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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2003 Buick Rendezvous Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
25about this part
Share
9%of 281 total for the year
Median mileage
63,500miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2003 Buick Rendezvous, 9% of the 281 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 63,500 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Awd disabled itself and the antilock came on and have started to stay on then when I make turns the car starts screaching really loud so I just recently learned of a recall for this so what can I do”

NHTSA complaint #10722468, filed 2015-05, 131,000 miles

“I was looking up info on my car found there was recalls on my specific problem. The transmission shifts very hard with poor engine performance. It idles high and at times it sputters taking off from a stop. I am afraid one of these times it will stall and will end up in an accident. We had it hooked up for a diagnostic it came up trouble code p0742. This is our main transportation and the car used to transport our son. I would really like to get this fixed before it becomes a major issue or a problem resulting in a new car or accident.”

NHTSA complaint #10522158, filed 2013-06, 147,500 miles

“I have had to replace the front and back brakes and rotors in my 2003 Buick Rendezvous twice now - one at 36,000 miles and again just recently at 73,000 miles. I had to have $1200 worth of work on the transmission at 62,000 miles because a gasket was leaking and causing transmission fluid to leak into the anti-freeze. Buick knew of this problem and had changed the design in 2003, but after I had purchased my vehicle. Now, I have been told the transmission cooling lines are leaking. Didn't they notice that when I had the transmission work done or did they cause it? …”

NHTSA complaint #10221120, filed 2008-03, 62,000 miles

“I have had so many problems with my Rendezvous I feel like the dealership has had my car more than I have. For starters, the front and rear hub failed four times, with the fourth one still needing to be repaired and GM refusing to address the problem because of the number of miles on the car, the check engine light stays on intermittently, the rear wiper stays on and I had to remove the fuse, I have replaced the tires three times with no explaination on the uneven excessive wear, the power steering pump makes loud whining noise and leaks power steering fluid with no explaination, windshield…”

NHTSA complaint #10150005, filed 2006-02, 36,000 miles

“Driving down the road all of a sudden no matter what speed you are driving and the temparture of car it slips while in drive out of gear and starts in gear when it wants to which is bad on highway going 55-70 MPH on the interstate highway when cars are behind you and you can not go any speed but coast and is getting worse”

NHTSA complaint #11031972, filed 2017-10, 125,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2007819%
20061112%
20051712%
2004126%
2003259%
2002408%

Other parts of the 2003 Buick Rendezvous

Fuel system
84 complaints
Engine cooling
53 complaints
Brakes
45 complaints
Electrical system
45 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
22 complaints
Suspension
21 complaints
Steering
17 complaints
Engine
9 complaints
Other or unknown
9 complaints
Body and structure
9 complaints
Equipment
8 complaints
Air bags
7 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Buick Rendezvous

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology