2004 Buick RAINIER: complaints, problems and recalls

A 2004 BUICK RAINIER WITH FULL TIME 4 WHELL DRIVE AND LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHICH MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT THE LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER HAS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CAR SLIDES OUT OF CONTROL ON CORNERS UNDER THE SLIGHTEST ACCELERATION WHEN ANY SNOW IS ON THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE, THE SECOUND TIME I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE OWNERS OF MACK PONTIAC, GMC, BUICK IN HICKSVILLE, NY, RODNEY GOMEZ, THAT ALL 2004 RAINIERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL. I REALY THINK YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO THI…

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054718 at NHTSA ↗

AT DUSK THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FADE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY OF THE SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES. *AK *LA

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064995 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

POWER MEMORY SEAT WENT TO EXIT POSITION IN VEHICLE AND WILL NOT RETURN TO DRIVING POSITION FORCING VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN WITH SEAT ALL THE WAY BACK. MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO REACH PEDALS. RETURNED TO DEALER WHO HAD TO ORDER PART (SEAT TRACK). PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. CALLED GM AND ASKED THEM TO PROVIDE A PART FROM THE FACTORY, WHICH THEY WOULDN'T DO. TOLD ME I WOULD NEED TO WAIT UNTIL PARTS PROCESS LOCATED PART. VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091007 at NHTSA ↗

THERE ARE NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT GETS DARK CONSUMER CANNOT SEE THE SPEED. THE DEALER STATES THEY CANNOT REPAIR THE DEFECT. MANUFACTURER INDICATES IT IS NORMAL.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094844 at NHTSA ↗

IN OCTOBER, 2003 I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 BUICK RAINIER. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY DIMMED AND THEN CAME BACK UP. IT HAPPENED AT LEAST TWICE THAT NIGHT. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE FIXING SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS AT THE SAME TIME SO WE ASSUMED IT WAS FIXED. LAST WEEK, OCTOBER 28, 2004, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY OVER A DARK MOUNTAIN PASS WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OFF. THEY STAYED OFF FOR 2 TO 3 SECONDS BEFORE COMING BACK ON. LUCKILY,…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,190 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098221 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2005-05-05 (May 5, 2005)

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.

Consequence: 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.