Buick RAINIER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
391 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2007 model years. Data snapshot: . 312 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 107 of 391 complaints (27.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 31 | 7.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 28 | 7.2% |
| Braking behavior | 25 | 6.4% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 3.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 107 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 61 |
| Exterior Lighting | 43 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 33 |
| Suspension | 21 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 |
| Air Bags | 18 |
| Power Train | 15 |
Electrical System: 107; Fuel System, Gasoline: 61; Exterior Lighting: 43; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 33; Suspension: 21; Vehicle Speed Control: 21; Air Bags: 18; Power Train: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 55 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 83 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 52 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 68 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 55; 50,000 to 74,999: 83; 75,000 to 99,999: 52; 100,000 to 149,999: 68; 150,000 and above: 19
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (83). 79 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 22 |
| 2009 | 22 |
| 2010 | 34 |
| 2011 | 70 |
| 2012 | 37 |
| 2013 | 26 |
| 2014 | 36 |
| 2015 | 39 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2004: 9; 2005: 17; 2006: 8; 2007: 12; 2008: 22; 2009: 22; 2010: 34; 2011: 70; 2012: 37; 2013: 26; 2014: 36; 2015: 39; 2016: 19; 2017: 15; 2018: 9; 2019: 2; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 31 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 28 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10296066 · 2009-12-16 (December 16, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. THE WELDING FROM THE FILLER NECK HAD BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 144,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 144,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10302630 · 2010-01-27 (January 27, 2010)
2004 BUICK RAINIER WITH 97,000 MILES AND NO HISTORY OF ACCIDENT, DAMAGE OR SERVICE ISSUES PASSED STATE OF ARIZONA EMISSIONS TEST IN DECEMBER 2009, INCLUDING EVAPORATION TESTING. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY CODE AS AN EVAPORATION ISSUE. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCEPT GAS, INSTEAD THE GAS PUDDLED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE PUMP TO AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK IN THE AREA OF THE GAS FILLER NECK. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 97,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10302630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111149 · 2005-01-11 (January 11, 2005)
THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE HAS BEEN SPUTTERING, MISSING AND SURGING SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. *NM THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE BATTERY FAILED. WATER LEAKED THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR. WATER ALSO LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE BY THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER WHEN RAINING. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FENDER RATTLED. HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SEEMED LOOSE. RACK AND PINION LEAKED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10111149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10258193 · 2009-02-10 (February 10, 2009)
I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING WHILE DRIVING SINCE THE BEGINNING, THE DEALERSHIP HAS SEVERAL TIMES WORKED ON THE PROBLEM, WHICH I THINK HAS CLEARED UP..SO FAR. NOW MY SPEEDOMETER HAS STARTED MESSING UP, IT SAYS I AM GOING 50 WHILE PARKED AND 120 WHILE DRIVING. I ONLY DRIVE SHORT DISTANCES AND MOSTLY INTO AND BACK FROM TOWN 6 MILE ONE WAY. I HAVE 50,969 MILES ON MY 2004 VEHICLE, I KEEP ITS CHECKUPS AND OIL CHANGES REGULARLY: DEALERSHIP HAS RECORDS. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES FROM DAY ONE, I SEE TURN SIGNAL …
Owner-reported narrative. 50,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080234 · 2004-08-05 (August 5, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED AND THE CONSUMER FOUND DIFFICULTLY STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. AS A RESULT, THE ENCODER SENSOR WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TRANSFER CASE MODULE. THERE WAS AN OCCASION WHERE THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ALMOS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101081 · 2004-11-16 (November 16, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR. THE OTHER DRIVER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE BRAKE LIGHTS FROM BEHIND. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE HOME. WILL CALL THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342297 · 2010-07-09 (July 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BUICK RAINIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ALL OF THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON. THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALSO BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND UPON RESTART, THE LIGHTS BEGAN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HE HAD TO PAY A FEE IN ORDER TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINE…
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10544198 · 2013-09-18 (September 18, 2013)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193969 · 2007-06-22 (June 22, 2007)
PURCHASED VEHICLE WHICH HAD 34,000 MILE ON IT. IT NOW HAS 46,403 AND HAVE HAD TO FILL THE POWER STEERING PUMP UP THREE TIMES. I HAVE DETECTED NO LEAKS. TOOK TO THE BUICK DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND LEAK. PUT SOME DYE IN IT AND SAID BRING IT BACK IN A MONTH OR SO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46,403 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10627781 · 2014-08-23 (August 23, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10627781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082792 · 2004-07-27 (July 27, 2004)
TRANSMISSION LEAKING, SHIFTING HARD, REVVING HIGH DURING SHIFTING, AND 'HUNTING' FOR GEARS WHILE TRAVELING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193964 · 2007-06-22 (June 22, 2007)
AT 46,403 MILES I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP MORE THAN NORMAL WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. TOOK INTO THE BUICK DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION THE TECH FOUND THAT THERE WAS SCORING IN THE VALVE BODY OF THE TRANSMISSION. EXTENDED WARRANTY TOOK CARE OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS RARE FOR RANIERS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46,403 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193964 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 5 |
2003: 0; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 7; 2007: 5