Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Buick Rendezvous owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Driving down the road all of a sudden no matter what speed you are driving and the temparture of car it slips while in drive out of gear and starts in gear when it wants to which is bad on highway going 55-70 MPH on the interstate highway when cars are behind you and you can not go any speed but coast and is getting worse
AWD disabled itself and the antilock came on and have started to stay on then when I make turns the car starts screaching really loud so I just recently learned of a recall for this so what can I do
My husband and I purchased a vehicle from little Apple Toyota in manhattan, ks on June 2, 2006. The vehicle we purchased was a 2003 Buick Rendezvous and this was done through Toyota motor credit corporation. We explained to the gentlemen named tim that we would be making a few trips back and forth from kansas to texas. Also, my husband wanted peace of mind with him deploying to iraq that we would be safe. We were informed by him that this vehicle would be accepted even under the miles progam and that our vehicle would meet and exceed those. We took it for a test drive and heard some grinding and he said that they would put on new brakes that this was probably the cause. So anyway we have it a year to date and I am making a trip to kansas when it goes haywire. …
Tl contact owns a 2003 Buick Rendezvous. While making a right or left turn, the vehicle made a grinding noise. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact had to replace the front driver side tire. When the spare was placed on the vehicle, the all wheel drive system had to be disabled. Ironically, the noise stopped immediately afterwards. Once the repairs were made, the all wheel drive was reactivated and the noise returned. When attempting to stop the vehicle, she heard a dinging noise and the all wheel drive indicator light illuminated. The brakes failed and the contact drove off the road in order to stop the vehicle. The brakes locked, which caused the all wheel drive to engage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that this was impossible. …
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 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.
Undetected safety hazard with 2003 Buick Rendezvous..spent over 11,000 with repairs & maintenance on this SUV and now over 5000 dollars trying to find the reason for the vehicle to keep shutting down after appx. 40 miles of stop and go traffic..have had many close calls of being hit when this happens and have had the vehicle in 5 times to the dealer to diagnose the problem to no avail..can not afford to trade and should not have too..it loses power too when this problem happens..they say they can not duplicate it when they drive it..I have had 2 other people experience this problem..I believe this is a very big concern for my safety and others too.
I have had to replace the front and back brakes and rotors in my 2003 Buick Rendezvous twice now - one at 36,000 miles and again just recently at 73,000 miles. I had to have $1200 worth of work on the transmission at 62,000 miles because a gasket was leaking and causing transmission fluid to leak into the anti-freeze. Buick knew of this problem and had changed the design in 2003, but after I had purchased my vehicle. Now, I have been told the transmission cooling lines are leaking. Didn't they notice that when I had the transmission work done or did they cause it? Mechanic says it has been leaking a long time.
I was looking up info on my car found there was recalls on my specific problem. The transmission shifts very hard with poor engine performance. It idles high and at times it sputters taking off from a stop. I am afraid one of these times it will stall and will end up in an accident. We had it hooked up for a diagnostic it came up trouble code p0742. This is our main transportation and the car used to transport our son. I would really like to get this fixed before it becomes a major issue or a problem resulting in a new car or accident.
Buick rendevous. 1st was a 2002 cxl - problems: rear differential slipped, passenger side window regulator broke, ac condenser broken, rear view mirror fell off, back up sensors shut down vehicle - because of this fried entire electrical system, brakes and rotors replaced at 30K. 2nd is a 2003 cxl - problems - rear differential slipping, passenger side window regulator broken, driver 1 & 2 memory broken, engine running hot because of leak in radiator - again 30K
Tl contact owns a 2003 Buick Rendezvous. While driving 45 MPH, the all wheel light illuminated, which indicated that it was disabled. The contact took the vehicle to a nearby Buick dealer and they stated that the rear differential was coming apart on the inside. The cost for the repair was $2,667, but the contact was charged $1,302.58. The failure mileage was 67,083. Updated 05/20/08. Updated 05/20/08
Transmission complaints in other Rendezvous years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2003 Buick Rendezvous?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2003 Buick Rendezvous, 9% of the model year's 281 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Buick Rendezvous transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2003 Buick Rendezvous, though it has 6 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 2003 Buick Rendezvous transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 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.