2003 Buick Rendezvous Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 2003 Buick Rendezvous, and owners have filed 281 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
6 safety recalls for the 2003 Buick Rendezvous
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Storage (fuel system)
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. Owners may contact buick at…
-
Lock (latches/locks/linkages)
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.
Remedy: 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…
-
Owners/service/other manual (equipment)
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.
Remedy: 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…
-
Steering
In some of these sport utility vehicles, the diameter of the steering column intermediate shaft is too small.
Remedy: 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. Owners who take their…
-
Inflator module (air bags)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, install a new driver's air bag. Owner notification began on march 11, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…
-
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. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…
281 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Buick Rendezvous have filed 281 complaints with NHTSA; 12 describe a crash and 13 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 82,272 miles. Complaints peaked in 2007 with 34 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The gas gage has been off since I bought it in September 2018. I run out of gas right before 1/4 of a tank and when I fill it it goes about 1/4 over the full line. The passenger seat side airbag went”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 15, 2022 · Air bags
“After filling the fuel tank there is a strong gas odor that is present until the tank is almost empty. When walking around the vehicle or loading/unloading the vehicle, the strong gas odor is always p”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 15, 2022 · Fuel/propulsion system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Buick Rendezvous (Rendezvous AWD, Rendezvous FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–20 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–17 / 22–24 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Buick Rendezvous model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Buick Rendezvous model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Buick Rendezvous | 0 | 4 |
| 2002 Buick Rendezvous | 2 | 486 |
| 2003 Buick Rendezvous | 6 | 281 |
| 2004 Buick Rendezvous | 4 | 200 |
| 2005 Buick Rendezvous | 1 | 138 |
| 2006 Buick Rendezvous | 1 | 89 |
| 2007 Buick Rendezvous | 0 | 43 |
Checking a specific 2003 Buick Rendezvous
How do I know if my 2003 Buick Rendezvous has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 2003 Buick Rendezvous; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Buick dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V222000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Buick models
- Lesabre3,728 complaints
- Regal3,264 complaints
- Enclave2,501 complaints
- Lacrosse2,122 complaints
- Century1,817 complaints
- Park Avenue1,368 complaints
- Lucerne943 complaints
- Encore601 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.