Used Buick Rendezvous Buying Guide: 2002-2007 Engines, Recalls and Checks

Every Buick Rendezvous for sale right now is somewhere between 19 and 24 years old, so the smartest buy is usually a 2004-2006 with the 3.6-liter V6, or a later 3.5, with transmission receipts in the glovebox. Before price comes up, run the VIN for the fuel tank recall that hit 2002-2004 trucks and the 2003 steering shaft recall, then drive it hot and check that reverse still engages.

On Saturday night, October 17, 2026, I ran every Rendezvous model year through NHTSA's recall API and went back through Consumer Guide's used-vehicle file and two Car and Driver tests. The 2007 query came back with zero campaigns, which surprised me a little. The early years carry most of the recall load, and they also have most of the known trouble spots.

What the Rendezvous actually is

Think tall minivan with SUV styling. Consumer Guide's 2002-07 Rendezvous file says it was related to the Pontiac Aztek but got a four-inch longer wheelbase and body to make room for a third row, and that it rode on GM's front-drive minivan platform. Car and Driver's 2002 first drive said the same thing more bluntly: it looks and drives like a minivan. If you were cross-shopping a real van anyway, our used Dodge Grand Caravan guide is the honest comparison.

The engine history matters for price. Early trucks got a 185-hp 3.4-liter pushrod V6 and a four-speed automatic. For 2004 Buick added the Ultra with a 245-hp 3.6-liter V6, also optional on the CXL, and Car and Driver's Ultra test clocked it at 8.3 seconds to 60, 2.3 seconds quicker than its last 3.4 run. A 195-hp 3.5 replaced the 3.4 for 2006. Consumer Guide says the 2007 lost both the optional V6 and all-wheel drive, so any listing for a "2007 Rendezvous AWD" deserves a VIN decode before you get excited.

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Field guides, red flags, and the occasional discount.

Recalls to clear by VIN

07V349, 2002-2004: the fuel tank inlet check valve can crack, especially in heat, letting fuel droplets collect on the tank. Dealers replace the tank.
03V454, 2004: a weld between that check valve and the tank can fail and leak fuel. Dealers check the tank serial number and swap it if listed.
03V052, 2003: the steering column intermediate shaft was made too small in diameter and can spin in its coupling, which means loss of steering.
02V222 and 03V051, 2002-2003: driver air bag inflators that can fracture or not deploy as designed.
04V150, 2003-2004: the liftgate latch support may not hold in a severe crash. Dealers add reinforcements.
05V157, 2004: contaminated ignition relay contacts can cause stalls that won't restart right away.
06V417, 2005-2006: cloth-seat trucks later fitted with aftermarket leather can confuse the passenger air bag sensor. GM's remedy was to buy those vehicles back.

Check a specific truck at NHTSA's recall API, then use our Buick recall check by VIN walkthrough to confirm whether this VIN got the repair. Honestly, the fuel tank one is the recall I'd chase hardest. A truck that smells like gas on a warm afternoon is not a "minor" listing detail.

Known trouble spots

Consumer Guide's trouble-spot list reads like a transmission warning label. It names a side cover gasket leak (2004), servo cover seal leaks (2002-04), loss of reverse, second or fourth gear that needed sturdier parts (2002-05), and no reverse or slipping out of reverse when hot (2003-04). So the test drive has to be long enough to get everything hot, and then you back up a slope. If reverse hesitates, walk.

On 2002-03 trucks with the 3.4, it also lists oil or coolant leaking near the intake manifold, fixed with a redesigned gasket and new bolts. Look for wet residue where the intake meets the heads, and ask whether the gasket was ever done. The same years can throw ABS, traction control or "AWD disabled" lights from excessive play in the front hub bearings. That's a cheaper fix than it looks, but it tells you the truck has been ignored. Consumer Guide also flags A/C compressor cycling on 2002-03 and a 2004 overheating gauge that needed a computer reflash.

About Versatrak: Consumer Guide notes it has no low-range gearing and only sends power rearward when the front wheels slip. It's a snow-road system, not an off-road one. On the test drive, try a hard launch on loose gravel and listen for clunks from the rear, and ask for any record of rear drive unit fluid service. If a shop reported it, it may show up on a history report; if nobody can say, assume it was never done.

Before you buy

Decode the VIN with our Buick VIN decoder guide so a "3.6 Ultra" really is one. Search NMVTIS for salvage or junk brands, because a rebuilt brand that quietly vanished after a move to another state is precisely what you're screening for on a cheap old crossover. Then pull a real history report rather than trusting a printout the seller made for you. If a 20-year-old Buick isn't the plan after all, our used Buick Enclave guide covers a newer three-row Buick.

CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or GM. In mid October 2026, guests pay about $5.50 a report, members around $4.50, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck pair runs near $6.75, versus roughly $39.99 to $44.99 if you buy retail. Treat those as approximate and check the total at checkout.