2006 Buick Rendezvous Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2006 Rendezvous most often describe engines cutting out while driving, sometimes with a 'reduced engine power' message and loss of power steering, along with rusted-through fuel lines near the driver's side. Suspension and wheel-bearing wear, a group of airbag sensor concerns, and several electrical/starting faults also appear in the sampled complaints, mostly at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 21 complaints (24%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 8.7 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2025

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning at various speeds, sometimes with a 'reduced engine power' or 'service engine soon' message and a total loss of power steering and brakes. Some owners say the vehicle restarts after sitting a few minutes, then stalls again; others report a hard start when the engine is hot, needing several attempts or throttle input. Diagnostics vary — a camshaft position sensor, a body control module, fuse box wiring and an ignition switch are all mentioned — and in several cases dealers could not reproduce the problem. Spread across the sample from roughly 50,000 to 170,000 miles, with many reports between 60,000 and 100,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the stalling has been diagnosed and what parts were replaced; have a pre-purchase scan check for stored codes and confirm the ignition switch and fuse box wiring are sound. Test a hot restart during the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On sept.21, 2010, while driving my child to school. I pulled out into the highway where my 2006 Buick Rendezvous stalled out and the service engine light soon came on. On sept.22, 2010 I took my Rendezvous to the Buick shop where they scanned for codes that came back as the camshaft position sensor faulty. A new sensor was installed and codes cleared on sept.23, 2010. On sept.23, 2010 my Rendezvous stalled again and service engine light soon came on while driving on the interstate. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10360183, filed 2010-10, 68,847 miles

   “I was traveling down the interstate doing the speed limit of 70mph. Out of nowhere, the car flashed reduced engine power light and would not accelerate. Then the service engine soon light came on and a red battery light also. The car lost all power and power steering. I had to force the car into the emergency lane on the interstate without wrecking. I turned the ignition off and let the car sit for a couple of minutes and it started back up. I made it about 10 miles down the road and it did it again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10576660, filed 2014-04, 89,756 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Ball joint, wheel bearing and front-end wear

   • 13 complaints (15%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2025

   Complaints describe rear ball joints breaking while driving, in one case letting the wheel collapse, and front wheel bearings failing repeatedly. Owners also mention tie rods, sway bars and loose front-end parts, with clunking or popping noises over bumps and vibration or pull while driving. Reported from very low mileage up to about 150,000 miles, with many between 50,000 and 90,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have a shop check ball joints, wheel bearings and tie rod ends for play and noise, and listen for clunks or pops during a test drive over uneven roads.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “10/2012 - (aprox 115,000 miles on vehicle) vehicle was turning left onto a city street when without notice the right rear ball joint broke off and forced me to the side of the street. Luckily there were no cars directly behind me. The vehicle had to be towed and repaired. The left ball joint was deemed good at that time. Once in repair, front tie rods where also replaced in prevention of any failure because of there poor condition. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10681680, filed 2015-02, 115,000 miles

   “I was driving on the freeway going around a bend at about 65 MPH when I heard a bang and thought it was the tire. It took all my effort to get it over to the side of the road. I have new tires on the vehicle. When I got out to look, the wheel was bent out and first thing I thought was tie rod. Tire is fine. When my husband and uncle came out they noticed the ball joint had broke off. Thank goodness I had control of the vehicle and did not hurt myself or someone else. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10812055, filed 2015-12, 85,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Rusted fuel lines leaking near the driver's side

   • 17 complaints (19%)
   • median 82,500 mi at 7.9 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2024

   Owners describe fuel lines that rust through, often under a protective sleeve beneath the driver's seat or at the engine, producing a strong fuel smell or visible leaking after fueling. Some report the line bursting in several places and being replaced at their own cost; others noticed heavy corrosion before any leak appeared. Mostly reported between about 37,000 and 140,000 miles, including several under 100,000 miles.

