Used 2003 Buick Rendezvous SUV Consumer Reviews
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168,000 and still going strong
I love it, bought it used with 53,000 4 years ago and it never seems to sit still. I drive 45 miles or more one way to work each day and I get 22 miles to the gallon. I've looked to get a better gas car but for the amount of space I have and the mpg its hard to say good bye to it so I decided to keep it. I have never done anything other than normal wear and tear. I have found that the driver's door hinge is weak and have had to reenforce that once after a big wind got it. but other than that its been a great vehicle and has taken a lot of wear and tear. If they stil made them I would definately get a new one.
going to miss my Rendezvous
after reading some of the negative reviews I was a tad shocked! My Rendezvous is a 2003 CX and has 210,000km on it.... it has served me wonderfully! I am just sad they no longer make this car as I am now at the point of needing a newer vehicle. I maintained it well, and the car responded accordingly. The only maintenance outside of the usual wear and tear (brakes!) was a transmission replacement that was done under the warranty so did not cost me a penny. I LOVE this car and reluctantly am parting with it.
- CX 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,99560 mi away
- CX 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,900210 mi away
- CX 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,795280 mi away
What a great SUV!
I bought my 2003 Buick Rendezvous in April 2013. It already had 116,000 miles on it. The previous owners had some maintence already done on it, so now it has 126,000 miles on it and I havent had to put any additional money into it. I went from a little 2001 Pontiac Grand Am to this.. I know some people say it looks like an older person's vehicle, but after driving similar SUVs ,like a Ford Escape, the Buick Rendezvous was my favorite! *There are little to no blindspots which is awesome! *It's bulky feeling yet not too big. *The interior feels pretty modern. *After market parts for it are very reasonable. *I would deffinately recommend to anyone in the market for an SUV!
don't waste your money
after buying this auto it failed in many ways first it was the brake lines that rotted out, then the over heating problem and the engine repair then the rotors and pads, the wheel bearing next. all of this with in 1.5 yrs of owning it and less than 5000 miles this is nothing as to having to tear the front end apart just to change the battery . so far I put another 3000 dolars into it since I got it. and to top that off the window fell down and I found that all the plastic parts that hold the window had broken lol this is the auto for you if the bank is yours.
Buy me if you're rich...
I love the comfort of the ride, and being able to use it for camping... but, I am constantly putting money into it, most guaranteed this happens every year..... brakes, rotars, bearings, lines, etc, I could continue but I don't remember all of them... my car is in the shop again today, for the 3rd time this year!! It's a very costly vehicle to own cause it's continually needing repairs!! I'm frustrated today knowing I have to spend my Christmas money to repair my car AGAIN... I already spent $1,000.00 so far this year, and here comes another expense.
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Rear differential failures
I've had this Rendez-vous for 3 years. Bought it used with 75000kms on it. It has seen nothing but the mechanic. He should make my payments. 2 months before warranty up replaced differential with a used one, that one just fell out, I'm not impressed. 4 tires worn out in 1 year ABS light always on fuel gauge does'nt work. all wheel drive ot traction light always on. still have two years to pay on it, time to trade in You think!
JUNKING IT!!! And I'm ON TOP of maintenance!!!
This car is a LEMON!!! It should be taken OFF the market and NEVER made again!! I have replaced gaskit 2 times, Wheel bearings WAAAAAYYY too MANY times to even count anymore, the rocker arms, tie rods, breaks, rotars... more than normal, among many other repairs... I can't remember. This car PLAIN AND SIMPLE SUX! It needs MAJOR REPAIRS EVERY Flippin month. I have spent more repairing this dumb thing than my old '92 Geo Prizm!! Do NOT buy this vehicle, its NOT as nice as it looks! Better off with Hyundai, or Kia! We purchased in '06 used from an elderly couple who rarely used it... It had 12,000 miles!!! They took care of it, had receipts of oil changes, and car fax was FLAWLESS!!!
SPORTY SMOOTH RIDE
Just be cautious before purchasing one. Drive a few different ones of the same year and model. Low miles doesn't mean good miles. If low miles are what you're looking for, try and research whether they were hard and fast or normally acquired. Everyone drives a vehicle differently. Get a feel for the car. A car can communicate with you if you know what to listen, look, and watch for in a used vehicle. I strongly suggest getting a car-fax report. It is worth the $23.00 it cost. Though it's not a promise that everything is cool with your car, but it can be a good indicator as to service intervals.
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This vehicle is great!
