Saturday, August 8, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2002 Buick Rendezvous vs 2002 Ford Explorer

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric2002 Buick Rendezvous2002 Ford Explorer
NHTSA complaints4863,294
Recall campaigns24
Service bulletins (TSBs)391258
Investigations27
Crash reports18144
Fire reports857
NCAP overall rating
EPA MPG (combined)18–2014–17
Median reported incident mileage70,250 mi79,300 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentBuick RendezvousFord Explorer
Power Train401,502
Structure20486
Suspension45421
Engine and Engine Cooling115163
Electrical System103148
Air Bags24162
Steering16155
Vehicle Speed Control7152

Symptoms owners describe

Overheating430
Stalling34138
Check engine light1561
Won’t start100
Brake problems100
Rust / corrosion947
Airbag warning light666
Vibration / shaking598

Compare all Buick Rendezvous vs Ford Explorer years →

Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.