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2006 Buick Rendezvous Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2006 Buick Rendezvous has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Fuel supply line corrosion and leakage.” Buick uses the GM Oil Life System: an algorithm tracks engine revolutions and temperature, then lights the change-oil message — typically every 7,500 miles in mixed driving, capped at 12 months, using dexos-approved oil. Current Encore GX and Envista run 1.2/1.3L turbo three-cylinders where oil quality matters more than volume drivers expect (the sump is small and turbo-heated). Front-drive models pair to a CVT with a published fluid interval — it is not a lifetime part.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2006 Buick Rendezvous.

Reported to NHTSA

Fuel supply line corrosion and leakage

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

11 NHTSA complaints · 2012-10 → 2024-07

“Fuel line heat shield rusted and is leaking gas. I noticed gas outside before getting into car few days before gas leak was noticeable. I could not tell if it was my car or not as it was always in a parking lot that I noticed smelling gas”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11600965
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED A SECTION OF THE FUEL LINE THAT HAD EXCESSIVE RUST”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10785379

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Erratic fuel gauge reading

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2010-09 → 2011-09

“ERRATIC GAS GAUGE !!! ANY WHERE BETWEEN 1/2 AND EMPTY THE GAS GAUGE WILL READ SOMETHING DIFFERENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10357871
“FUEL GAUGE HAS BEEN GROSSLY INACCURATE SINCE ABOUT THE FALL OF 2009. WE ARE NEVER SURE IF WE ARE GOING TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND BE STRANDED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10425827

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Hard start and no-start condition

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2011-08 → 2019-03

“VEHICLE HAS HARD START WHEN ENGINE IS HOT. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN RUNNING ERRANDS. BY THE TIME YOU COME OUT OF THE STORE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO START. TAKES MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11189680
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10631607
“2006 BUICK RENDEZVOUS WILL NOT START UNTIL I PUT MY FOOT ON GAS PEDAL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10422276

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stall and reduced engine power while driving

ENGINE

19 NHTSA complaints · 2009-10 → 2018-05

“AT ANY GIVEN SPEED THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE IS NO POWER STEERING, ETC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10556417
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING AT NUMEROUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10746291
“WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON JUNE 5, 2016 AND JUNE 11, 20176. THE VEHICLE JUST WENT TOTALLY DEAD. THE MOTOR, THE POWER STEERING, EVERYTHING...WENT TOTALLY DEAD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10604721

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear ball joint fracture and wheel collapse

SUSPENSION

5 NHTSA complaints · 2010-11 → 2016-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE REAR BALL JOINT FAILED. THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL FRACTURED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10363717
“MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON A 2 LANE ROADWAY,HEARD A LOUD BANG, LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND CROSSED THE CENTERLINE , THEN SWERVED BACK ACROSS ROAD TO HER SIDE AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10684074
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD BEFORE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND ROLLED OVER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10854315

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment and warning light

AIR BAGS

9 NHTSA complaints · 2006-04 → 2019-06

“"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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11217705
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK RENDEZVOUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN SOMEONE WAS SEATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10780257
“TL* - THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL 06V417000 FOR 2006 BUICK RENDEZVOUS . THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND ASKED TO BUY IT BACK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10177151

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change when the Oil Life System calls it — typically around 7,500 miles, never beyond 12 months. dexos1 0W-20 on modern engines. Small-displacement turbos (Encore GX, Envista): don't stretch the indicator.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles with the oil change — GM pairs the two in its schedule.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and lines at every service. Older Centurys: check rear drum adjustment and parking-brake cables, which seize with age.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

CVT Fluid (Encore GX / Envista FWD)

Every 45,000 mi

FWD Encore GX and Envista use a CVT: GM schedules fluid replacement around 45,000 miles under severe service — which includes most city commuting. AWD Encore GX uses a 9-speed automatic instead (see transmission fluid).

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Conventional automatics (Century's 4T65-E, Regal's Aisin, AWD Encore GX's 9-speed): GM lists 45,000 miles severe / longer normal. Older Buicks respond well to a simple drain-and-fill — avoid pressure flushes on high-mile units.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Small-turbo three-cylinders (Encore GX, Envista): roughly every 60,000 miles — check the manual. Older 3.1/3.8 V6s: iridium plugs last to 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM schedules replacement around 45,000 miles; inspect at every oil change in dusty regions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles; replace on cracking or glazing rather than mileage alone.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace roughly every 22,500 miles per GM's schedule — behind the glovebox on modern Buicks.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (Dex-Cool)

Every 150,000 mi

Dex-Cool is rated 5 years / 150,000 miles. On older 3.1/3.8 V6s, intake-gasket seepage was the classic failure — check coolant level and condition at every oil change on a Century.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Stop-start-equipped Encore GX/Envista use AGM batteries — replace like-for-like, not with a cheaper flooded battery.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

87 crashes 1990–2024

How the 87 occupant deaths break down

67

driver deaths

20

passenger deaths

87

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2006 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

9

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2006 Buick Rendezvous reflects Buick's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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