2003 Buick Rendezvous: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2003 Buick Rendezvous: 6 recalls, 281 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #02V222000 · 2002 · 133,221 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002.
Airbags Vehicle recall #03V051000 · 2003 · 130 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain MINI vans, passenger and sport utility vehicles, some of these vehicles have a driver's side air bag that May not deploy as designed. In addition, the air bag inflator could rupture.
Why it matters: This could result in reduced capability of the air bag to protect the driver. Also if the air bag inflator ruptured, pieces of the inflator could strike and injure the vehicle occupants.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on March 11, 2003.
Steering Vehicle recall #03V052000 · 2003 · 4,512 vehicles
What's wrong: In some of these sport utility vehicles, the diameter of the steering column intermediate shaft is too small.
Why it matters: 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.
Equipment Vehicle recall #03V250000 · 2003 · 1,707,825 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage system." the owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchorage system.
Why it matters: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
The fix: Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on the child restraint or booster cushion. Owner notification began August 18, 2003. Owners should contact…
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #04V150000 · 2004 · 103,956 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, a structural support at the latch attachment in the rear liftgate May be inadequate to retain the latch to the liftgate in certain severe vehicle crash events.
Why it matters: If the liftgate were to open in a vehicle crash, an occupant could be ejected from the vehicle resulting in increased risk of personal injury.
The fix: Dealers will add structural reinforcements to the liftgate in the area adjoining the latch assembly. Owner notification schedule began on June 21, 2004. Owners should contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080. This is an expansion to a previous recall (03v211).
Fuel system Vehicle recall #07V349000 · 2007 · 20,594 vehicles
What's wrong: 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).
Why it matters: A fracture May allow fuel vapors to pass through and allow droplets of fuel to accumulate on the side of the fuel tank. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
The fix: 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.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Fuel system (other) Equipment recall #07E021000 · 2007 · 742 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. Fp10020-11b1, fp10026-11b1, and fp10027-11b1, sold after January 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The universal pressure regulators (upr) were produced without an o'ring and retainer.
Why it matters: Fuel May leak, possibly resulting in a fire.
The fix: Delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. The recall began on April 23, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 13 mention a fire, 13 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine & cooling (53): the most common themes are leaks (25), stalls / loses power (8), warning light on (6).
- Electrical (45): the most common themes are electrical failure (23), warning light on (9), fire / smoke (9).
- Fuel & propulsion (43): the most common themes are leaks (30), warning light on (2).
- Fuel system (36): the most common themes are leaks (19), fire / smoke (3), warning light on (3).
The 2003 Buick Rendezvous has 281 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 7 Rendezvous model years for complaints (1.6× the average Rendezvous year). Complaints peaked in 2007 (34 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 70,025 miles. Neighboring years: 2002 (486 complaints, 2 recalls), 2004 (200 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2003 Buick Rendezvous.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2003 Buick Rendezvous have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2003 Buick Rendezvous, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2003 Buick Rendezvous problems?
Owners have filed 281 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine & cooling (53), electrical (45), fuel & propulsion (43).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Buick Rendezvous get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (3.4 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2003 Buick Rendezvous repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.