2004 Buick Rainier

Routine

Owners filed 158 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 2 times.

Not among the Buick Rainier years to avoid. Which Buick Rainier years to avoid →

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
64,000 milesMedian miles at failure

132 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 40,000–50,000 miles.

Most common 2004 Buick Rainier problems

73 of the 158 complaints (46%) are about the electrical system.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System45
020
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel25
000
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration10
201
Exterior Lighting · headlights9
000
Fuel System, Gasoline · fuel system7
000
Air Bags · airbags7
506
Fuel/Propulsion System · fuel and propulsion system6
000
Power Train · transmission5
000
Suspension4
000
Exterior Lighting › Headlights · headlights4
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal05V198000
Filed May 5, 2005286,478 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DRIVER WISHING TO SIGNAL A TURN BY MOVING THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL LEVER, (UP OR DOWN) MAY CAUSE THE FRONT MARKER/TURN LIGHTS AND REAR TURN LIGHTS TO FLASH IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO HAZARD WARNING, RATHER THAN FLASHING ON THE DESIRED SIDE ONLY.

Risk. THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CLEARLY SIGNAL THEIR INTENTIONS TO TURN, CHANGE TRAVEL LANES, OR POTENTIALLY WARN OTHERS OF AN IMPAIRED VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT FLASHER MODULES WITH A NEW FLASHER MODULE DESIGNED WITH SEALED RELAYS AND MORE DURABLE CONTACT MATERIAL INSIDE OF THE RELAYS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2005. ISUZU BEGAN MAILING OWNER LETTERS ON AUGUST 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, AND OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights04V527000
Filed Nov 1, 2004871,473 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, VIBRATION AND HEAT MAY CAUSE THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP BULB TO LOOSEN IN ITS SOCKET. IF THIS OCCURS, THE BULB MAY FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Risk. AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP ASSEMBLIES, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

All 2 campaigns on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Exterior Lighting
Filed Apr 15, 2019150,471 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MINUTES. WHEN THE LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON, THE LIGHTING WAS DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO J.D. BYRIDER (5101 NEW BERN AVE, RALEIGH, NC 27610) WHERE THEY REPLACED THE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT DRIVER MODULE ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,471.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed May 31, 2018TN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND THE CONTACT REMAINED IN A COMA FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HEAD, WHICH CAUSED WALKING COMPLICATIONS AND A LOSS OF FEELING IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT SUFFERED A LOSS OF SIGHT IN THE RIGHT EYE DUE TO A CRUSHED SKULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed May 17, 2018174,000 milesVA

I NOTICED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016 MY BUICK RAINNER WAS SMELLING LIKE GASOLINE AFTER I GOT OUT AND LEFT IT RUNNING WHILE I WAS DROPPING STUFF AT HOME FROM WORK. WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY VEHICLE I DIDN'T SMELL ANYTHING, BUT COULD SMELL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I WENT ABOUT ANOTHER 10 MILES LATER TO MY DESTINATION AND PARK. 20 MINS LATER WENT BACK OUT AND CRANK MY VEHICLE AND COULD SMELL A STRONG GAS ODOR COMING THRU VENTS ON THE INSIDE OF MY SUV. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I WALKED TOWARD THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE THE GAS SMELL WAS EVEN STRONGER. I CHECKED THE FUEL / GAS TOP TO SEE I LEFT IT OFF BUT IT WASN'T. THEN I LOOKED UNDER MY VEHICLE AND NOTICE FUEL WAS POURING OUT AROUND MY GAS TANK AND NOTICE A BIG WET SPOT ON THE GROUND UNDER THE TANK. WHEN I CUT OFF THE VEHICLE I NOTICE THE GAS COMING FROM AROUND THE TANK HAS STOP. HAD MY VEHICLE TOOKEN TO A LOCAL GM/ BUICK DEALER. THE DID A INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND SAID WHAT EVER THE PROBLEM WAS IT WAS AT THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. SO GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO WORK ON IT AND FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. TWO DAYS LATER THE DEALER CALL ME AND SAID THAT THE GAS LINES GOING INTO THE TOP OF THE TANK WHERE FUEL PUMP GOES INTO THE TANK GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THEM. THEY COULDN'T TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT CAUSES MY LINES TO START LEAKING AT THE TOP OF THE TANK. ( AFTER READING THIS NHTSA REPORT IN 2008 ON THE CAUSE AND GM/ BUICK EXTENDED A WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS OR 120,000 WARRANTY). I'M TOTALLY UPSET