Definitely a great SUV. Comfortable to ride in, roomy and gets good gas mileage. I get about 400 miles to a tank. Not too shabby! Wheel bearing on left did go out after warranty but luckily I purchased the extended warranty. Also hit a deer with it. It's fixed now, but the damage was minimal due to the sturdy build and great crash test ratings. I love it, love it love it!
wheel bearing eater
We bought it new, 2 wheel bearings first year went out,under warranty.over the next few years we have replaced 8 wheel bearings total,and now we need 2 more! the air ride leveling sys. went out at 125,000 miles so we had to put air shocks on. the latch for the back went out and the pull handle broke off and it, only opens with fob. the radio nobs coating is all chipped off .the drivers side heated seat is out,the rear drivers side window is unop. the dash has every light lit up like a Christmas tree.
Decent Car for family
I bought this car brand new and have kept up with maintenance. The RDV is pretty reliable under those conditions. What's gone wrong so far is; battery leak, head gasket leak, and recently (after 6 years) the battery and O2 sensor needed replacing. The first two were fixed under warantee so NBD. There was also a recall on the rear lift gate. Oh, and now my gas cartridges are shot on the lift gate. The gas milage started out at 22mpg city and 26 on the road, but now we're about 18 city and 22 on the road. Not too bad for a 7-seater. In 2005 we drove this on vacation from Houston, to Sante Fe, to Denver and back to Houston. No problem. We strapped a DVD player to the wide console.
Getting rid of soon...not soon enough
When we bought ours in 2005, it had 41,000 miles on it. We now have just under 88,000 and its going to go when we get it out of the shop, AGAIN. We average around every 3-4 months in the shop for around a week at a time. Lots of issues, including new bearings, VersaTrak suspension went out, wiper motor didn't work after a month into the purchase. Several big ticket items. We purchased an extended warranty--4 years/100,000 miles through GM. We have gotten our money's worth out of the warranty. Unfortunately, 4 years expired in July and now we have to have the rear differential replaced to the tune of $1500 out of our pocket. Ouch. Bye bye Buick. Not buying another GM product. P.O.S.
Mixed feelings
I bought a 2003 CXL Rendezvous with 40K miles in 2005. I got it for $16,500--I would not even have looked at it for the new sticker price ($30,000+). Overall, I have mixed feelings about this car, leaning toward favorable. On the positive side, it is a good-looking car, has a nice interior, and rides quiet. The 3.4 L V6 engine is strong enough for most trips. We got the third-row seat, but hardly needed it with just two kids (it folds nicely into the floor). On the negative side, I have replaced a number of parts--head gasket, driver-side hub assembly, electric window motor, electric lock, and rear differential fluid. Heater blows cold air on passenger side. Gas mileage is awful (15).
Rendezvous smelling like a lemon...
My experience with this vehicle has gone from good to very bad, such that I wouldn't recommend it. After 1 month the engine developed a pinging noise upon acceleration. The dealer has made every attempt to correct it, but is at a loss as to what the problem could be. The GM rep. was consulted who stated this engine noise is a characteristic of these engines, even though the dealer has never had or heard of this problem before. Its GM's stance to not fix it or do anything about it, likely because there so-called engineers couldn't even engineer there way out of a paper bag. I would have thought a company like GM would at least stand behind there products.
Engine Reliability
Purchased used at 33k. Head gasket replaced at 40K at dealer expense. Since then a number of catastrophic failures - 3 different rocker arms and one cylinder head have been replaced. Afraid to drive other than locally. GM needs to stand behing their cars that have these sorts of problems
Never Again!!
Bought this Buick brand new for my wife and just traded it in. Took a huge loss but was glad just to get rid of it. Ball joints, transmission, engine gaskets,etc. Left us stranded on the road at least 6 times. Would not start after you shut it off. Dealer said it was a switch but I told them it was the fuel pump. Changed switch 3 times and still the same hunk of junk. Traded it in with only 40,000 miles on it. Lift gate latch had to be replaced and the windows wouldn't work. Trash, trash, trash. Never again GM, never again. I should have learned my lesson after the Jimmy I bought. I will drive a Kia before I ever by a GM!!!
Never buy this junk
I was the fan and proud to use GM vehicles, but now I will never buy or recommend to buy GM. Can you believe transmission problem at 63,000K.One problem after the another. Tapping noise in the morning and the dealer says it is normal. Does not have enough power. Going on the hill looks likes 4 cylinder car will do better. Bad mileage. Noise from the front wheel, had to replace both bearings. Back latch recall. It should be discontinued. I should have listen to my friend and bought some Japenese car instead. I will never recommend this junk to anybody.
