VehicleVerdict

2004 Buick Rendezvous problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 300 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 1.5 times the median Rendezvous year — the 2004 model ranks #3 of 7 Rendezvous years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 2 deaths and 21 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

Electrical System leads the complaint categories with 89 reports (30% of the total).

300

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

3

Investigations

16

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

21

Injuries

2

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2004 compare to other Rendezvous years?

Rendezvous NHTSA complaints by model year, 2004 highlighted690 complaints2001: 4 complaints2002: 690 complaints2003: 407 complaints2004: 300 complaints2005: 196 complaints2006: 131 complaints2007: 70 complaints
Rendezvous NHTSA complaints by model year, 2004 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Rendezvous years to avoid →

What are the most common 2004 Buick Rendezvous problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System8930%
Fuel System4916%
Engine3110%
Brakes227%
Steering165%
Airbags145%
Transmission134%
Other114%
Visibility & Wipers103%
Suspension93%
Speed Control83%
Body & Structure72%
Tires & Wheels62%
Latches & Locks41%
Lighting31%
Seats31%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)21%
Seat Belts21%
Child Seat10%

Does the 2004 Buick Rendezvous have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

07V349000Fuel SystemAugust 8, 2007 · 20,594 units

Defect

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).

Consequence

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.

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 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668. THE VEHICLE POPULATION INCLUDES BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND PONTIAC AZTEK VEHICLE BUILT IN MAY 2003; CHEVROLET VENTURE AND PONTIAC MONTANA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST 2002; AND ALL VEHICLES REGISTERED IN NEVADA, ARIZONA, VIRGIN ISLANDS, PUERTO RICO, AND HAWAII.

07E021000Fuel SystemMarch 12, 2007 · 742 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy

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.

05V157000Electrical SystemApril 20, 2005 · 34,186 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION ON IGNITION RELAY CONTACTS CAN CAUSE HIGH RESISTANCE. THIS CAN AFFECT SIGNALS TO THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND, COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME.

Consequence

THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, IT COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION RELAY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080.

04V150000Latches & LocksMarch 29, 2004 · 103,956 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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 EXPANSION TO A PREVIOUS RECALL (03V211).

03V454000Fuel SystemNovember 10, 2003 · 79 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A WELD BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE AND THE FUEL TANK CAN FAIL.

Consequence

IF THESE PARTS SEPARATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE AN ODOR OF FUEL, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE, AND/OR FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE FUEL TANK TO SEE IF IT IS ON THE LIST OF AFFECTED TANKS. IF THE SERIAL NUMBER MATCHES, THE FUEL TANK WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, ROADS WERE WET BUT NOT ICY. HIT A WET SPOT ON A CURVE. SLID SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND PASSENGER TIRE DROPPED OFF PAVEMENT. EASILY CORRECTED BACK ONTO THE ROAD, BUT THEN THE BACK HYDROPLANED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND CRASHED, LANDING UPSIDE DOWN IN A CULVERT. DRIVER AND…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · December 6, 2014 · crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · October 29, 2014

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE COOLANT BEGAN TO MIX WITH THE OIL AND DESTROYED THE HEAD GASKET. THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED. THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 27, 2011 · fire

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · August 15, 2014

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE SHOULDERS AND THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · November 6, 2014 · crash

2004 Buick Rendezvous — common questions

Is the 2004 Buick Rendezvous reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 300 complaints put the 2004 model at #3 of 7 Rendezvous years. It is one of the Rendezvous years to avoid.

What are the most common 2004 Rendezvous problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (89 complaints), fuel system (49 complaints), engine (31 complaints).

Does the 2004 Buick Rendezvous have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2004 Buick Rendezvous. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2004 Buick Rendezvous under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 3 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Buick Rendezvous years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Rendezvous years to avoid are 2002, 2003, 2004. The cleanest record among Rendezvous years belongs to 2001.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.