VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Buick Rendezvous2002–2007
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Buick Rendezvous
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Buick Rendezvous Years to Avoid
1 recall · 383 complaints
7 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3 recalls · 203 complaints
11 reported injuries
Top issue: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3 recalls · 146 complaints
16 reported injuries
Top issue: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the Rendezvous became recall.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 28, 2026.
Buick Rendezvous — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 0 | 41 | 9 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2006 | 0 | 65 | 13 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2005 | 0 | 112 | 14 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2004 | 3 | 146 | 16 | 1 | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2003 | 3 | 203 | 11 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2002 | 1 | 383 | 7 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Buick Rendezvous Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Rendezvous compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Rendezvous to buy?+
The 2005 Buick Rendezvous scores highest on our Buyer Score (51/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 39/100. It has 0 recalls and 112 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Rendezvous years have the most problems?+
The 2002, 2003, 2004 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2002 Rendezvous leads with 1 recalls and 383 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Rendezvous problems?+
The most frequently reported Buick Rendezvous issues involve: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.