Extended Warranty Required
A great SUV....but it does have its quirks. At 37,123 (after the warranty) the left wheel bearing (lots of this according to GM and Buick) went out and the headers leak coolant. In for repairs, a major expense but I had Extended Coverage and saved BIG money. I am told that A/C goes out frequently also. Cannot customize factory presets. Annoying. Can't adjust door locks or running lamps or other warnings or features. Buick decided for you.
My Opinion of Buick has Slipped
We bought this car new, not knowing it was made in Mexico. Shame on me for not doing my research. At 60k, the intake manifold started leaking and at 84k, the transmission needed major work. I am disappointed. GM needs to do better. It seems that these two problems are very common for this engine and transmission.
Very sorry we bought this vehicle
We purchased our Rendezvous with just 16,000 miles due to our growing family. At 24,000 miles replaced intake manifold (it was out of warranty because 3 years had passed since it went into service). This cost $1,200. 12,000 miles later it had to be replaced again, the dealer charged a "discounted rate" of $800.00. Then a window would not come up, and the cost came to over $400.00. At 51,000 miles the first of two wheel bearings went, now the AWD Disable light is on and we are waiting for an estimate for repair of it and yet another wheel bearing. What a nightmare. The car has 52,000 miles and has cost us thousands in repairs, wrote to GM with no response.
My Rendezvous
Purchased this 1 year old car with 13000 miles on it from a dealer. All who ride in my car say it is the most comfortable riding SUV ever. Just like sitting on the living room sofa. It drives and handles like a Cadillac, has great pickup when needed; dashboard accessories are also conveniently located on steering wheel making for safer driving (no looking down to change radio stations, etc). Cargo area large enough for most items, middle seats fold down easily to create more room in cargo. Also has Onstar if installed when purchased. My only criticism is color of the spedometer numbers hard to see in daylight. Thank you GM for this great car!!
Rendezvous does everything it was designed to do w
Affordable, economical, comfortable, reliable and very spacious. Update, the car (2003 CX) is now the primary vehicle for my 17 year old daughter. It continues to perform reliably and is a very safe car. It is great in poor weather and gives her a commanding view and driving position. The car now has 182,000 miles on it and still works and looks great. Far cheaper to maintain than a newer vehicle or replacing it with something newer. Parts are inexpensive and readily available.
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Stay away from this vehicle
Always needs work. As soon as one thing is fixed, something else goes wrong.
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Think foreign
I loved my Rendevous but at 97,000 miles I have put 3,000 in repairs, and am possibly looking at another 3,000. I am told the rear differential is bad in this suv and that it is a common problem. I am now looking at spending more on repairs than the vehicle is worth. Very disappointed that GM won't take more responsibility for their design flaws. Might make me consider another American car but not at this point.....EVER!
brake fluid fire
YESTERDAY; our daughter was driving back home from an appt when the brakes failed--she eased it home, was in the house telling us about the problem for about 15-20 minutes while car was sitting turned off in the driveway. My husband went out to look under the hood and found it ON FIRE. Brake fluid was dripping on the hot manifold Luckily he was able to extinguish it. I believe the design of the engine with the brake line so close situated just above the hot manifold is ultimate cause. The heat MUST be causing the lines to crack/leak unlike in any other vehicle I have owned. We have seen reports online of similar problems since this happened to us.
Don't buy an '03 Rendezvous!
Have had this car for a year, replaced engine, battery, power steering hose, engine belt, brakes, tires need air every month, needs new rear shocks and oxygen sensor. AWD DISABLE light is on, who knows how much that will cost. Exhaust Manifold in these cars leaks coolant into engines causing engine problems, so will probably have to have manifold replaced.
Money pit
We purchased this used at 38,000 miles from someone smart enough to dump it before it started falling apart. Replaced front wheel bearings at 42,000 and 45,000 miles. The head gasket was replaced last month at 83,000 miles after dealer misdiagnosed the problem twice. The load leveler would not stop running (at 75,000 miles) so we pulled the fuse and replaced it to stop the noise. Dealer advised that unless we fix it, the rear air-filled shocks will fail. We have already spent too much replacing things too soon. Recently replaced rear wheel bearings (great design those sealed bearings, not!). It is currently at the dealer again for other problems. So sorry we bought this. No more GMs.
