2002 Buick Rendezvous: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2002 Buick Rendezvous? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 498 complaints, with Engine Problems as the top reported area.
2002 Buick Rendezvous Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 2 2002 Buick Rendezvous trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 2 trims analysed.
2002 Buick Rendezvous Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star ProgramOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
Not RatedFrontal Crash
Not RatedSide Crash
Not RatedRollover
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2002 Buick Rendezvous has 498 owner complaints, 18 crash-related complaints, and 3 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Engine Problems. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Buick
- Model
- Rendezvous
- Model year
- 2002
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 498
- Crash-related complaints
- 18
- Safety recall campaigns
- 3
- Top reported component
- Engine Problems
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 20
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 17 / 24
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 3/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- No
Most Common 2002 Buick Rendezvous Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Engine Problems
Electrical Faults
Fuel System
Complaint patterns center on Engine Problems, Electrical Faults, Fuel System. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2002 Buick Rendezvous?
The 2002 Buick Rendezvous shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2002 Buick Rendezvous
Inspection Focus
- Inspect the engine for known problems, such as stalling or overheating.
- Check electrical components including lights, windows, and dashboard for faults.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for fuel system and brake repairs.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect the engine for known problems, such as stalling or overheating.
- Check electrical components including lights, windows, and dashboard for faults.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for fuel system and brake repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the suspension and brakes before purchase.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2002 Buick Rendezvous, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Complaints for the 2002 Buick Rendezvous are concentrated in engine and electrical systems, with fuel system issues also frequently reported. The data suggests potential reliability concerns, though the confidence level is low due to the single model year analyzed.
- Engine Problems account for the highest number of complaints at 130.
- Electrical Faults are the second most reported issue with 105 complaints.
- Fuel System complaints total 73, indicating a recurring theme.
- Engine Problems
- Electrical Faults
- Fuel System
All 2002 Buick Rendezvous Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Buick Rendezvous. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 130 | — | 2 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 105 | 1 | 5 | — | |
| Fuel System | 73 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 66 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 56 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| Equipment | 47 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 45 | 2 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 42 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 40 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 33 | — | 1 | — | |
| Visibility | 26 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 25 | 10 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 21 | 1 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 17 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 17 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 11 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 10 | 1 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Other | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electric | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Air | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Buick Rendezvous. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
MY CAR HAS A GAS TANK LEAK FROM THE INTAKE TUBE. IN 2007 I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT IT WASN'T A PROBLEM UNTIL NOW. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR HAS ONLY 130,000 MILES ON IT. CAN I GET HELP WITH THIS REPAIR? MY LOCAL DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
OVER HEATING FOR NO REASON. SOMETIMES THE FUEL LINE SEEMS CLOGGED OR FULL BUT WILL ACT AS IF IT OUT OF GAS. HAVE CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR AND DISTRIBUTOR AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURING. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A RADIATOR BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. SOME DAY…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND CLOSING THE DOOR, THE DRIVER SEAT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED VIOLENTLY ON THE DRIVERS HEAD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND FACE CAUSING UNCONSCIOUS…
I FIND THE 2002 RENDEZVOUS HAS A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK. WHEN THEY MAKE THE TANK THEY USE TWO DIFFERENT PLASTIC MATERIALS FOR THE TANK AND THE FILLER TUBE THAT RESULT ON THE WELD NOT HOLDING ON. AND DUE TO THE UNUSUAL POSITION OF THAT FILLER TUBE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAS TANK A VERY …
NO NOTICE FROM GM ON RECALL DATED 08/08/2007 FUEL TANK DEFECT. FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL TANK AT THIS SPECIFIC LOCATION. DEALERS WILL NOT REPAIR THIS DEFECT. I AM THE ORIG. OWNER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO FLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE DAMA…
VEHICLE SHOWED CHECK ENGINE CODE FOR EMISSIONS FOR SOME TIME. NOW SMELLING FUEL FROM CAR. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS CRACKED TANK, SAME AS RECALL NUMBER 06230A. VIN DOES NOT MATCH RECALL. DEALERSHIP AND BUICK WERE NOT HELPFUL AT PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES TO GETTING ISSUE FIXED. UPON MORE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED FUEL WAS LEAKING VERY HEAVILY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE …
MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE HEAT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS BLOWING COLD AIR OR NOT BLOWING AT ALL. BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THE HEATING ISSUE, THE VEHICLE RAN HOT AND CONTINUED TO RUN HOT UNTIL A MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE COOLANT AND CU AT 2/3 SLIT…
NOTICED SMELL OF GAS BY THE 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. MECHANIC VERIFIED THERE WAS A LEAK NEAR FILLING POINT OF CAR. SAID WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX THIS, THOUGHT HE SAW SOMETHING ABOUT GM RECALLING GAS TANKS ON SOME VEHICLES. LOOKED IT UP AND SAW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND …
FUEL TANK IS DEFECTIVE, WITH THE CAR IN MOTION AND STATIONARY, WHEN I PUT MORE THAN A HALF TANK, GASOLINE WILL FIND A WAY OUT THE TANK, I ALREADY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK FOR ANOTHER ORIGINAL ONE AND IT WAS GOOD FOR ONLY 3 MONTHS. THE TRACTION SYSTEM WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION A…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A FUEL ODOR ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AROUND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INC…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTU…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT OBSERVED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL AND THAT THE FUEL TANK HOUSING FRACTURED. THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE…
ONE DAY LAST WEEK, I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTING BEHIND MY GAUGES WAS OUT AND THE LIGHT ON THE RADIO IS DIM. THEN THE NEXT DAY NONE OF MY WINDOWS WORK, THEY ARE STUCK DOWN ABOUT 2 INCHES. AND THEN I GET ON THE HIGHWAY AND AT 60MPH THE FRONT END FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL OFF. AND…
THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR 45 MINUTES ON TWO-LANE PAVED COUNTRY ROADS. I DROVE THE FIRST 15 MINUTES, WITH ONE OF MY SONS DRIVING THE OTHER 30 MINUTES WHILE I WAS A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. WE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND SWITCHED DRIVERS SO ANOTHER SON COULD BEGIN A DRIVING LESS…
OIL AND ANTI FREEZE LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AND ALSO THE WHEEL HUB AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY RUNNING HOT
WHEN DRIVING THE BUICK RENDEZVOUS 2002 HOME THE BRAKES BEGAN TO NOT RESPOND. AFTER ARRIVING HOME AND DRIVING DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY, THE SUV HAD SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE BUICK RENDEZVOUS WAS TURNED OFF BUT CONTINUED TO EXPELLED LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE UNDER THE ENGINE AREA…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FUEL TANK LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE CLEANE…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2002 Buick Rendezvous.
2002 Buick Rendezvous Recalls
3 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2002 Buick Rendezvous. 3 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
2002 Buick Rendezvous Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2002 Buick Rendezvous reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 498 owner complaints, 18 crash-related complaints, and 3 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2002 Buick Rendezvous shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Buick Rendezvous?▾
#1: Engine Problems (130 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (105 complaints). #3: Fuel System (73 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Buick Rendezvous?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2002 Buick Rendezvous?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2002 Buick Rendezvous, NHTSA complaints include 18 crash-related reports and 8 fire reports out of 498 total complaints. 22 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2002 Buick Rendezvous have any recalls?▾
Yes. 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2002 Buick Rendezvous. A major recall area is FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES. 3 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2002 Buick Rendezvous?▾
The 2002 Buick Rendezvous shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Engine Problems during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Buick Rendezvous reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2002 Buick Rendezvous based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.