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2004 Buick Rendezvous FWD

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Rendezvous FWD.

Body SUV

The 2004 Buick Rendezvous FWD is a mid-size SUV built on GM’s versatile U-body platform, blending car-like ride comfort with available seating for up to seven passengers and a modest 4.5-quart oil capacity that reflects its efficient 5W-30 API-rated engine design. Sharing underpinnings with contemporary minivans and crossover siblings, this model year stands as a practical choice for families seeking utility without the bulk of a traditional truck-based SUV. However, its reliability narrative is tempered by a notable volume of owner-reported issues—200 complaints, with electrical system faults emerging as the most persistent concern—alongside five official recalls, signaling a year where routine maintenance and vigilance for early warning signs would have been particularly prudent.

Model year2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731179. Note the factory cabin air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215-70R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731179 alt 12731175
Engine air filter	19166106 alt 10354942
Fuel filter	10290491 alt 10333072
Spark plug	19301814 alt 12681664
Battery	88865491 alt 88866306
Front wiper blades	10413111 alt 10317151
Serpentine belt	12578003 alt 12588408
Thermostat	24507563 alt 10226107
Cabin air filter	10322538 discontinued

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	186.2 in
Overall width	73.6 in
Overall height	68.9 in
Wheelbase	112.2 in
Curb weight	3951 lb
Track (front / rear)	62.2 / 63.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	58/42

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, VERSATRAK PART NUMBER: 1238514 OR EQUIVALENT in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	7.4
Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	7.8
Differential Gear Oil	VERSATRAK PART NUMBER: 1238514 OR EQUIVALENT
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	22.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	24.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	21.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	192 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	192 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	AC 41-101
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	AC 41-988

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.68 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	7.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	78

Service checks

Pressure Test	15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	52-59
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-60

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	26 ft-lbs / 33 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	137 ft-lbs / 92 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.181 in / 0.43 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.181 in / 0.43 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	1.118 in / 0.405 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2004 Buick Rendezvous FWD lead in one area — the electrical system, 51 of 200 reports (26%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the electrical system are also the target of recall 05V-157 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 14 of the reports describe a crash and 2 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electrical system pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

473

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

200

Owner complaints

14 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 200 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System51

Fuel/Propulsion System15

Fuel System, Gasoline14

Engine & Engine Cooling11

Air Bags10

Unknown Or Other7

Structure4

Steering4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

05V157000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 20/04/2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION ON IGNITION RELAY CONTACTS CAN CAUSE HIGH RESISTANCE. THIS CAN AFFECT SIGNALS TO THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND, COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION RELAY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080.

07E021000Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief DevicesReported 12/03/2007

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE… Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 473 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIP5358D	2025-02-19	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP4723J	2024-10-25	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Rendezvous FWD. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 78 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731179 Engine air filter 19166106 Fuel filter 10290491 Spark plug 19301814

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2004 Rendezvous FWD take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2004 Rendezvous FWD have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.