Exterior Lighting
Filed Apr 26, 2018116,400 milesFL

HEADLIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING LAST NIGHT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE HIGH BEAMS STILL WORKED. THIS IS ABOUT THE SIXTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I CHANGED OUT THE HEADLIGHT RELAY JUST BEFORE THIS OCCURRED AS I HAD SEEN A RECALL ON 2006 AND 2007 RAINIERS SHOWING THIS AS THE PROBLEM. AFTER A SHORT TIME THE HIGH BEAMS ALSO WENT OUT. I PARKED AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF FOR A WHILE AND WHEN I RESTARTED THE HIGH BEAMS WERE WORKING AGAIN BUT NOT THE LOW BEAMS. I WAS DOING A COMBINATION OF STREET AND HIGHWAY DRIVING AND IT APPEARS TO BE UNRELATED TO ANY ROAD CONDITIONS AS THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 21, 2018109,722 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, A FUEL ODOR WAS NOTICED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR WAS STRONGER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINES WERE ROTTED AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,722.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Dec 22, 2017200,000 milesCA

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILURE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. FIRST TIME A YEAR OR SO AGO, LOW BEAM RELAY REPLACED BY BEST RECOLLECTION

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Dec 21, 20175,000 milesMI

TRANSFER CASE SHIFT MODULE CONTROL MODULE

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Jul 22, 2017114,000 milesSC

LOW BEAMS ON LIGHTING GOES OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY JUST CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ALTHOUGH THEY HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE THERE WITH SAME PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH GM SUV'S. MY 1994 GMC DID THE SAME THING AND I HEARD REPORTS OF OTHER GMC'S DOING THE SAME THING. NOT GOOD ON INTERSTATES AT NIGHT.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 14, 2017113,000 milesSC

LOW BEAM LIGHTS GO OUT WHEN RIGHT TURN SIGNAL IS APPLIED AND RETURNS TO CENTER POSITION. A/C COOLING FAN DOES NOT COOL COMPRESSOR ENOUGH TO RUN A/C AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSING PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN FERON RECEIVER. CAR IS AT IDLE OR LOW SPEED.

Electrical System
Filed May 2, 2017PA

I'VE BEEN HAVING SPORADIC FLICKERING LOW BEAM ISSUES WITH THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT, AND HAVE SPENT UNTOLD HOURS AND TIME TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT INCLUDING TAKING IT TO THE DEALER. (I WORK NIGHTS.) LAST WEEK THE LOW BEAMS FAILED ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK AT MIDNIGHT. RESEARCHED IT, AND FINALLY SAW THE RECALL FOR GMS AND SUBSEQUENTLY AN AP STORY ABOUT WIDENING THE RECALL THAT WAS DATED APRIL 29. (I WORK AT A NEWSPAPER AND SAW THE WIRE STORY). I BOUGHT AND REPLACED THE MODULE MYSELF LAST WEEK, AND THINGS ARE WORKING WELL NOW AND SEEM TO BE FIXED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER INFORMS ME THAT THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE GM RECALL FOR FAILING HEADLIGHT MODULES, SO I CAN NOT GET MY MONEY BACK FOR THE MODULE. THIS MAKE AND YEAR MODEL SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT OTHER MODELS AND YEARS THAN HAVE BEEN RECENTLY RECALLED, ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. IT TRULY IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND UP UNTIL LAST WEEK, I WAS ALWAYS WONDERING WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD FAIL. NOT A NICE FEELING WHEN YOU WORK NIGHTS.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Aug 20, 2016VA

I TRIED TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED TODAY IN VIRGINIA BUT IT FAILED DUE TO THE DUMMY LIGHTS ON IN THE DASH BOARD ABS AND BRAKE. THE DEALER COULD NOT COMM WITH COMP BUT CHANGED THE FUSE FOR THE CIG LIGHTER THEN THE CODES READ EBCM MODULE FAULT.. IN 2014 MY RUNNING HEADLIGHTS WOULD JUST GO OUT.. NO LIGHTS UNTIL I PUT ON HIGH BEAMS I HAVE HAD THEM WORKED ON AND CHANGED BUT STILL BURN OUT

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jul 10, 2016110,000 milesNC

AFTER HEADLIGHTS ARE ON FOR A LONG TIME THEY WILL GO OFF.

