Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
260–25K
2125–50K
2150–75K
2175–100K
13100–150K
16150K+
118 reports with mileage · 20 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
138 reports
30,000 miles · Apr 1, 2009
Air Bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEATS IN THE VEHICLE WERE AFFECTING THE AIR BAG …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEATS IN THE VEHICLE WERE AFFECTING THE AIR BAG SENSORS. A BOOK BAG WAS PLACED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ONCE, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V417000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THERE WAS CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
NHTSA ODI #10263838
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2009
Power Train
MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND WE ARE STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VEHICLE AND IT SEEMS AFTER 60K MILES THE TRANSMISSIONS STARTS TO GO BAD. I HAVE KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGING OF THE FLUID BUT I THINK THIS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO…
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MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND WE ARE STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS VEHICLE AND IT SEEMS AFTER 60K MILES THE TRANSMISSIONS STARTS TO GO BAD. I HAVE KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGING OF THE FLUID BUT I THINK THIS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10263339
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2009
Electrical System
I HAVE NO SPEEDOMETER AND THE BEARINGS HAVE GONE BAD,I CALLED GM TO SEE ABOUT IT AND GET THE RUN AROUND,CAN U HELP. 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS CX. I HAVE ONLY HAD 9 MONTHS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259546
51,000 miles · Jan 13, 2009
Electrical System
OUR 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER CHANGED A SENSOR FOR $125, THAT DID NOT WORK. THEY GREASED THE LINES AND CHECKED IT OUT ON THEIR EQUIPMENT BUT THAT HAS NOT WORKED EITHER. I SAW ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND THEIR ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS. IS THERE A RECALL FROM BUICK? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10254851
50,185 miles · Jan 6, 2009
Electrical System
WHILE ON VACATION, THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED A SPEED OF 20 MPH WHILE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT I WAS TRAVELING MUCH FASTER. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 20 MPH AND AT TIMES INDICATED 0 MPH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THE NEXT DAY THE SPEEDOMETER WORKED CORRECTLY. WHEN TRAVELING HOME, THE SPEEDOMETER WOUL…
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WHILE ON VACATION, THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED A SPEED OF 20 MPH WHILE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT I WAS TRAVELING MUCH FASTER. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 20 MPH AND AT TIMES INDICATED 0 MPH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THE NEXT DAY THE SPEEDOMETER WORKED CORRECTLY. WHEN TRAVELING HOME, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD WORK FOR ABOUT 100 MILES AND GRADUALLY WOULD INDICATE LOWER AND LOWER SPEEDS. IT I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IT WOULD START WORKING AGAIN FOR AN UNDETERMINED LENGTH OF TIME. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND IS UNUSUAL FOR THIS ITEM TO FAIL ON A VEHICLE. I CALLED A LOCAL BUICK DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE RECENTLY SEEN A LOT OF FAILURES WITH THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE BUICK RENDEZVOUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10253942
47,000 miles · Dec 1, 2008
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING MY SPEEDOMETER JUST STOPPED WORKING. IT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE. SOMETIMES IT SAYS I'M GOING 10MPH AND SOMETIMES IT SAYS I'M GOING 110MPH AND SOMETIMES IT JUST HANGS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS NOT KNOWING WHAT SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING AT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10250350
52,676 miles · Nov 25, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE OR DUPL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,676.
NHTSA ODI #10249789
51,000 miles · Oct 27, 2008
Suspension
WHEEL BEARINGS ON A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE FAILED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. AFTER A $300+ REPAIR BILL, NOW THE LEFT SIDE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. A PRETTY NEW VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10246784
17,500 miles · Oct 6, 2008
Structure
THE AUTOMOBILE DASHBOARD WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC SHATTERED LIKE GLASS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10244493
38,000 miles · Jul 5, 2008
SteeringSuspension
BUICK 2005 RENDEZVOUS CONSTANT LOUD WHINING OR MOANING NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL REGARDLESS OF SPEED. IT IS EMBARRASSING. NO ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. IT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. *TR
CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, THE FRONT AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE MAY BE DISABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE ENABLED, OR ENABLED WHEN IT SHOULD BE DISABLED. IN EITHER CASE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT REQUIRES AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A FRONT PASSENGER'S LEVEL OF INJURY MAY BE INCREASED.
Remedy: BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT LEATHER SEAT COVER THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM IS NOT AVAILABLE, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) WILL REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS STATED IN GM'S LETTER TO OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-877-477-1022 TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPURCHASING THEIR VEHICLE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2005 Buick Rendezvous Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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