   What to check: Have the fuel lines inspected along their full length, especially the sleeved section under the driver's floor, and check for a fuel smell after filling the tank.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My gas cap light and service engine light continue to come on since january of 2014. I have been told several reasons why this happen and took my vehicle back to carmax three times for same issue. Here is different diagnosis and the repairs done: 2 new factory installed gas caps and purge solenoid replaced due to leak. Both lights are still on.”

   NHTSA complaint #10583295, filed 2014-04, 90,000 miles

   “I am the owner of a 2006 Buick Rendezvous with 133,000+ miles. I am writing to document a serious safety issue that has occurred as a result of a manufacturer defect on my vehicle. On october 17 2016 I filled my tank at the shell station at 5842 columbia pike in virginia. Once the gas tank was filled, I noticed a significant amount of fuel pouring from the underside, top and down the side and rearmost end of the gas tank. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10916378, filed 2016-10, 133,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   No-start, dead power and electrical faults

   • 25 complaints (28%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 8.7 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2024

   Complaints describe electrical faults that leave the vehicle dead or hard to start, including a melted wiring harness under the dash after using the console charger, door control panels that stop working, and a fluctuating fuel gauge. Several owners report having to move or jiggle fuse box wiring under the hood to get the engine to start. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 175,000 miles, with a few at lower mileage.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that power windows, locks, interior lights and the fuel gauge work consistently, and ask whether the battery, alternator or any wiring repairs have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I plugged my cell phone into the car charger in the front console. When I returned to the car after about 15 minutes, it was filled with smoke that was coming out of the car charger. I immediately unplugged the charger. I tried to start the car and it was completely dead. After examining the fuses, I noticed that the one for the charger as well as the one for the interior lights was completely melted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10466345, filed 2012-07, 72,000 miles

   “Engine would shut off while driving or not start after driving. Engine power reduced light comes on and speed throttled down to 20mph, check engine light stays on now. Replaced relay box under hood since a connector was found burned. Have also replaced the computer, alternator, ignition relay switch, fuel sensor relay. Has not been driven on highway at all for fear of it happining in high speed traffic. Problems have been consistently happening since purchased oct 2015.”

   NHTSA complaint #10909575, filed 2016-09, 90,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag sensor does not detect occupants

   • 9 complaints (10%)
   • median 123,670 mi at 8.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2019

   Owners report the passenger-side airbag indicator staying off or showing inactive with someone seated, including a case where the system did not activate for a passenger just above the design weight threshold. One owner describes airbags not deploying in a collision. A related recall covers vehicles reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat covers, which the recall text says can make the passenger sensing system malfunction. Mileage varies widely, from under 3,000 to about 150,000 miles.

   Recall 06V417000

   What to check: Ask whether the seat-cover recall work was completed if the seats were reupholstered, and confirm the passenger airbag indicator reads correctly with an adult seated before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall I was in a car accident on 4/8/19 it did not involve another vehicle. It was raining and I was coming off the highway to my exit and looked to my left to see if I was able to merge, when I did my right tire hit the side of some wet grass and when it did my car started spinning outta control and I ended up hitting a palm tree straight on. My air bag did not deploy and I ended up with a broken back in 2 places. I had 2 have 2 surgery's thus far. I had my seat belt on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11217705, filed 2019-06, 279,215 miles

   “I purchased my 2006 Rendezvous on 8/28/2006. It had 15,445 miles on it and was still covered under the manufacturers warranty. It was originally manufactured with cloth seats but at the time of my purchase I upgraded to leather which the dealership handled and included in the price of my purchase. I have just learned this week, that on 10/31/2006 a recall was issued for the exact model I purchased where cloth seats were later replaced with leather. According to the recall, problems with the airbag sensor have happened on these vehicles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10564885, filed 2014-02, 15,446 miles

Buying note. These are older vehicles, and the reports concentrate on stalling, corroded fuel lines and worn front-end parts, so a careful mechanical inspection before purchase matters more than mileage alone. Ask for service records covering fuel lines, ignition/electrical repairs and suspension work, and budget for the possibility that some of these items have not been addressed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.