NHTSA complaint: 2006 BUICK RENDEZVOUS — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH WAS COMPLETELY MELTED - HAD I NOT GONE OUT WHEN I DID, THE CAR PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED - THERE SHOULD BE SAFETY FEATURES INT HE VEHICLE TO CUT THE POWER TO THE CHARGER IMMEDIATELY IF THERE IS A SHORT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER LAST NIGHT. THEY ARE CLAIMING THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY THOUGH THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE RENDEZVOUS. BESIDES THIS - THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON TWICE, THE TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT TO GO, THE ALARM SYSTEM NEVER WORKED AS WELL AS THE REMOTE START. THEY SOLD ME A VEHICLE WITH KNOWN ISSUES AND DON'T WANT TO STAND BEHIND IT. I DON'T THINK I WILL EVER BUY A BUICK AGAIN. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation