Is the 2003 Buick Rendezvous a bad year?
281 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 58, 3.9× a quiet Rendezvous year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 55k–98k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2003 Rendezvous owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 69,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 84 (30%) | 61k–127k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 46 (16%) | 55k–117k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 45 (16%) | 42k–115k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 45 (16%) | 50k–122k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 25 (9%) | 38k–117k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Visibility and wipers | 22 (8%) | 23k–91k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 21 (7%) | 37k–86k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Steering | 17 (6%) | 35k–91k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Engine and cooling | 13 (5%) | 50k–97k miles · around this mileage | Water pump replacement $400–$1,106 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Equipment | 9 (3%) | 40k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 7 (2%) | 34k–132k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 9 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 69,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 281 complaints: 12 mention a crash · 13 mention a fire · 11 report an injury.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Mar 2022.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
We have a 2003 Buick Rendezvous with 60,000 miles. The car has been maintained according to the manual. We have twice experienced lower intake gasket failure which resulted in two expensive repair bills.
Within the last seven months we have had to replace the window motor on the drivers sie,blower motor, load leveler.
Mechanic stated that intake manifold gasket had failed. This caused engine oil to flood coolant system and coolant to flood engine.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 69,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2003 Buick Rendezvous: 7
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). 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.
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. Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire.
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. 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.
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. This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
In some of these sport utility vehicles, the diameter of the steering column intermediate shaft is too small. This condition could allow the intermediate shaft to spin inside the steering column coupling, resulting in loss of steering control of the vehicle.
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. 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.
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. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Buick: 123
Repair instructions Buick sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2003 Buick Rendezvous. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Fuel tank leakage
Fuel tank leakage
Neighbouring years
2002 Rendezvous: 486 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2004 Rendezvous: 200 complaints, keep it.
Every Buick Rendezvous year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · All Rendezvous years side by side
Other Buick models: Buick Century · Buick Enclave · Buick Encore · Buick Encore GX · Buick Envision · Buick LaCrosse · Buick LeSabre · Buick Lucerne · Buick Park Avenue · Buick Rainier · Buick Regal · Buick Terraza · Buick Verano. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2003 Buick Rendezvous a bad year?
281 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 58, 3.9× a quiet Rendezvous year. At 69,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 55k–98k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Buick Rendezvous?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: fuel system (84), engine (46), brakes (45), electrical system (45), transmission and drivetrain (25). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 55k–98k miles.
How many recalls does the 2003 Buick Rendezvous have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Fuel system (NHTSA 07V-349), Fuel system (NHTSA 07E021000), Latches and locks (NHTSA 04V-150), Equipment (NHTSA 03V-250) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.