Power Train
Filed Jun 23, 2016FL

I WAS MAKING ON U-TURN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THEN I CONTINUED TO PROCEED, MY BACK TIRES WAS STUCK. THEY STARTED SLIDING ON THE ROAD, THEY WOULD NOT TURN. DRIVING STRAIGHT FORWARD IS FINE. ONLY MAKING TURN AND PARKING ISVERY DIFFICULT. I HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC, HE SAID THAT MY TRUCK IS STUCK IN 4WD. ALSO MY CV JOINT SEAL HAS A LEAK.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jun 6, 20161,122,850 milesMN

DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ELECTRICAL FIRE - VERY SIMILAR TO RECALL 15700 -FLUID ENTERED INTO THE DRIVER'S DOOR MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH MODULE, CAUSING CORROSION THAT COULD RESULT IN A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT BOARD, CAUSING WINDOW SWITCHES, LOCKS, ETC TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. ALSO RESULTED IN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. VEHICLE WAS UNATTENDED IN A PARKING LOT AND WINDOW WAS OPEN JUST AN INCH. UPON RETURN TO CAR WINDOW WAS UP AND DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITH REMOTE. OPENED VEHICLE WITH KEY AND NOTED HORRIBLE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL FIRE AND ALL DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ELECTRICAL FEATURES WERE INOPERATIVE

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 28, 2016GA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR A VOLUNTARY RECALL AND DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL FUMES EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INLET CHECK VALVE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE GLUED TOGETHER AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY DUE TO PART UNAVAILABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 14, 201692,643 milesAZ

WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED YOU CAN SMELL GASOLINE CAN PARK CAR IN GARAGE DUE TO OUR WATER HEATER RECEIVED NOTICE FROM G M IN NOVEMBER 2015 (G M SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM,14423) CAN'T GET NOWHERE WITH G M SINCE NOVEMBER 2015

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Nov 3, 201524,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

Tires
Filed Oct 27, 201585,000 milesWI

BLOW OUT OF TIRE ON INTERSTATE 90 IN MADISON AT 70 MPH. SIDEWALL OF TIRE DISINTEGRATED. NEARLY LOST CONTROL. TIRE WAS A GENERAL ALTIMAX HP, SIZE 255/60-17 ON A 2004 BUICK RENIER.. TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES. AND HAD BEEN ROTATED AND BALANCED.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Aug 19, 2015160,000 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Power Train
Filed Aug 14, 201539,000 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE JERKED. IN ADDITION, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENCODER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 4, 201595,000 milesMA

HAVE NOTICED AFTER A HEAVY AND DRIVING RAIN THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ACTS UP. WE CALL IT CRAZY CAR! ALL THE DASH LIGHTS BLINK & FLASH, BELLS DING AND GAUGES FLUCTUATE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS AT REST AND ON THE MOVE. WE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, SIT FOR A MINUTE AND RESTART ONLY TO GET THE SAME THING. THAT MAY HAPPEN FOR THE ENTIRE RIDE DURATION OR WE MAY GET NO DASH LIGHTS AT ALL. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THERE IS A SHORT OR A MOISTURE THAT CREATES THIS HAPPENING BECAUSE AFTER A FEW DAYS OF GOOD SUNNY WEATHER WHERE THE WATER HAS EVAPORATED FROM THE ROADWAYS, OUR BELOVED RAINER COMES BACK TO NORMAL. WE STILL EXPERIENCE THE DIMMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS AS WE ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN WE ARE CRUISING WITH NO GAS PEDAL APPLICATION AT AROUND THE 32 MPH MARKING WHICH IS RATHER ANNOYING AS OTHER DRIVERS FEEL AS IF WE ARE FLASHING THEM. WE SEE A DOWN SURGE IN THE BATTERY GAUGE DROP FOR 14 VOLTS TO 11 VOLTS AND THEN COME BACK UP. SOMETIMES THIS CAN HAPPEN ONCE OR TWICE DURING A 10 MILE RIDE OR AS MANY AS 50! WE WONDER, WHEN, OH, WHEN WILL GM PAY ATTENTION TO THESE COMPLAINTS OR ARE WE JUST TALKING INTO THE WIND?