I got ripped off, now I am stuck!
I have had nothing but problems with this car. It eats breaks and tires. The doors do not open right, it locks the keys inside. Wipers stop working. And the thing always runs hot. I have already complained to Buick but they did nothing for me. Never buy any Buick ever again. I am now stuck with a car worth nothing and is falling apart.
What a mistake
Mechanically the worst car I ever owned. The only saving grace was that I purchased the 100K mile warranty. Otherwise it would have cost me thousands in repairs after 60K mile warranty expired. Front wheel bearings (known issue), intake manifold (known issue), excessive inside tire wear (alignments did not help), heater blower (3 times), sheared bolts and head replacements.
Not Buick Luxury
Bought a new Rendezvous in February, am already looking to get rid of it. Buick quality does not stand behind this vehicle. Many little annoying things are wrong - slow clock, squeaky seats, speakers blow all the time. Can't believe this thing made it through the wind tunnel in the design phase - it's the noisiest car I've ever owned. Severe fluttering wind noise around the windows, dealer unable to locate or correct. Loud around the windshield due to design. Outside noise sounds like it's inside the car! This car is not worth the amount they're asking for it. If you're looking for luxury, look elsewhere.
Very disappointed
My husband and I bought this vehicle in January 07, by July 07, we've already had some serious problems. First was the Security light kept coming on, was told it was a battery problem but to have the diagnostics on the vehicle checked out was costly just to have to change the battery. Next was the window, went down wouldn't go back up cost me$430 to get the regulator replaced. I've read a lot on the Rendezvous and the windows are a hugh problem and very costly. Also, not nearly enough room in the driver's seat and the seatbelts are not roomy enough and the radio keeps changing stations. We have been very disappointed so far and hope this SUV doesn't end up costing us a fortune.
The Reason GM is Bankrupt
I just dumped mine. In 4 years: wheel bearing twice (the electronic controls for AWD are in the bearing assembly - a lousy design), heated seat burnt out, spare tire safety mechanism rusted shut (could not get spare out one night), and the best of all - valve lifter bolt sheared out of aluminum head. In the same time frame all I did was change the oil in a Honda Accord. A guy in my office also has 2003 and has had even worse problems including head gasket.
American, but not quality
Made in Mexico. Issue with anti-freeze leak, plastic manifold gasket, $700 repair. Wheel bearings sealed, can not be greased, $300 each to replace. Why buy American with poor quality and maintenance issues? The front driver door out of alignment several times. Gas mileage gets worse, replaced computer chip after one year, did better, but now worse.
Made in Mexico
Rides wonderful except for noise in rear end when going over joints on highway. Dealer can't fix, big outer mirrors easy to use, plenty of room in front and second row, third row useless except for lepricons. Sometimes it doesn't know who is driving forgets to reset seat and mirrors. Has some problems cropping up, noise from front wheels, suspect bearings.
Won't do that again
Bought in '04 with 25K miles - needed something that would fit a 6'3 teenage boy. It was great the first year or so, then started nickel-and-diming me. At 125K miles, and nickels and dimes are now up to $1000 repair bills. Poor mileage - gets about 20 mpg average. Cheap interior - coating chips off of radio and climate control knobs No interior release for the rear hatch. Now the exterior release doesn't work. Back seat fold-down handle slips. Can't find replacements anywhere. Replaced both front wheel bearings last year, just replaced rear wheel bearing and cylinder head gasket. Should replace rear suspension knuckles, but I'm still recovering from the head gasket replacement.
Almost there
With a better engine this car would be really fun to drive. The current engine is quiet and smooth, as if it isn't there; well that's almost the case. It should be possible to draw 40 more horse power from a 3.4 liter engine I believe. This is clearly a new generation of Buick's though. Good roadholding and stiffer suspension. Well done, but it needs an engine upgrade. When listening to classical music, the Stereo suffers too much low- mid frequency colouration.
Not Buicks best effort
This vehicle is plagued with problems ranging from annoying to down right dangerous. Newer versions have corrected some of the problems but some of the more serious ones still remain including premature wheel hub failures, faulty wiring and bad transmissions. If you insist on buying one you'd better purchase the extended warranty and towing insurance because you're going to need it.
More GM junk
We bought this vehicle because it has enough head room for me to drive it. I am 6'7" and I do not fit in many vehicles GM makes. The full size pickups have less head room. During warranty they changed 3 front wheel bearings, stereo speakers and 2 starters. Now at 88,000 miles the intake manifold gasket is bad and I am getting quotes from $400.00 to $1200. A piece of Mexican made junk!
Disappointed
Love at first sight. Problems after manufacturer warranty expired have included failure & replacement of both front tire hubs (one of them replaced twice), Power steering pump replaced three times, Heater control unit shorted out. I have filed a safety complaint w/NHTSA lots more there, please read. Buick Rendezvous has had a lot of problems. Through persistant investigation on my part, I've found that the tire hub appears to be defective, GM is now getting this part from a new supplier. At first we loved this car but will never buy another Rendezvous maybe never another Buick at all. The dealership has been good & has made all repairs at no cost to us even though we are past the mileage warranty.
Love it
Very comfortable to drive and really reliable.
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Not completely happy with RDV quality
I just bought my 2003 Rendezvous on October 8. It has been in the garage 2 times in 2 months. Had to have the fuel tank gauge sensor replaced and also the Intake Manifold was just replaced due to leaking back into the engine. So much for the 110 point GM Certified Inspection. I have also been having issues with starting the veh as the ignition doesn't want to release once the vehicle is started, it sometimes continues to crank. I was told that this is normal in GM products manufactured since 2003. Not sure that we will ever buy a Buick product again.
Falling Fast
We bought this vehicle used with 26K miles on it in Nov. of '05, and liked it quite a bit originally. Unfortunately, the longer we have had it, the more cheaply made it seems. Not a lot of problems mechanically with this car through the 3 years I have owned it, but little stuff: windows always squeal, leather strap to close hatch broke within a couple months of owning, rear wiper has never worked correctly. Tires lose pressure. Now I feel the tranny is slipping, and warranty expires in 3 days. Was told at the dealership they can't find anything wrong, and I can't trade this in, because I can't afford the negative equity
Nagging repairs
Bought the 2003 Rendezvous used with 38K on it. Replaced both wheel bearings, had to buy new front rotors, the sunglass visor broke twice, the hinge on the glove box also broke. Also replaced both front door power window motors. Brakes / front wheels make noises when coming to stop. I am trading in soon. No more GM's for me even though my nephew works at Firestone and said GM's are best American vehicles.
I am buying a Honda
I bought this with 45000 miles on it and loved it the first 2 years I drove it. So far I have replaced the brakes 3 times (1 front 2 back) then some wire that cost 1.50 but took the dealer 3 days and hundreds of dollars to figure out why it only started when it was cold.The air compresser in back ran all the time and finally I disconneted it. Coolent problems head gasket problems and now front and rear end problems. After 70000 miles this car was getting fixed every other month. It has "nickel and dollared me to death"
My first SUV
The ride and handling is very near to excellent. I've bought other vehicles, but I never had so may people ask me how I like my Rendezvous.
Lots of room
We bought a Certified Rendezvous and a Certified Pacifica within a month of each other. I took the Pacifica originally because it looks and feels sportier than the Redndezvous. Unfortunately after communing in the Pacifica for a few weeks I found the ride to be quite uncomfortable for someone my height (6'4"). I eventually traded it to my wife for her Rendezvous. I like the sporty look and feel of the Pacifica, but I appreciate the unbelievably comfortable seats (wide, high, heated) and soft ride of the Buick.
Buick Rendevous for a retired couple
ideal choice for us. moved during past year and Rendevous was excellent for hauling many items including trailering a golf cart 600 miles. we enjoy the vehicle. Comfortable to travel in. Handles mountains ok.
OK, would not purchase another
We have had our Buick in the shop SEVERAL times - for everything from brake problems, to a water leak, to a leak in the seal around the fuel tank. I'm not sure if all the problems are with the car or the mechanics at the dealership. Buick has been of no help what so ever. I loved the look and feel of the car when we bought it but after all the trouble, I will never buy another.
Big Mistake
Purchased this vehicle with 35,000 miles on it. It was ok for the first year and then one thing after another started to go on this car. It seems to be in the shop every other month and each time costs range from $300 up to over $1000!!!! I am getting rid of this car and most likely won't buy another Buick any time soon!
Worst Vehicle I Have Ever Owned
This is only the second GM vehicle I have ever owned - and the last. The first GM vehicle I owned was a Chevrolet Vega back in the 1970s - enough said - and incredibly, the Rendezvous is even worse! Engine, transmission, AWD drive train, climate control, you name it. I thought in the three decades plus since the Vega, they would have learned how to build cars; no such luck.