2006 Buick Rendezvous Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2006 Buick Rendezvous has a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 2nd-worst of 3 model years tracked. Owners most often reported Electrical System issues (25% of complaints), followed by Fuel System and Engine problems, alongside one airbag recall.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #2 of 3 Rendezvous years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 89
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 9
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 8
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- Best nearby year
- —
- no alternative with data
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 16 city / 23 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 8 / 0
Top 2006 Buick Rendezvous problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System22 (25%)
- Fuel System19 (21%)
- Engine18 (20%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires15 (17%)
- Transmission & Powertrain11 (12%)
- Steering10 (11%)
- Airbags9 (10%)
- Brakes7 (8%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (7%)
- Structure & Body4 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Rear ball joints have broken suddenly during turns or highway driving, causing loss of steering control and wheel collapse.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during crashes, including a rollover after a wheel collapse.
- Some owners say the vehicle could roll away after being placed in park, with the ignition key removable while still in drive.
- Electrical shorts have been reported, including a case where a phone charger caused smoke and blew multiple fuses.
- Owners describe floor mats interfering with the accelerator and brake pedals, leading to unintended acceleration.
- Tie rod ends and tires have needed early replacement after reports of front-end vibration and pulling to one side.
2006 Buick Rendezvous recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 06V417000Oct 31, 2006Airbags794 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
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.
Risk: 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.
2006 Buick Rendezvous fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other Rendezvous years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Buick Rendezvous reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 89 complaints for the 2006 model year, giving it a Complaint Index of 50, the second-worst among the 3 Rendezvous model years with data. Electrical System problems were the most common issue, making up 25% of complaints.
- What problems does the 2006 Buick Rendezvous have?
- Owners most often reported issues with the Electrical System (25% of complaints), Fuel System (21%), and Engine (20%). Suspension problems, including broken rear ball joints, were also reported, with a median failure mileage of 87,500 miles.
- Does the 2006 Buick Rendezvous have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists one recall, campaign 06V417000, covering an airbag passenger sensing system issue on vehicles reupholstered with leather seat cover kits. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2006 Rendezvous compare to other years?
- The 2006 model's Complaint Index of 50 is worse than the 2007 model's index of 0 but better than the 2005 model's index of 100. Among the 3 years tracked, 2006 ranks 2nd-worst.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Buick Rendezvous?
- EPA rates the 2006 Rendezvous at 19 mpg combined (16 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400.