Electrical System
Filed May 27, 2015129,848 milesWI

AFTER PARKING MY VEHICLE AND SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DID NOT TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY. THERE IS NO SWITCH IN THE CABIN TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEY DID NOT TURN OFF ON THEIR OWN. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO SHUT THE LIGHTS OFF AND PREVENT THE BATTERY FROM DRAINING COMPLETELY. I LOOKED AT THE FUSES AND RELAYS NEXT TO THE BATTERY AND NOTICED THAT THE SOLID STATE RELAY NUMBER 46 CONTROLLING HDM WAS BULGED OUT ON ONE SIDE AND SMELLED LIKE BURNT ELECTRONICS. I SWAPPED RELAY 45 INTO THE 46 POSITION AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS DID NOT ILLUMINATE WITH THE DIFFERENT RELAY IN PLACE. I NOTICED THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:14V755000, IN MY CASE IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER THE RELAY FAILED. I HAVE NEVER REPORTED ANY VEHICLE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS BEFORE BUT WONDER IF A WIDER RECALL MAY NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 10, 201580,000 milesCT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT SOCKET MELTED CAUSING THE LIGHT TO SHAKE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD LAMP MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V755000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 24, 201483,900 milesTX

I HAVE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING. ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS WORK FINE. BOTH LOW BEAMS WILL SUDDENLY GO OUT, BUT SOMETIMES WILL START WORKING AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES. OTHER TIMES IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THEY WILL WORK. *TR

Air BagsCrash
Filed Sep 24, 201452,000 milesSC

A PERSON RAN TWO STOP SIGNS AND ENTERED VEHICLE PATH. THE TWO VEHICLES HIT HEAD ON AND THIS VEHICLE MADE IMPACT AT 40 MPH AFTER IT DECELERATED FROM 43 MPH. THE TWO VEHICLE HIT HEAD ON WITH NEAR PERFECT EVEN IMPACT, BASED UPON THIRD PARTY VISUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLES DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AT A MAX SDM RECORDED VELOCITY CHANGE RATE OF -14.07 (MPH) AND A ALGORITHM ENABLED TO MAXIMUM SDM RECORDED VELOCITY CHANGE OF 127.5 MSEC. DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HEAD KNOCKING THE PERSON OUT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONSTAR WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. COMPUTER SHOWS THE SEATBELT WAS WORN BY DRIVER. WHEN THE ONSTAR WAS MANUALLY ACTIVATED BY THE DRIVER WHEN HE CAME TOO, THE GPS SHOWED THE VEHICLE FURTHER NORTH UP THE ROAD CAUSING INCORRECT POLICE DIVISION BEING CALLED. VEHICLE WAS GOING UP HILL WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING DOWNHILL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A SUBARU. VEHICLE COMPUTER DATA WAS RETRIEVED BY A BOSCH CRASH DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL USING VERSION 8.0 SOFTWARE. I HAVE A COPY OF THIS DATA. GM REPORTS THAT THE COMPUTER WAS CORRECT NOT TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS AND NOT CALL FOR HELP USING ONSTAR. THE VEHICLE HAD A SOFTWARE MODIFICATION DUE TO A FAULT WITH THE FAN SPEED CALIBRATION SETTING OFF A WARNING LIGHT. WE HAD COMPLAINED THAT THINGS WERE NEVER CORRECT AFTER THIS MODIFICATION OF THE SOFTWARE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS COMPLAINING THAT COMPUTERS WERE DOING STRANGE THINGS AFTER THI

Air BagsCrash3 injured
Filed Sep 24, 201452,000 milesSC

A PERSON RAN TWO STOP SIGNS AND ENTERED VEHICLE PATH. THE TWO VEHICLES HIT HEAD ON AND THIS VEHICLE MADE IMPACT AT 40 MPH AFTER IT DECELERATED FROM 43 MPH. THE TWO VEHICLE HIT HEAD ON WITH NEAR PERFECT EVEN IMPACT, BASED UPON THIRD PARTY VISUAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLES DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AT A MAX SDM RECORDED VELOCITY CHANGE RATE OF -14.07 (MPH) AND A ALGORITHM ENABLED TO MAXIMUM SDM RECORDED VELOCITY CHANGE OF 127.5 MSEC. DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HEAD KNOCKING THE PERSON OUT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ONSTAR WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. COMPUTER SHOWS THE SEATBELT WAS WORN BY DRIVER. WHEN THE ONSTAR WAS MANUALLY ACTIVATED BY THE DRIVER WHEN HE CAME TOO, THE GPS SHOWED THE VEHICLE FURTHER NORTH UP THE ROAD CAUSING INCORRECT POLICE DIVISION BEING CALLED. VEHICLE WAS GOING UP HILL WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING DOWNHILL. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A SUBARU. VEHICLE COMPUTER DATA WAS RETRIEVED BY A BOSCH CRASH DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL USING VERSION 8.0 SOFTWARE. I HAVE A COPY OF THIS DATA. GM REPORTS THAT THE COMPUTER WAS CORRECT NOT TO DEPLOY AIRBAGS AND NOT CALL FOR HELP USING ONSTAR. THE VEHICLE HAD A SOFTWARE MODIFICATION DUE TO A FAULT WITH THE FAN SPEED CALIBRATION SETTING OFF A WARNING LIGHT. WE HAD COMPLAINED THAT THINGS WERE NEVER CORRECT AFTER THIS MODIFICATION OF THE SOFTWARE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS COMPLAINING THAT COMPUTERS WERE DOING STRANGE THINGS AFTER THI

