vehicle when driven at 45 MPH or more is outragious...it makes an awful humming sound so loud that the radio can't be heard. The vehicle also will not start at times as well...for no particular reason at all...nothing can be found wrong with it all!!! It will stall or will not start at all after several starts and turn offs. …
I bought my 02 Buick Rendezvous in oct of 05. It had 53K. I just hit 90K the largest part is highway miles from this passed year with several deaths in my family. To start with my passenger floor would get soaked. At first I thought the window was left down or the sunroof was leaking. I checked and the rubber is still intact and I can spray water on the roof and nothing leaks in. The tract around the sunroof is not wet. One morning my on star system had water dripping from it but no water was felt around the sun roof and the windshield sits below it. This had been going on since I got the car. Now within the past 6 months everything on the car is failing. My driver door will not lock with the remote. This is a 300 motor. My coolant disappears from reserve with no sign of leaking. I had the check engine light come on and the first day off I had to go get it checked it went off. …
Body complaints in other Rendezvous years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2002 Buick Rendezvous?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the body & structure of the 2002 Buick Rendezvous, 4% of the model year's 486 complaints. The component named most often is body › door › hinge and attachments (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Buick Rendezvous body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2002 Buick Rendezvous, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Buick Rendezvous body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 18% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 injuries and 1 death to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.