Steering
Filed Aug 23, 2014MI

WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNING IT SEEMED LIKE MY TIRES LOCKED UP AND MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE UNLESS I STRAIGHTENED MY STEERING WHEEL A LITTLE. IT DOES THE SAME THING WHEN PULLING FORWARD AND PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE OR DOING A U-TURN. WHEN I TOUCH THE GAS TO MAKE IT GO THE CAR JUMPS A LITTLE AND MAKES POPPING NOISES AND MY TIRES SQUEAL A LITTLE ALSO. SINCE THIS STARTED I'VE NOTICED MY GAS MILEAGE GOING DOWN. I'VE HEARD A FEW OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Aug 19, 201497,244 milesNV

POWER DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOW LOCKS ARE INOPERATIVE. HAVE LOST ALL POWER IN THE DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS AS WELL AS THE RADIO AND THE HEATER. I WAS TRAPPED IN MY CAR THIS MORNING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WITH THE WINDOWS UP AND THE HEATER WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THAT AS I COULDN'T TURN OFF THE CAR OR OPEN THE DOORS, I PRIED THE DOOR LOCK OPEN AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. *TR

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler
Filed Aug 15, 201416,000 milesND

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER OPENING THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW, THE WINDOW COULD NOT BE CLOSED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR IN EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT WOULD BECOME VERY HOT TOO THE TOUCH BEFORE THE SEAT WARMER COMPLETELY FAILED ALTOGETHER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 15, 2014141,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED AS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR AND THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

Power Train
Filed Aug 5, 201497,775 milesVA

CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO PICK UP PASSENGER'S. PUT SHIFTER INTO "PARK" BUT INDICATOR SHOWED "DRIVE". TRIED TO EXIT CAR BUT CAR WOULD MOVE, DO TO CAR WAS IN DRIVE. SHIFTER WAS NOW LOCKED IN PARK AND WOULD NOT MOVE TO ANOTHER GEAR. RETURNED HOME, TURNED OFF IGNITION. RAINIER WOULDN'T RE START BECAUSE SHIFTER WAS STUCK IN "PARK" BUT THE INDICATOR WAS IN "DRIVE". VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE ASSEMBLY. COSTING ME MORE THEN $500. CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE (SEPTEMBER 2014, PAGE 12) HAS UNDER RECALLS, HAS SOME GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. BUT MY VEHICLE US NOT INDICATED. *TR

Suspension
Filed Jun 20, 201482,300 milesMA

FRAME ROT ? I BROUGHT MY 2004 BUICK RAINIER IN FOR SERVICE AND HAD THE MECHANIC CHECK THE STATUS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME NEAR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS ROTTED THROUGH. THE STEEL DESIGN OF THE FRAME IS ?CUPPED? NEAR THE REAR WHEELS AND THERE WAS NO DRAIN HOLE IN THE AREA TO ALLOW THE ROAD WATER AND DEBRIS TO ESCAPE. HE ADVISED THAT IF I WERE TO GO OVER A POTHOLE OR HIT A BUMP THAT THE REAR WHEEL WOULD CAVE INWARD AND CAUSE A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. HE WELDED ON A STEEL PLATE TO STABILIZE THE AREA AND DRILLED A HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR FRAME ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND UNDERCOATED THE AREAS TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL DAMAGES. THE COST OF THE STEEL PLATE REPAIR, UNDERCOATING AND LABOR WAS $180. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jun 20, 201446,000 milesMA

ELECTRICAL ? MY 2004 BUICK RAINIER HAS HAD A PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS NOW WITH THE INTERMITTENT DIMMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS. AS BEST AS I CAN FIGURE OUT, IT HAPPENS NOTICEABLY AT NIGHT WHEN I AM COASTING AT 30-32 MPH. THE BATTERY VOLTAGE METER WILL DROP DOWN TO AROUND 11, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO DIM AND THEN GO BACK UP. IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS MOISTURE IN THE AIR, IT IS NOT GENERALLY AN ISSUE DURING THE MONTHS OF JAN-MAR WHERE IT IS CRISP AND DRIER. I START MY VEHICLE AND LET IT RUN FOR ABOUT A MINUTE OR MORE BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND DURING MY NIGHT TIME TRAVEL, IT MAY HAPPEN 3 TIMES OR MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A DRAIN ON THE POWER OR HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE. I FIND THIS DISCONCERTING WHEREAS MY LIGHTS ARE NOTICEABLY DIMMING TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. IT MAY APPEAR TO OTHER DRIVERS THAT I AM INDICATING WITH THE ?FLASHING? OF THE HEADLIGHTS THAT THEY CAN CUT OUT IN FRONT OF ME OR MAKE THE TURN FROM A SIDE STREET. I HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS IN THIS REGARD BUT I DRIVE KNOWING THAT IT COULD BE AN ISSUE. IT ONLY APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN I AM COASTING AND NOT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL. *TR

Suspension
Filed Jun 20, 201446,000 milesMA

AIR SUSPENSION ? IT SEEMS AS IF THE AIR SUSPENSION IS RUNNING CONTINUALLY AND COULD CAUSE A DRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AFTER I STOP THE CAR IT HUMS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME NEAR THE DRIVERS DOORS AND WILL EVENTUALLY STOP. *TR

Air Bags
Filed May 21, 2014183,346 milesMO

BOTH REAR AIR BAGS ARE STARTING TO LEAK CAUSING BACK OF CAR TO SIT LOW. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED IT WILL AIR BACK UP BUT WILL GO BACK DOWN AS SOON AS THE CAR IS PARKED. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS TO CAUSE THE DEFECT. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOUND IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I AM WANTING TO KNOW IF THIS HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A SAFETY RECALL OR A DEFECT THROUGH THE MANUFACTURE. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 17, 201492,000 milesIL

SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STEP MOTORS MALFUNCTION AND DO NOT GO BACK DOWN UPON DECELERATION. MY SPEEDO WILL SHOW I'M DOING 40 MPH WHILE STOPPED AND SOMETIMES PEG OUT WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE SITUATION WITH SPEED MANAGEMENT IN ALL TYPES OF DRIVING CONDITIONS.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 7, 2014150,000 milesTN

AIR BAG SUSPENSION WILL NOT STAY AIR UP. CONSTANTLY HAVE TO WORK ON THE ABS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Apr 1, 201432 milesIL

THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION INTO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES IS MUCH BROADER THAN CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED.. IN 2004 I PURCHASE THE BUICK RAINIER ABOVE. ON INITIAL TEST DRIVE WITH SALESMAN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AT 35 MPH. AFTER REVIEW BY THE MECHANIC IT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A COMPUTER ISSUE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AFTER RETESTING. DURING THE NEXT 4 YEARS THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 MORE TIMES. EACH TIME IT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A COMPUTER UPGRADE. I HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE THEN IN 2008. THE SYMPTOMS AND THE RESULTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH ALL REPORTED FAILURES. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WITH A BUICK FULL SIZE CAR 2006 I BELIEVE WHO HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THE REPORTS THAT THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED ON BUICKS OR SUV IS NOT CORRECT. THIS IS A LARGER PROBLEM. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 18, 2014122,000 milesSD

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 YEARS AND THE SPEEDOMETER HAS NOT WORKED FOR 2.5 YEARS NOW. IT WILL WORK IF I RESET THE BATTERY OR TURN THE KEY OVER UNTIL THE NEEDLE GOES BACK TO 0. I AM TOLD THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS BAD AND I SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ALSO. PLEASE HELP. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS COVERED AT A GM DEALERSHIP FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE ALSO SPUTTERS AND I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND HAD THE INJECTORS LOOKED AT. IF YOU CAN PLEASE EMAIL ME OR CONTACT ME I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 25, 2013124,000 milesMN

WHEN I PARK MY 2004 BUICK RAINIER IN MY GARAGE THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHICH IS GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO RESEARCH AND ULTIMATELY FOUND THAT THE 2004 GM ENVOY (SISTER VEHICLE) HAD A RECALL DUE TO A SIMILAR ISSUE AND THAT GM CONFIRMED IN 2008 THAT THE 2004 BUICK RAINIER FUEL LINE CAN RUST AND CAUSE THIS CONDITION. ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND GM EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS AND 120,000 MILES THERE WAS NO NOTICE TO CONSUMERS THAT I AM AWARE OF. MY TRUCK IS 9 YEARS OLD BUT HAS 128,000 MILES. I WILL GO TO THE DEALER THIS WEEK TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP. HISTORICALLY THE DEALER HAS BEEN LESS THAN HELPFUL WITH PROBLEMS AS I DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM THEM. BEING UNEMPLOYED I WOULD RATHER FIX MY TRUCK AT THIS TIME AS A NEW CAR IS NOT A REASONABLE SOLUTION. ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU CAN OFFER TO HELP ME WOULD BE APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Electrical System
Filed Sep 18, 2013170,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 3, 201390,000 milesWV

MY 2004 BUICK RAINIER HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHERE THE BATTERY KEEPS BEING DRAINED BY A DEAD SHORT IN THE SYSTEM AND RENDERING THE CAR USELESS SPORADICALLY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROFESSIONALS I HAVE TALKED TO DON'T SEEM TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AND I DON'T WANT TO KEEP THROWING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD IN MY ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE IT. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Aug 22, 2013150,145 milesOH

I JUST BOUGHT A BUICK RAINIER 2004. I WAS DRIVING IT AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEVER WENT BACK TO 0.TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY TRIED TO RESET IT . NO LUCK . THE SHOP TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF THEM WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MUST HAVE IT TAKEN OUT AND SENT TO BE FIXED. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM IT ITS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF CARS AND SUVS.IS THEIR ANY RECALL ON THIS .WILL THEIR BE ANY RECALLS ON THIS .I WENT ON LINE AND READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING . CAN YOU ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO .THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jul 28, 2013122,000 milesIN

THE GAUGE CLUSTER WORKS SOMETIME. THE ONLY GAUGE THAT WORKS PROPERLY IS THE SPEED. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SHORT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SEEM TO THINK THE CLUSTER IS BAD BUT AREN'T 100% SURE SENSE IT WORKS SOMETIME. THERE HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AND HAVE LOST ALL ELEC COMPONENTS (NO RADIO, NO POWER WINDOWS LOCKS, OR ANY OF THE GAUGES) AFTER READING IM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jul 15, 2013121,000 milesIL

THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT RISING FROM THE SAME ISSUE, I OWN TWO 2004 BUICK RAINIER'S AND THEY BOTH HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP BULB AND CONNECTOR BEING MELTED DUE TO POOR CONNECTION. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR SINCE THE GM PARTS CATALOG DOES NOT LIST A REPLACEMENT CONNECTOR, THEY WOULD RATHER SELL THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THE FIRST COMPLAINT OCCURRED ON MY OTHER RAINIER NOW THIS ONE. NO HEADLAMP IS A SAFETY CONCERN, AND DUE TO THE WIRING OVERHEATING AND MELTING COULD BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.*TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jun 5, 2013112,000 milesIL

I OWN TWO 2004 BUICK RAINIER'S AND HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WITH BOTH, ALSO HAVE TALKED TO MANY FRIENDS THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE HEADLAMP BULB CONNECTORS ARE MELTING WHERE THEY PLUG INTO THE BULB, CAUSING INTERMITTENT OR NO FUNCTION AT ALL OF THE HEADLAMP. WHEN TRYING TO FIND A NEW CONNECTOR FOR THE BULB I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO BUY THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP HOUSING ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. I KNOW THERE ARE MORE CASES OUT THERE WITH THIS AS AN ISSUE, AS GM USES THESE TYPE OF CONNECTORS ON THE CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER, GMC ENVOY, OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA, AND THE BUICK RAINIER. I THINK THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 22, 201380,778 milesIL

WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RURAL ROAD DOING ABOUT 35 TO 40 MPH THE SPEED SUDDENLY FROZE AT 40 AND IT NO LONGER MOVES. I'M CURRENTLY A DRIVER FOR THE CITY AND THIS IS A COMPLETE HAZARD WHEN DRIVING AND CAN'T DETERMINE YOUR SPEED. I WAS VERY AFRAID DUE TO THE FACT I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPEN TO ME WHICH OCCURRED IN THE PROCESS OF ACCELERATION . WHEN I FINALLY LOOKED DOWN MY SPEED SAID 90 WHICH I KNEW FOR A FACT I WASN'T GOING THAT FAST AT ALL ONCE THE VEHICLE GOT STUCK ON 40 IT NEVER CAME BACK DOWN. SOMEONE REALLY NEEDS TO REVISE THIS SITUATION WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WHERE'S THE RECALL ON THIS. *TR

Power Train
Filed Mar 1, 2013185,000 milesAR

THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT I'VE RESEARCHED EXTENSIVELY ON LINE AND THROUGH PARTS REPLACEMENT . I BOUGHT THE SUV AT THE END OF 2012 AND IT STARTED DOING THIS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER PURCHASED.WHEN SLOWING TO TURN WHILE BREAKING IT HAS A REAL BAD CLUNK AND IT WON'T TURN IT CAUSED ME TO ALMOST RUN INTO THE DITCH .I HAVE REPLACED THE CHAIN IN THE TRANSFER CASE AND ALSO BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS AND SPEED SENSORS AND REPLACED THE FLUID SEVERAL TIMES . FROM WHAT I READ ONLINE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM , WHICH I THINK IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ONLY HIGH MILEAGE VEHICLES THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURER GM. I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP PUMPING MONEY INTO THIS YARD ORNAMENT.! COME ON GM STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 21, 2013153,000 milesWV

DRIVING ON A CITY STREET- SPEED LIMIT OF 35 MPH MY METER READ 75 MPH. I PUT MY GPS SYSTEM ON TO MONITOR MY MPH. AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WHILE IDLING THE METER READ 45 MPH. 2004 BUICK RAINIER HAD BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE FOR 3 DAYS WITH THE TEMPERATURE IN THE 20'S AND THIS WAS THE 1ST TIME I HAD DRIVEN IT. TRIED ACCELERATING AND STOPPING A LITTLE SUDDENLY HOPING TO JOLT THE METER BACK TO NORMAL. NO RESULTS. PARKED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, STARTED THE CAR AND IT BEGAN TO REGISTER AT 65 MPH WHEN DRIVING 35 MPH PER GPS. IDLING READ 25 MPH. AFTER MORE STOPS AND RESTARTS THE IDLE SPEED WOULD READ JUST BELOW 20 MPH. CALLED ONSTAR FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY CONNECTED ME WITH GMC TECH. THEY WERE GOING TO TRY AND RESET THE SPEEDOMETER BUT FOUND OUT IT COULD NOT BE DONE AND WANTED ME TO GO TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I WAS 400 MILES FROM HOME AND INSTEAD CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP AT HOME. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING COMPLAINT ABOUT 2004 RAINIERS AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE TRAVELING HOME IN 2 DAYS AND THAT MY SPEED CONTROL SHOULD WORK FINE. I AM VERY DISPLEASED THAT THE GMC TECH DID NOT CONVEY THIS INFORMATION TO ME KNOWING THAT I WAS TRAVELING AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE ABOUT 30 MINUTES PARKED THE CAR FOR 1 1/2 HOURS AND WHEN I STARTED DRIVING THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WAS BACK TO NORMAL. GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS AND STORIES JUST AS MINE AND FOUND OUT THE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SHAME SHA

Electrical System
Filed Nov 11, 2012138,220 milesMD

IT IS A KNOWN FACT BY BUICK/GM THAT THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/ELECTRICAL MAKE UP OF THIS VEHICLE. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE, FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. FROM WHAT WE HAVE DEDUCTED SO FAR, THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE STEMMING FROM A GROUND SHORT NEAR THE RADIO. WE JUST CAN'T PINPOINT IT YET. SOME DAYS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WORKS, SOME NOT. USUALLY STARTS WORKING ON A WET DAY - INDICATING THE GROUND SHORT. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT RECALLING THIS, OTHER THAN THEY REALIZE HOW MANY WOULD BE INVOLVED. I SPENT THOUSANDS ON THIS VEHICLE AND NOW GM WILL NOT BACK THEIR PRODUCT. THE PROBLEM DIDN'T START UNTIL AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS PAST, SURPRISE SURPRISE. I HAVE TO USE A GPS SYSTEM WITH A SPEEDOMETER TO AVOID SPEEDING/GETTING FINED. ALL THE DEALERSHIPS AGREE - THE HOURS OF LABOR TO RESOLVE THIS ARE BEYOND MY POCKETBOOK. STEP UP AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FAULT IN THIS, GM. NOW. *TR

Complaints 1-50 of 158, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200738520Routine
200691750Routine
2005103130Routine
2004 — this page158240Routine
20031000Routine

Compare every Rainier year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 5, 2005. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.